The opposing terms “conditional immortality” (CI) vs “eternal conscious torment” (ECT) are recent terms which have developed a usage on the Internet, but are not scholarly terms widely used in theological literature. In particular the abbreviations “CI” vs “ECT” are almost unknown outside a few discussion boards. To most readers the abbreviation “ECT” if it means anything at all means Electroconvulsive Therapy. Likewise “CI” is more likely to mean Counter-Intelligence, Commercial Invoice or any number of meanings, but not conditional immortality.
Anyway, does the bible teach conditional immortality or eternal conscious torment? Obviously the former, repeatedly. Man does not have immortality, there is no immortal soul, and immortality is awarded only after the return of Christ, resurrection, judgment and being awarded immortality. Searching the search box on BibleQ will bring up multiple answers on these topics. As for “eternal torment”, that is not even a biblical term. Torment (Greek βασανισμός basanismos) only occurs in a series of highly symbolic visions in Revelation 9:5; 14:11; 18:7; 18:10; 18:15 and in none of them are the souls of dead men being tormented eternally.
Eternal torment is not used in Matthew 25:46 “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” where the Greek word is κόλασις kolasis – a word used for any punishment, including execution but not generally for torture. Some have argued that because the KJV renders the only other New Testament occurence of kolasis as “fear hath torment” in 1 John 4:18 that the word can mean torture, but modern translations show that is not a good rendering of 1 John 4:18
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.(NIV)
18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. (NRSV)
No Comments yet!