The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 1

PART IV (Chapters 44-64)

The Theological Trilemma

44. Subapostolic Writers Consistently Conditionalist	757
I. Significance of Testimony of Apostolic Fathers	757
II. Clement of Rome—Neither Innate Immortality Nor Eternal Torment	762
1. Clement on the Nature and Destiny of Man	763
2. Second Advent and Resurrection Hope Dominant	763
3. Theme Persists Throughout Genuine Epistle	764
4. Advent Note Even in Spurious Second Epistle	764
5. Significant Silences in Clement’s Witness	765
6. Immortality a “Gift” of God, to Be Sought For	765
7. Death Is Cessation of All Life	766
8. Wicked to Perish, Be Destroyed, Cease to Exist	766
9. Constable’s Summary of Clement’s Views	767
III. Ignatius of Antioch—Immortality Solely for Saints; Sinners to Perish	767
1. To the Ephesians: Immortality Is “Gift” of Christ	768
2. To the Magnesians: Death Is Ceasing to Be	771
3. To the Trallians: Life Through Christ’s Death	771
4. To the Romans: Resurrection Follows Sleep of Death	772
5. Epistle to Polycarp: Sleep, Resurrection, Immortality	772
6. Gift of God Versus Wages of Sin	773
45. Immortality Bestowed at Advent; Wicked Destroyed	774
I. “Didache”—Follows Standard Pattern on the Two Ways	774
II. Eschatological Concept of Early Church in Outline	775
1. The Common Theme of Subapostolic Age	775
2. Involvements of the “Way of Life”	776
3. “Way of Death” Contrasted With “Eternal Life” Provision	776
4. Perils of Coming Apostasy Portrayed	777
5. Eschatological Outline of Last Things	777
III. Barnabas—Contrasts Eternal Life With Eternal Death	778
IV. Coming Destruction of Satan, Sinners, and All Evil	779
1. Basic Contrast Between Life and Death	779
2. Life Through Christ; Death Through Sin	780
3. Death From Sin Involves Destruction	781
4. Two Ways: of “Darkness” and of “Light”	781
5. “Eternal Death“: Synonym for Second Death	782
6. To “Perish” Is to Exist No More	783
V. Eight Logical and Inescapable Conclusions to Be Deduced	783
46. Immortality a Gift; Death Is Utter Destruction	785
I. Two Destinations Portrayed in Multiple Forms	786
1. Eternal Life and Eternal Destruction	786
2. Past Saints Have “Fallen Asleep”	786
3. Persecution and Triumph of Church Symbolized	787
4. Righteous Have Life; Wicked No Life	788
5. Wicked Are to Perish at Last	788
6. Righteous in Life to Come; Wicked Consumed	789
7. Wicked Destined to Everlasting Ruin	789
8. Punishment Is Proportionate to Sin	790
9. Incorrigibly Wicked “Die for Ever”	790
10. Conclusions From Notable Silences in Hermas	791
II. Polycarp—Resurrection Is Immortality’s Sole Gateway	791
III. Conditional Resurrection the Determining Factor	792
1. Ignatius’ Admonitions Regarding Immortality	793
2. Resurrection Pivotal in Man’s Future	793
3. Sole Basis of Hope for “Future World”	794
4. Strictures on Deniers of the Resurrection	794
5. Resurrection “Both of Soul and Body”	794
6. No Allusion to Eternal Torment	795
IV. “Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus”—“Immortal Soul” and “Eternal Fire” Problems	796
1. Put to Death; Restored Through Resurrection	797
2. The Relationship of Soul and Body	797
3. First Use of “Immortal Soul” in Christian Writings	798
4. Christ Sent as “God” and “Saviour”; Comes Later as Judge	798
5. Every Blessing Conferred Through Christ	798
6. Christ, Incorruptible and Immortal; Man, Corruptible and Mortal	799
7. Eternal Fire; Both a Process and a Termination	800
V. Summarizing Conclusion Concerning the Apostolic Fathers	801
47. Justin Martyr Augments Subapostolic Conditionalism	803
I. Ante-Nicene Period Infiltrated by Platonic Immortal-Soulism	803
1. Frontal and Flanking Attacks Develop	803
2. Gnosticism Undermines Teaching of Resurrection	804
3. Neoplatonic Mysticism Supplants Literalism	805
4. Release of the Soul From the Body	805
5. Immortal-Soulism Well-nigh Extinguishes Blessed Hope	806

6. Writers Segregate Themselves Into Three-Way Split	806
II. Justin Martyr—Champions and Amplifies Apostolic Conditionalism	807
1. Dawn of a New Era in Christian History	808
2. Champions the Only True Philosophy	809
3. Prophetic Outline, Second Advent, and Resurrection	810
III. Justin’s Primary Definitions and Usage of Basic Terms	811
1. “Immortal Existence” and “Ceasing to Exist”	811
2. “Destruction” Is Cessation of Existence	812
3. “Immortality” Means “Not Subject to Death”	813
IV. Justin’s Definitive Positions on Nature and Destiny of Man	813
1. Contended for Literal Resurrection of Dead	813
2. Souls Not Taken to Heaven at Death	814
3. “Man” Composed of Both “Body and Soul”	814
4. Denies Separate Immortality of the Soul	814
5. Teaches Utter Extinction of the Wicked	815
48. Justin on Final Annihilation of the Wicked	816
I. Apologies Amplify Intent of Everlasting Punishment	816
1. Christ’s Judgment Precedes Punishment of Wicked	818
2. “Eternal Punishment” Not Eternally Conscious Suffering	818
3. Righteous Deemed Worthy of Incorruption	819
4. Each Goes to “Punishment or Salvation”	820
5. Prays for “Existing Again in Incorruption”	820
6. Punishment Is Proportionate to Sin	821
7. Question of “Sensation After Death”	821
II. Intent of “Aionion” Fire, for Sinners	823
1. Godly Immortalized; Sinners Punished in “Aionion”	823
2. Extent Not Known to Man; Determined by God	824
3. Immortality Is Promised; Not Yet Possessed	825
4. “Aionion” Punishment Is by Fire	825
5. Final Disposition at Second Advent	825
III. Scholars Recognize Justin’s Position on Destruction of Wicked	826
IV. Dialogue—Righteous to Be Immortalized, Wicked Destroyed	827
1. Categorically Denies Innate Immortality and Transmigration	827
2. Some “Never Die”; Others Suffer Determinate Punishment	828
3. Created Beings May Be “Blotted Out and Cease to Exist”	828
4. Separated From Body, Soul Ceases to Exist	829
5. Christ Coming Again to Destroy the Wicked	829
V. Disposition of Righteous and Wicked	830
1. “Some” Punished With Fire; “Others” Receive Immortality	830
2. Saints Raised Incorruptible and Immortal	830
3. Soul Not “Taken to Heaven” at Death	831
4. Wicked Punished as God Deems Proper	831
5. “Destruction” Is Equated With “Death”	832
6. “Torment” Not Identical With “Destruction”	832
7. The Resurrected Face Contrasting Destinies	832
49. Tatian, Theophilus, and Melito—Continue Conditionalist Witness	834
I. Tatian—The Soul Is “Not Immortal” but “Mortal”	834
II. Tatian’s Confession of Faith on Soul, Here, and Hereafter	835
1. Nonexistent in Death. Existent Again Through Resurrection	836
2. Sin and Death Come Through Free Choice	836
3. Soul “Not Itself Immortal,” but “Mortal”	837
4. Punishment of Demons Versus Punishment of Men	838
5. Pagan Confusion Versus Christian Consistency and Truth	838
6. Place Trust in Scripture; Follow “Father of Immortality”	839
III. Theophilus of Antioch—Man Created a Candidate for Immortality	840
IV. Immortality Conferred on Righteous; Destruction Is Fate of Wicked	842
1. Mortality “Put Off”; Immortality “Put On”	842
2. “Seek” Immortality; Escape “Eternal Punishments”	843
3. Presents Foundational Bases for Faith	844
4. Nature and Peril of Unfallen Man in Eden	844
5. Expelled From Eden Lest He Remain in Sin Forever	845
6. Returns to Paradise After Resurrection and Immortalization	845
7. Immortality a Reward, Not an Original Possession	846
8. Man Chooses Either Everlasting Life, or Death	847
9. Righteous to Escape Eternal Punishments	847
10. Wicked Consumed in Final Conflagration	847
11. God’s Care for the Dead	848
V. Melito of Sardis—Death a Long Sleep; Immortality Regained Through Christ	848
1. Eternal Christ Was Creator of Man	849
2. Coming Flood of Fire to Destroy Earth	849
3. Christ Died That We Might Be Raised	849
4. Sleep of Death a Long Silence	850
5. Death and Dissolution From Disobedience	851
6. Corruption and Destruction From Disobedience	851
7. Ransoms and Restores From Grave	852
50. Gnostic-Manichaean Perversions Compel Restatement of Truth	853
I. Scope of Gnosticism’s Sinister Heresies	854

1. Blighting Characteristics of Gnosticism	854
2. Strange Medley of Borrowed Elements	855
3. “Demiurge,” “Emanations,” and “Aeons”	857
4. Mankind Cast Into Three Basic Categories	858
5. Redemption Conceived of as Liberation From Matter	859
6. Gnostic Dualism Versus Apostolic Monism	859
7. Dualism Involves Endless Duration of Wicked	860
8. Blasphemously Denied Deity of Christ	860
9. Rejected Old Testament and Maligned “Jehovah”	861
10. Like Termites Eroding Basic Structure	861
II. Underlying Unity Despite Wide Diversity	862
1. Valentinus Injects “Intermediate” Waiting Place	863
2. Fantastic Degrading Notions of Saturninus	863
3. Basilides’ “Transit of Soul” From Mithraism	864
4. Marcion Rejects Heart of Christian Faith	865
5. Carpocrates Taught a Licentious Ethic	865
6. Gnostic Heresies Force Church to Define Faith	865
III. Recapitulation of Principal Errors of Gnosticism	866
IV. Menace of Manichaeism Imperils Post-Nicene Church	867
1. Origin, Characteristics, and Amazing Spread	867
2. Essence, of the Manichaean Movement	869
3. Christian Aspect Emasculated and Nullified	870
4. Fantastic Concepts of Body, Soul, Redemption, Resurrection	870
5. Based on an Absolute Dualism	871
6. Church Rites, Polity, and Ceremonies	871
51. Irenaeus of Gaul—Conditionalist Champion on Western Outpost	873
I. Unique Position as Contender for Orthodoxy	873
1. Pupil of Conditionalist Polycarp, of Smyrna	873
2. Lifelong Foe of Contemporary Heresies	875
3. General Survey of Irenaeus’ Definitive Treatise	875
4. Stands as Bulwark Against Universal Innate Immortality	876
5. Wicked Destined to Cessation of Being	876
6. Eschatological Outline Portrays Last Events	877
7. Christ Came to Undo Ruin Wrought by Adam	878
II. Irenaeus’ Basic Doctrinal Positions and Definitions	879
1. Mortal Man Must Be, Immortalized at Resurrection	879
2. To Live Is to “Exist”; to Die, to “Cease to Exist”	880
3. Eternal Life Is “Bestowed” Eternal Existence	880
4. Immortality Restricted to the Righteous	880
5. Disobedience Caused Loss of Man’s Immortality	881
6. Union With Christ Results in Immortality	881
7. Future Destinies Determined by Contrasting Resurrections	882
8. Incorruption Means “Incapable of Decay”	882
9. Incorruption Now “in Promise.” Not Yet in Possession	882
10. Resurrection Bodies Are Totally Distinct	883
11. To “Perish” Means Ultimate Nonexistence	883
12. Punishment Is “Punitive,” Not “Purgative”	883
13. Eternal Punishment Is Eternal Loss of Life	884
14. Life Dependent on Gratuity of God	884
52. Irenaeus Voices Preponderant Belief of Church	886
I. Foremost Second-Century Contender for Conditionalism	886
1. Grapples With Basic Issues of Controversy	887
2. Remarkable Scope of Analysis of Error	887
II. Devastating Exposure of Gnostic Errors and Countering Truth	888
III. Irenaeus’ Personal Creed Then Preponderant Belief of Church	889
1. Irenaeus’ “Creed,” and “Conferred” Immortality	889
2. Irenaeus’ Statement Never Again True	891
3. Gnosticism Is But Camouflaged Paganism	891
4. Made Incorruptible and Immortal at Resurrection	892
5. Eternal Continuance Is “Bestowed” and “Imparted”	892
6. “Perpetual Duration” Is Unending “Existence”	893
IV. Multiple Arguments for Conditional Immortality	893
1. Union With God Prerequisite to Immortality	893
2. Must Sense Dependence Upon the Life-giver	894
3. Adam Separated From Tree Lest He Be “Immortal Sinner”	895
4. Believing and Obedient “Honoured With Immortality”	896
5. Gift of Immortality Restricted to Believers	896
6. Eternal Fire for Satan and His Followers	897
7. Immortality Received Only Through Christ	897
8. God Who Gives “Earthly” Life, Can Bestow Immortality	898
V. Fate of Wicked Is Final Annihilation	899
1. Distinguishes Between Body and Soul	899
2. Irenaeus’ Definition of Death	900
3. Second Death—Hell, Lake of Fire, Eternal Fire	900
4. Final Annihilation of the Wicked	900
5. Fruition of All Hopes and Provisions	901
53. Novatian of Rome—Conditionalist Opponent of Cornelius	902

I. Novatian—Immortality of God and Mortality of Man	902
II. Arguments Based on Natures of Creator and Creature	904
1. Man’s Disobedience Brought “Mortality”	904
2. Expelled From Eden to Forestall “Immortality of Guilt”	905
3. God, Without Beginning or End, Is Consequently “Immortal”	905
4. God “Incorruptible” and Therefore “Immortal”	906
5. Man Made With “Materials of Mortality”	906
6. Word of Christ “Affords Immortality” for Man	907
7. Man “Destined” for “Attainment” of Everlasting Life	907
8. Humanity Died, Not Deity, on the Cross	908
III. Arabian Believers in Soul’s Death and Resurrection	909
1. Conditional Immortality “No New Doctrine”	910
2. Origen Established “Immortal-Soulism” in Alexandria	910
IV. “Clementine Homilies”—Fictional Views by “Clement’s” Fabricated Characters	911
1. Clashing Views and Uncertain Dating	912
2. Ranges Over Creation, Life, Death, Punishment	913
3. Wicked Consumed and Destroyed by Fire	913
4. Clement Sets Forth “Peter” as Immortal-Soulist	914
5. Free Will Explains Presence of Sin and Death	914
6. Immortalized Through Christ’s Reign	915
7. Subsequent “Recognitions” Sustain “Homilies” Portrayal	915
54. Arnobius of Africa—Last Ante-Nicene Conditionalist Spokesman	917
I. Final Extinction of Incorrigibly Wicked	917
1. Meets Paganism on Its Own Ground	918
2. Immortality for Righteous; Extinction for Wicked	919
3. Man Created Capable of Either Destiny	919
II. Comprehensive Survey of Arnobius’ Arguments and Evidences	920
1. Arnobius Presents the Case for Christ	920
2. Christ Opened the Gate of Immortality	921
3. Searching Questions on Life, Death, and Hereafter	921
4. A Destruction That Leaves Nothing Behind	922
5. Ultimate. “Annihilation” Is Man’s “Real Death”	922
6. Man Not “Immortal” Like God; Only “Creatures”	923
7. Sweeping Survey of Paganism’s Inadequacy	923
8. Claims and Assumptions of Immortal-Soulists	924
9. “Enriched With Eternal Life” Through Christ	924
III. Boon of Immortality Is God’s Gift	925
1. Assured Immortality Versus Blotting Out of Existence	925
2. “Gift” of Immortality Is the “Grant”of God	925
3. Either Salvation or Destruction Awaits All	925
4. God Alone Is Immortal and Everlasting ....	926
5. The Great Alternatives Are Placed Before All	926
6. “Prize of Immortality” Is Before Us	926
55. Athenagoras—First Ecclesiastic to Assert Innate Immortality	928
I. Athenagoras—Pathfinder on Revolutionary Road	930
1. Bases Contention on Philosophy, Not Scripture	931
2. Repeatedly Uses Plato’s “Immortal Soul” Phrasing	932
3. Battery of Supporting Equivalents Employed	932
II. Earlier “Plea”—Devoid of “Innate Immortality” Concept	933
1. Angels Are Created Beings; Some “Fell”	934
2. Dubious Setting of Term “Immortal Soul”	934
3. Heathen “Gods” Simply Deified Men	935
4. Fate of Sinners Worse Than “Annihilation”	935
5. Our Bodies to Be Reconstructed at Resurrection	935
III. The Resurrection—Wholly Committed to Innate-Immortality Thesis	936
1. Man Created for “Perpetual Existence”	936
2. Dual Premise for Eternal Existence	937
3. Gist of the Resurrection Argument	937
4. Resurrected Bodies Will Be Incorruptible	938
5. Destined for “Perpetual Duration,” Not Final Extinction	939
6. Unceasing Existence Forestalls Ultimate Annihilation	939
7. Pledged Continuance of “Being in Immortality”	939
8. Man: An Immortal Soul in a Perishable Body	940
9. Resurrection Imperative So Body-Soul May Continue Forever	940
10. Continuity of Being Interrupted by Death	941
11. “Sleep” of Death Involves Blackout of Consciousness	941
12. Reunion of Body and Soul Necessary for Recompense	941
13. Man’s Punishment Not Assigned to Soul Alone	942
14. Reconstitution of Body and Soul Into Same Being	943
15. Those Failing God’s Objective Are Punished Proportionately	943
16. Denies Ultimate Annihilation for the Wicked	943
17. Disregards and Repudiates the Biblical “Perish”	944
IV. Logical Demands of Athenagoras’ Reasoning	944
56. Tertullian—Projector of Eternal-Torment Corollary	947
I. Formulation of the Dogma of Endless Torment	948
1. Tertullian’s Espousal of Montanism	949
2. First to Formulate Dogma of Endless Torment	950

3. Persecution Forms Background of Retributive Torment	951
4. Influenced by Stoic “Philosophy” While Rejecting Its “Theosophy”	952
5. Characteristics of His Diversified Writings	952
6. Still Held to Major Prophetic Outline	953
II. Threefold Basis of “Eternal Life in Hell” Postulate	954
1. Three Axioms Underlying Eternal-Torment Postulate	954
2. Invokes Plato in Affirming Immortal-Soulism	954
3. Rejects Plato’s Pre-existence Contention	955
4. Definitive Declaration of Soul’s Origin	955
5. Tertullian’s Definition of the Soul	956
6. Conglomeration Leads Into Hopeless Perplexity	956
7. Drew Supplemental Support From Montanist “Visions”	957
57. Tertullian Holds Wicked Ever Burn but Never Consume	959
I. Mystic Everlasting Fire That Never Consumes Victims	959
1. Nonconsuming Fire Causes Endless Torture	959
2. Exults Over Eternal Torment of Persecutors	960
3. Eternity of Sin Involved in Monstrous Concept	961
II. Alters Basic Scripture Intent to Sustain “Torment” Theory	962
1. “Incorruption” Misapplied to Wicked in Hell	962
2. “Immortality” Wrongly Applied to Wicked	963
3. “Destruction’s Plain Intent” Set Aside	964
4. “Immortal Souls” Cannot Perish in Hell	964
5. “Body” Destined for “Eternal Killing” in Hell	965
6. Resurrection of Flesh Is for “Eternal Killing”	966
7. Perverts Meaning of “Death” and “Dying”	966
8. Forced to Give Improper Turn to Terminology	967
9. Employs Devious Artifice of Distortion	968
58. Universal Restoration Substituted for Eternal Torment	969
1. Significance of the Alexandrian School	969
2. Characteristics of New Alexandrian School	971
3. Hour of Peril for Expanding Church	971
4. Grave Involvements of Origenism	972
5. Roseate Expectations, but Gross Perversions	973
6. The Progressive Path of Departure	974
7. Platonic Influence Supersedes That of Apostles	975
8. Baleful Effects of Accepting Platonism	975
9. Origenism Banned Under Justinian	976
59. Rise and Spread of Neoplatonic Restorationism	978
I. Clement of Alexandria—Reverses Position in Transition Hour	978
1. Develops Introduction to Philosophic Christianity	979
2. Meeting Point of Two Converging Lines	980
3. Swings to Immortal-Soulism in Latest Treatise	981
II. Earlier Declarations Couched in Conditionalist Terms	982
1. Immortality a Reward to Be Received	982
2. “True” and “Sure” Immortality Is “Gift of Eternal Life”	982
3. God Is Giver of Everything Eternal: Otherwise Death	983
4. Immortality Came Not Through Law, but Through Christ	983
5. Turned Away From Sole Source of Life	984
6. Destruction Is Penalty for Disobedience	984
7. Immortality Set Over Against Destruction	985
8. Everlasting Habitations; Immortality; Eternal Mansions	985
9. Angels Conduct Redeemed to Eternal Life	986
10. The Soul Is “Not Naturally Immortal”	986
III. Exhortation to the Heathen Still Stresses Life Only in Christ	986
1. Christ Offers “Immortality”; Sin Brings “Destruction”	986
2. Christ Brings Light of Eternal Life	987
3. Eternal Life Versus Eternal Death	988
4. Perfect “Boon of Immortality” Bestowed	988
5. Christ Offers to Conduct Us to Immortality	988
IV. The Instructor Intertwines Our Immortality With Christ	989
1. Christ’s Commands Are “Paths to Immortality”	989
2. Are to Put On Immortality of Christ	989
3. Present Chastisement Deters From Everlasting Death	989
4. To Put On Robe of Immortality	990
V. Switches in Stromata to Bald Immortal-Soulism	991
1. Exempts Platonism From Paul’s Strictures	991
2. Old Testament Law Leads to Immortality	992
3. Knowledge of God Communicates Immortality	992
4. Immortality of Soul Openly Avowed	992
5. All Punishment Regarded Restorative	993
6. Purged by the “Fire of Wisdom”	994
7. Christ Preaching the Gospel in Hades	994
8. Dubious Fragments Assert Soul’s Immortality	994
60. Origen—Projector of Universal-Restoration Theory	996
1. Became Head of Catechetical School at Eighteen	996
2. Finally Deposed and Deprived of Office	998
I. Depreciates Literalism; Exalts Mystical and Spiritual	998

1. Master Mind of Mystical Interpretation	998
2. Allegorization Determined Entire Exegesis	999
3. Origen’s Three “Senses” to Scripture	999
II. Universal Restorationism Origen’s Answer to Tertullian’s Eternal Torment	1000
1. Distorts an Obvious Bible Truth	1000
2. Plato the Sponsor of Both Views	1001
3. Life Falsely Promised Instead of Death	1001
4. Two Equally Injurious Perversions	1002
5. Avoids One Pitfall Only to Fall Into Another	1003
III. Pivotal Christian Doctrines Assailed by Origen	1004
1. Scriptures Robbed of Authoritative Force	1004
2. Swept Apostolic Faith Into Discard	1005
3. Pre-existerice Coupled to Restorationism	1005
4. Impinged Vaunted Freedom of Will	1005
5. Relationships to the Empire Revolutionized	1006
IV. Revolutionary Concepts of Life, Death, and Destiny	1006
1. Strange Contentions in Anthropology	1006
2. Adam’s Fall Made Allegorical	1007
3. Revolutionary Concepts of Eschatology	1007
4. Mystical Interpretation Invoked to Evade Literalism	1007
V. Documented Definitions and Usages	1008
1. Men Are Souls in Bodies	1008
2. Soul Is Immaterial, Invisible, Immortal	1008
3. Death Neither Perishing Nor Destruction	1009
4. “Destruction” Is Not Ceasing to Be	1009
5. “Fire” Consumes Fuel of Sin	1010
6. “Consuming Fire” Simply Refines	1010
7. Earth’s “Change” Is Not Annihilation	1010
8. “World’s End” Is Its Subjugation	1010
9. “Fall” Counteracted in Future Ages	1011
61. Origen’s Multiple Departures From the Faith	1012
I. Adopted Heathen Transmigration Fallacy	1012
1. Discards God’s Solution to Sin Problem	1012
2. Taught Successive Transmigrations of the Soul	1013
3. Biblical Terms Explained Away by Allegorizing	1014
II. Allegorizing Substituted for Literalism	1015
1. Literalism of Creation Narrative Swept Aside	1015
2. Denies Literal Truth of Biblical Records	1016
III. Spiritualizes Second Advent, End of World, and Millennium	1017
1. Second Advent Mysticized Into “Daily” Coming	1017
2. “End of World” Localized and Individualized	1018
3. Substitutes “Gradual Advance” for Cataclysmic End	1019
4. Denied Millennium Because Incompatible With His Scheme	1019
5. Prophecies Deprived of All Force	1020
IV. Holds Every Immortal Soul to Be Restored	1020
1. Soul Incapable of Death or Destruction	1020
2. Every Rational Being to Be Restored	1021
3. Immortal Sinners “Conducted” to Salvation Slowly	1021
4. Weird Conclusions to Which Origenism Leads	1022
V. Recapitulation: Twin Fallacies of Tertullian and Origen	1023
1. Utter Eradication of Evil Promised	1023
2. Fallacious Threats and Delusive Promises	1025
VI. Subsequent Churchmen Are Divided Between the Conflicting Schools	1026
1. Churchmen Who Supported Tertullian’s Eternal-Tormentism	1027
2. Ecclesiastics Who Favored Origen’s Universal Restorationism	1027
3. Conditionalism Gradually Forced Into Eclipse	1028
62. Lactantius—Emitting Light Amid Encroaching Darkness	1029
1. Revolution in Roman Life and Thought	1029
2. Staying the Tide of Drift and Error	1029
I. Historical Setting of Interest in Man’s Nature and Destiny	1030
1. Scholarship Recognized by Two Emperors	1030
2. First Attempt at Systematic Christian Theology	1031
3. Comprehensive Character of Lactantius’ “Institutes”	1032
4. Course of Empire Portrayed in Prophecy	1033
5. Eschatological Concept Unveils Man’s Destiny	1033
6. Dubious Passages and Known Emendations	1033
II. Immortality—Lost Through Sin; Restored Through Christ	1034
1. God Is Eternal; Man’s Immortality Conditional	1034
2. Nature of “First” and “Second” Deaths	1035
3. Adam Expelled From Eden and Immortality	1035
4. Immortality Is “Reward” for Righteousness	1036
5. Confusion and Ignorance Among Philosophers	1036
6. Fallacious Concepts of Cicero	1037
III. Christ the Source of Our Immortality	1037
1. Christ Came to “Restore” Righteous to Life	1037
2. Took Our Mortality to Restore Immortality	1038
3. Immortality Is Offered to All	1039

4. Contrasting Ends of the Two Ways	1039
IV. Immortality Not Inherent, but a Gift	1040
1. Provision for Attaining Immortality	1040
2. So Placed as to Attain Immortality	1040
3. Immortality Not a Consequence of Nature	1041
4. God Alone Can Confer Immortality	1041
5. Immortality Is Received as Reward	1042
V. Conditionalism Placed in Eschatological Setting	1043
1. False Philosophical Views on Immortality	1043
2. Philosophical Confusion Regarding Immortality	1044
3. Righteousness Alone “Procures” Eternal Life	1045
4. Beginning and End of the World	1046
5. Formation of Man and Results of Fall	1046
VI. Immortality’s Place in the Prophetic Outline	1047
1. Rome’s Division, Antichrist, and Coming Climax	1047
2. Second Advent and the Resurrection	1047
3. Paralleling but Distorted Concepts of Poets	1048
4. Satan Bound, City Planted. Wicked Destroyed	1049
5. Lactantius’ Conditionalism Presented to Emperor	1049
VII. Pitfalls Lurk in Abbreviated “Epitome”	1050
1. Contains Certain “Dubious Passages” That Mislead	1050
2. Lactantius Recognizes Hazard of Abridgment	1050
3. Preponderant View Is Conditionalist	1051
4. Presented With “Garment of Immortality”	1051
VIII. Significance of Lactantius’ Conditionalist Witness	1052
63. Athanasius—Then Conditionalism Into Eclipse	1053
I. Shifting Emphasis of the Three Schools Concerning the Soul	1054
1. Historic Alignments in Ante-Nicene Period	1054
2. Post-Nicene Shifting of Greatest Import	1054
3. Ultimate Ascendance of Eternal-Torment School	1055
II. The Athanasius-Arius Controversy and the Nicene Creed	1056
1. Absolute Deity of Christ at Stake	1057
2. The Arian yiew Summed Up	1058
3. The Athanasian View Epitomized	1058
4. The Semi-Arian or Eusebian Concept	1059
5. Tide of Battle Ends in Athanasian Victory	1060
III. Athanasius—Powerful Defender of Deity of Christ	1061
1. The Center of the Theological World	1061
2. Four Times Banished in Stormy Career	1061
3. Championed Certain Aspects of Conditionalism	1063
IV. “The Incarnation” in Relation to Man’s Sin and Redemption	1063
1. Classic Portrayal of Restoration of Man’s Life	1063
2. Direct Quotations Not Employed With Athanasius	1064
3. Man Not Created With Perverse Tendencies	1065
4. Creator Must Both Renew and Restore	1065
5. Became Man to Restore Life to Us	1066
6. Purpose of Public Death and Three Days in Tomb	1066
7. Prophecies Establish Facts of Incarnation	1067
8. Answers Scoffing of Greeks Regarding Incarnation	1067
9. So Live as to Eat of Tree of Life	1068
64. Augustine—Immortal-Soulism’s Hour of Supremacy	1070
I. Projects Fallacious Philosophy of History	1070
1. “Infallible” System of Doctrine Based on Authority	1070
2. Basic Fallacies of Augustinian Concepts	1071
3. Already Committed to Immortal-Soulism Before Conversion	1072
II. Augustine Sets Immortal-Soulist Pattern for Thousand Years	1073
1. Projects New Philosophy of History	1073
2. Everything That Conflicts Interpreted Spiritually	1074
3. Revolutionary Principles of Interpretation	1075
III. The Fatal Fallacy of Majority “Orthodoxy”	1076
1. Biblical Truth Is Recognized in Time	1076
2. Orthodoxy Determined by Written Word	1077
3. Truth Crushed to Earth Springs Forth Again	1078

[CD-ROM Editor’s Note: In the original, the “Index of Personal Names” and “Scripture Index” is located on pages 1119-1132]