Why is it that so many Christians read these as metaphors:

"The Whore of Babylon" (Revelation 17:5)

"Pluck out your eye" (Matthew 5:29)

"Strain a gnat, swallow a camel" (Matthew 23:24)

"Salt of the Earth" (Matthew 5:13)

"Living Stones" (1 Peter 2:5)

"A Thorn in the Flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7)

"The Lamb of God" (John 1:29)

While reading these literally:

"The Lake of Fire" (Revelation 20:14-15)

"Unquenchable Fire" (Matthew 3:12)

"Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth" (Matthew 8:12)

"Worm That Never Dies" (Mark 9:48)

"Furnace of Fire" (Matthew 13:42)

"Outer Darkness" (Matthew 22:13)

"Fire and Brimstone" (Revelation 21:8)

While my 340-page book, HELL: A Jewish Perspective on a Christian Doctrine, has received tremendous reviews, I understand that not everyone has the time to read such a lengthy work. So, if you’re looking for answers, this new, concise, standalone book focuses on the "hellfire verses" in the Bible, examining them within their original Jewish context. This small book is an excerpt (Part III) from my 2024 book on Hell, created especially for those with limited time!

In this short 140-page book, we will journey through Bible verses that Fundamentalists believe reference the Eternal Conscious Torment view of hell (aka "Hellfire"; an abusive physical, mental, and emotional punishment that lasts forever). The book will provide an easy-to-read, contextualized commentary to refute the popular Augustinian-Calvinistic view. We will also explore the meanings of four distinct Hebrew and Greek words frequently translated as "hell" in English.

Paul Landergan

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