The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 1

VI. Subsequent Churchmen Are Divided Between the Conflicting Schools

Illustration: Minucius Felix, Cyprian of Carhage, Ambrose of Milan, John Chrysostom, Jerome CFF1 1026.1

Picture 1: Gregory Thauaturgus, Thognostus, Eusebius of Caesarea, Diodorus of Tarsus, Theodore of Mopsuestia:
Later Favorers of Origen’s Universal Restorationism-Gregory Thauaturgus, Thognostus, Eusebius of Caesarea, Diodorus of Tarsus, Theodore of Mopsuestia.
Page 1026

The reader will inevitably wonder as to what positions were taken by other prominent churchmen in the third and fourth centuries and the early part of the fifth, as regards the fate of the wicked. Where did they stand in the great threefold division that was becoming increasingly crystallized—this theological trilemma that had developed in the church. We will not attempt to present a detailed study of the utterances of these various men, for the simple reason that they were largely the reflectors of one or the other of the conflicting views of Tertullian, holding to Eternal-Tormentism, or of Origen with his contrary concept of Universal Restorationism. CFF1 1026.2

A mere listing of respective views must suffice for the two categories. This is primarily because of space limitations. But it is also, as stated, because these churchmen did not make any particularly new contributions to the question at issue. They simply favored one or the other position. There is therefore no actual omission of pertinent evidence. It is largely a question of alignment, in varying degrees, with one or the other school. So the two groups are here given simply for reference. (They are tabulated in sequence and category in the Tabular Chart F, on page 758.) CFF1 1026.3

1. CHURCHMEN WHO SUPPORTED TERTULLIAN’S ETERNAL-TORMENTISM

The concept of Eternal Torment, as developed by Tertullian and consummated by Augustine, was supported by Minucius Felix, Hippolytus, Cyprian of Carthage, Ambrose of Milan, John Chrysostom, and Jerome of Antioch (with some reservations). These were generally in the West. As Emanuel Petavel puts it aptly, Conditional Immortality was “drowned in the rising tide of Platonism” (Problem of Immortality, pp. 242, 496). With this line-up Canon Henry Constable is in essential agreement (Duration and Nature of Future Punishment, p. 229), as also J. H. Pettingell (The Life Everlasting, p. 32). CFF1 1027.1

As suggested, these churchmen did not write elaborate treatises thereon. Rather, they but echoed the sentiments of Tertullian. We have not therefore given them individual coverage, because they developed no special evidence, and made no particular contribution to the position reflected. But their assenting sentiments need to be placed on record in this general way. CFF1 1027.2

2. ECCLESIASTICS WHO FAVORED ORIGEN’S UNIVERSAL RESTORATIONISM

Origenism, or Universal Restorationism, likewise won numerous partisans, especially in the East. These included Gregory Thaumaturgus, bishop of Neocaesarea, Pierius and Theognostus (Origen’s successors in the school at Alexandria), Pamphilus of Caesarea, Eusebius the historian, Titus of Bostra, Basil of Caesarea, Gregory Of Nyssa (to a degree), Diodorus of Tarsus, and Theodore of Mopsuestia. Essentially the same list is attested by Petavel in his The Problem of Immortality (pp. 281, 496), and Pettingell, The Life Everlasting (p. 32). CFF1 1027.3

3. CONDITIONALISM GRADUALLY FORCED INTO ECLIPSE

The great theological trilemma to which we have referred had now become an actuality, as men took sides. Meanwhile, the doctrine of Conditionalism, which had had brilliant proponents, was being crowded into the background and being progressively overwhelmed. Evidently the lesser clergy similarly ranged themselves with the one group or the other in this same general way. By the end of the fourth century the general departure from Conditionalism was far advanced. Its virtual eclipse was not far away, along with the final submergence of Universal Restorationism. CFF1 1028.1

The Eternal-Tormentism of Tertullian and Augustine became severely predominant, and did not relax its strangle hold until pre-Reformation times, when Conditionalism began its slow resurgence. CFF1 1028.2

It is to be remembered that by the fourth and fifth centuries the pressures were so great, as exerted by the Eternal-Torment School, that the last champions of Conditionalism began to falter. Their later writings show a compromising swing toward Eternal-Tormentism that is tragic. So it was that the last champions of Conditionalism wavered and capitulated. From a growing uncertainty they finally espoused what they had formerly resisted and challenged. After them came the virtual blackout of Conditionalism for several centuries. It was driven underground until shortly before Protestant Reformation days, when it could no longer be repressed. CFF1 1028.3