Page 129 - Orthodoxy Zizioulas

H E L L , E T E R N I T Y, A N D F R E E D O M
Hell, Eternity, and Freedom
The problem of the eternity of hell arose very early in theo-
logical thought for two principal reasons and on two different
levels. One reason is connected with the juridical understand-
ing of divine judgement and the other with the ontological
questions which are provoked by the idea of an eternal hell.
More specifically, the idea of a “punishing” God may be com-
patible with the concept of justice, but it raises questions with
regard to the love of God: how can the love of God bear to see
one of his creatures being tormented forever? On the onto-
logical level, moreover, the question is unavoidable: does not
an eternal hell signify the limitless perpetuation of evil, its
eternal “existence”? Would not this conflict with the identifi-
cation of evil with “nonbeing,” which we encounter in the fa-
thers of the Church?
The juridical approach to the Last Judgement provoked
questions already in the patristic period. Certain theologians,
such as Origen and later Isaac the Syrian, developed the idea
that the torments of hell are temporary and that a final restora-
tion of all will prevail. These views are based chiefly on the way
in which the love of God is conceived: how is it possible for
faith in the love of God to be reconciled with the eternity of
hell?
Apart from the argument about divine love, the idea of the
eternity of hell also raises questions on the level of ontology.
Given the position of the Fathers that evil has no onticity, that
it is “nonbeing,” the perpetuation of hell is judged by some as
irrational and therefore to be rejected. Authors such as Origen
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