Summaries of Six Books on Hell and Immortality Compiled by Doug Peitz, Baraboo and La Crosse, WI Worldwide Church of God Pastor

Four Views on Hell, edited by William Crockett, Zondervan Publishing House, 1992

This book has four men defend four different views of hell: the literal, the metaphorical, purgatorial and conditional immortality (annihilationism). Conditional immortality is defended by Clark Pinnock, a theologian at McMaster Divinity School. It is quite good.

The History of Hell, by Alice K. Turner, Harcourt Brace Publishers, 1993.

This book is a secular account of the history of the idea of hell over the ages, and is highly informative. The author does not believe in any kind of hell. It helps one get a secular perspective on the subject.

Universalism and the Doctrine of Hell, edited by Nigel M. de S. Cameron, Baker Book House, 1992.

This book deals with a variety of issues, but has two very good chapters on conditional immortality, one for it and one against it, defending traditional views on hell. Conditional immortality is defended by John Wenham, from Oxford, England. Good book.

The True Image: The Origin and Destiny of Man in Christ, by Philip Edgecombe Hughes, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1989.

Unfortunately this book is out of print, but you can probably get a copy at your library or through the interlibrary loan system. This book is a comprehensive exposition of the gospel from the perspective that we were created in the image of God. It has chapters that deal with the issues of the immortality of the soul, the intermediate state, and conditional immortality. Hughes is an Anglican scholar, and believes in annihilationism. This book is superb from beginning to end!

Whatever Happened to Hell, by John Blanchard, Crossway Books, 1995

This book is a full-fledged defense of the traditional view of hell, and tries to answer all the arguments of all other views, including annihilationism. It is very thorough and polemical.

The Fire That Consumes, revised edition, by Edward Fudge, The Peternoster Press, Box 300, Carlisle, Cumbria, England.

Fudge, an elder with the Churches of Christ, gives a very thorough and scholarly defense of the conditional immortality position. The forward is written by F. F. Bruce, who appears to be an agnostic on the subject based on what he says in the introduction. This book is published in England, but can be ordered from Moyer’s Family Bookstore in Portland, Oregon. 1-800-632-6657.

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Since Mr. Pietz compiled the above list, Christianity Today, published an article “Undying Worm Unquenchable Fire” by Robert A. Peterson. (Oct. 23, 2000, p. 30). The article summarizes the annihilationism/eternal-conscious-torment debate as it exists among evangelicals. Page 32 contains the following table of writings on the two views.

Annihilationism

John Stott and David L. Edwards, Evangelical Essentials: A Liberal-Evangelical Dialogue (InterVarsity, 1988)

Philip E. Hughes, The True Image: The Origin and Destiny of Man in Christ (Eerdmans, 1989) [above]

John W. Wenham, “The Case for Conditional Immortality” in Universalism and the Doctrine of Hell (Baker, 1992) [above]

Edward Fudge, The Fire That Consumes, The Biblical Case for Conditional Immortality (Paternoster, 1994) [above]

Traditionalism

J. I. Packer in Evangelical Affirmations (Academie, 1990)

John H. Gerstner, Repent or Perish (Soli Deo Gloria, 1990)

Larry Dixon, The Other Side of the Good News: Confronting the Contemporary Challenges to Jesus’ Teaching on Hell (Victor, 1992)

Kendall Harmon, “The Case against Conditionalism: A Response to Edward William Fudge” Universalism and the Doctrine of Hell (Baker, 1992) [above]

Robert A. Peterson, Hell on Trial: the Case for Eternal Punishment (Presbyterian & Reformed, 1995)

D. A. Carson, The Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism (Zondervan, 1996)