Jewish Views of Gehenna/Gehinnom
Joel Watts
I am a proponent of trying to understand, at the very least, the Gospels in light of their Jewishness. When Christ mentions Gehenna, He always does so in parabolic or hyperbolic language. This is not make the statements contained therein untrue, but it does tend to prevent the language from being taken literally, at times. Discernment is key in trying to look at these issues.
In that regard, I want to look at the Jewish Gehenna at or near the time of Christ and how it developed.
Remember, in the Old Testament, the only word use for the the afterlife is sheol, but it was said to be inhabited by the saints and the sinners. So, who did we go from that to a heavenly reward and hellish punishment?
What is Gehinnom?
R. Joshua b. Levi stated: Gehinnom has seven names, and they are: Nether-world (or 'Sheol'), Destruction, Pit (or, 'pit of destruction'), Tumultuous Pit, Miry Clay, Shadow of Death and the Underworld. 'Nether-world', since it is written in Scripture: Out of the belly of the nether-world cried I, and Thou heardest my voice (Jonah 2.3); 'Destruction', for it is written in Scripture: Shall Thy Mercy be declared in the grave? Or thy faithfulness in destruction (Psa 88.12); 'Pit', for it is written in Scripture: For Thou wilt not abandon thy soul to the nether-world; neither wilt Thou suffer Thy godly one to see the pit (Psa 16.10); 'Tumultuous Pit' and 'Miry Clay', for it is written in Scripture: He brought me up also out of the tumultuous pit, out of the miry clay (Psa 40.3); 'Shadow of Death', for it is written in Scripture: Such as sat in darkness and in the shadow of death (Psa 107.10); and the 'Nether-world' is a tradition.
But are there no more ? (to Gehinnom) Is there not in fact that of Gehinnom? — a valley that is as deep as the valley of Hinnom and into which all go down for gratuitous acts. Is there not also the name of Hearth, since it is written in Scripture: For a hearth is ordered of old? (Isa 30.33) — That that whosoever is enticed by his evil inclination will fall therein (Erbin 19b)
Is there a duration to the punishment?
Beit Shammai taught: There are three groups – one is destined for eternal life, another consigned to eternal ignominy and eternal abhorrence (these are the thoroughly wicked) while those whose deeds are balanced will go down to Gehinnom, but when they scream they will ascend fro there and are healed…but Beit Hillel taught: rich in kindness' (Ex. 34:6) inclined toward mercy (Tosefta Sanhedrin 13:3)
This argument is reiterated elsewhere in the Talmud over the most wicked people the Rabbis could imagine – the generation that drove God to undo creation:
'The judgment on the generation of the Flood was for twelve months, on Job for twelve months, on the Egyptians for twelve months, on Gog and Magog in the Hereafter for twelve months, and on the wicked in Gehinnom for twelve months. (M. Eduyot 2:10; Gen. Rabbah 28:8)
The great schools of Jewish thought before the time of Christ until afterwards revolved around two Rabbi's – Shammai and Hillel. Shammai required a believe in eternal torment, but allowed that some would return from Gehenna. He cited Zechariah 13.9 and 1st Samuel 2.6. A third of the people would be immediately given eternal life while a third eternal torment, but another third would go into Gehenna and return. Hillel's school taught punishment for sinners and Gentiles for 12 months but allows for a certain class of people to spend eternity in hell. There are nuances here, especially for those who would be sent to hell – those, it seems, who completely and utterly rejected God. Hillel is a key figure in Judaism right before the time of Christ. He is arguably, except out Lord, the most influential Jewish teacher of the time and indeed, has become a very integral part in Talmudic Judaism.
The punishing afterlife is temporal; there is no eternal punishment:
Rabbi Akiba said:…The duration of the punishment of the wicked in Gehinnom is twelve months. (Shabbat 33b)
Rabbi Akiba was a very important rabbi during the time which the Church was moving past Jerusalem. It is very possible that Akiba can lead us to thoughts which were shared by the early movement of The Way.
I note that in the 4th century, Gregory of Nyssa wrote something about a year long torture.
If there are any unredeemable souls, their fate is annihilation and non-being, not eternal torment:
After 12 months, their body is consumed and their soul is burned and the wind scatters them under the soles of the feet of the righteous (Rosh Hashanah 17a)
A Medieval dissent (but its still not forever):
The wicked stay in Gehinnom till the resurrection, and then the Messiah, passing through it redeems them. (Emek Hammelech, f. 138, 4)
The above is gathered and expanded where necessary.
Remember, that in the Old Testament, thus the Jewish thought world, there was only sheol, or grave, which was the afterlife for both the saint and the sinner. It wasn't until nearing the time of Christ which speculation started to occur.
Gehenna, hell, judaism, universalism
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9 Replies to "Jewish Views of Gehenna/Gehinnom"
Fr. Robert (Anglican) says:
There has been some later Christians who have seen the idea of annihilation of the lost sinner, like E.W. Bullinger. Though I am not sure he really taught it, as perhaps thought about it? In fact today, there are many modern Evangelicals who have taken the position of annihilation. The list is rather long. But John 3:16 does say "perish", whatever that means?
Polycarp says:
Very true, Fr. Robert. I can see annihiationism to some level, but not sure how that would play into everything. Gregory of Nyssa based his doctrine on the nature of God. Annihalitionism would certainly clear the cosmos of evil.
I do not follow annihiationism myself. Even the pagan Plato, said the soul was eternal. But eternal punishment, I am not sure at times? So in some sense this brings annihiationism back into play.
I don't follow it either. I tend to go with the fact that God created us as a divine spark from Himself. Could any part of Him cease to exist?
As you can see, we've been exploring this for a while. I like Gregory's reasoning (posted yesterday) about his remedial punishment, which was limited to an age – which would explain Rev 14.11 and the Greek there..
Yes as Bullinger (on said subject), you know I like and respect his love for the Word of God, etc. But don't follow him everywhere either. There is so much we just don't know, etc.
I agree, completely
Curtis says:
Take into consideration two concepts. One being the parable of the wheat and tears, Matt 13:38. Defines two groups which I must ask, is a seed neutral and it decides what it will become or is it what it is created to be? Next consider, hay wood and stubble. 1 Cor 3:11-15 "saved but by fire" denotes a process to make ready for the kingdom. 1 Cor 15:50-58. shows us a mystery.
Sheol and the lake of fire are two different places. Rev 20:14. At some point Sheol and death are thrown into the lake of fire.
One more to consider, Luke 16:19-31. Is the rich man a seed of Abraham and will be saved but by fire? Does an evil man have concern for his brothers? Is he being refined for the kingdom?
janzer says:
Sheol is not the same as Hades.
R. Joshua b. Levi is from 200-300 ad.
He is not to be considered a contemporary of Jesus in any way, shape or form.
This was a period of an oral re-interpretation of what was stated before.
Therefore the development of sheol toward the greek place of hades or the latin hell is quite a jump.
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