The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 1

VIII. Significance of Lactantius’ Conditionalist Witness

Thus we find the celebrated Lactantius of Nicomedia, in Asia Minor, addressing the Roman emperor Constantine as late as the fourth century, still maintaining the Conditional Immortality School of conviction, predominant throughout the bulk of the second century. CFF1 1052.3

More than a century had now passed since Athenagoras, and Tertullian and his school had projected the concept of universal Innate Immortal-Soulism, holding vehemently to the Eternal Torment of the immortal-wicked thesis. (On this latter point Lactantius was confused.) Furthermore, a century had elapsed since Origen and his school, while maintaining the same basic universal Innate Immortal-Soulism postulate, had introduced his countertheory of Universal Restorationism. CFF1 1052.4

So these three schools of thought on the origin, nature, and destiny of man were still existent and militantly vocal, side by side in the fourth century as here shown, and as visually portrayed on Tabular Chart F, on page 759. The significance of this fact should not be lost. Then, a century later, the powerful Augustine, through his prestige and influence, imposed the Innate-Immortality dogma on the dominant church generally, and Conditionalism was soon crowded into eclipse. CFF1 1052.5

This virtual blackout remained as a blinding smog for centuries, until the early dawn of the Protestant Reformation. Only intermittent voices or occasional groups continued to witness to Conditionalism. The darkness of Platonic Immortal-Soulism well-nigh overwhelmed the flickering light of apostolic Conditionalism, long in general obscurity. That is the trail we will follow across the centuries in volume two. CFF1 1052.6