Did the Early Church Fathers Believe in Eternal Torment?
Most early church fathers rejected eternal torment. Augustine admitted the majority expected restoration, while Basil, Clement, Gregory, Origen, and Isaac affirmed that God’s judgment is corrective, purifying, and reconciliatory. Eternal punishment was never the universal faith of the church.
Justinian’s Condemnation of Origen
The condemnation of Origen by Justinian’s council was political, not Spirit-led. Bishops were coerced, writings censored, and decrees enforced by fear. Scripture, not imperial power, reveals God’s truth: Christ will save all, and mercy endures forever.
Jerome’s Corrupted Latin Vulgate
Jerome’s Latin Vulgate transformed “aionios” (age-lasting) into “aeternus” (eternal), merging Sheol, Hades, and Gehenna into hell. This Latinized imagination cemented Eternal Conscious Torment in the West, obscuring Scripture’s promise of Universal Reconciliation.
