What is Sheol in the Old Testament? What is Hades in the New Testament? Are they the same place as Hell, or someplace different?
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The word “hell” was added much later, and it’s a terrible translation that’s led to much misunderstanding. In the original texts it’s Sheol/Hades, Tartarus, and Gehenna.
Sheol (Hebrew) and Hades (Greek) are the same place. An intermediate state. Tartarus is where the evil spirits (most scholars believe they have something to do with the Nephilim) from the time of the flood are being held. Gehenna is where Jesus said both body and soul are destroyed after the judgment. Where Peter said the ungodly are condemned to extinction.
The rich man and Lazarus is a parable. It’s a story that the Pharisees would have been familiar with as it’s almost identical to the Rabbinical story of Bar Ma’Jan.
Hell is the presence of God
Whether it is Sheol or Hades, it holds the same general meaning, that one in either state is apart from God, under condemnation, and wrath. In God’s Providence and justice, punishment fits the sin. I have often wondered if Dante’s “Inferno” had a truthful point about “degrees” of punishment, that levels of hell are set and souls are judged perfectly by the Lord based on the severity of unrepented sin. For the unredeemed, the Christ rejecting idol worshipper, the atheist, the agnostic, the Mankiller and the sexually perverse….hell would be a place where God’s fury and wrath are unmistakable and severe. Yet, I wonder if unbelievers raised without the knowledge of the Gospel, among whom may be those who practiced lives of kindness, might be at a less severe level? I cannot conjecture, but have often wondered about it. Soli Deo Gloria.
I like the NJKV, but this is a good reminder to never be slavishly devoted to only one or two Scripture translations.
Thank you for answering my question, Pastor. Your answers were much better than my former pastor, who just said, "Don't worry about it."
I still read both, but the KJV is my favorite. I grew up on it and the "blue" small catechism and the TLH. Plus, all my favorite lutheran theology books are older ones quoting the KJV.
Thanks again, Pastor. Blessings to you in Christ.
Why do you think that the Bosom of Abraham is some other place than Paradise? What better Paradise would be available until Christ opened the Kingdom of Heaven?
Hades is the Greek god of the Underworld. Hades is not the only Greek god mentioned in the Bible. There is a passage about planing Apollo's Waters in The NT.
Brother Man.Do you like my new world man slang..generalization..What does it say ESV or EHV.All and any of the word for me ,altering are blasphemy.