"Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
I would say destroy is an eternal torment rather than no longer existing.
No longer existing would be a blessing for those, if any, get to be destroyed in hell."
You know Gum
Alot of the views we hold today,are the leftovers of the english translaters beliefs and bias when translating from greek to english,the same applies to us in our day.
Every time and culture has bias and certain understandings of things based on general orthodoxy of their time or period of history.
But if we look deeper into the original intended meanings,we see a totally different context of hell ,the wrath of God etc
Something to think about,which is outside orthodoxy on this subject below
Hopefully this may? Stimulate a different way of looking at the fire of God etc?
Theres many places that speak in the bible of the fire of God,or fire came down from heaven etc,is fire always a distructive power or can it be a restorative power according to its context?
The final fire which people will be exposed to from God will actually be in heaven and will last forever:
“… Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;” (Isa 33:14-15)
There are two possible ways to understand this.
It could be a reference to being in God’s presence in heaven as in:
“Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.” (Eze 28:14)
God’s love is likened to a fire, of course, not literal, destructive fire.
Also, fire is used as a symbol of God’s love which all the saved will bask in for eternity wherever they are.
“Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.” (Song Sol 8:6-7)
That verse is likening love to fire.
The Berean Standard Bible and other versions point to jealousy being an attribute of love (“its sparks” referring to love) which is really the topic of the passage as shown by verse 7.
“Set me as a seal over your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unrelenting as Sheol. Its sparks are fiery flames, the fiercest blaze of all.” (Song Sol 8:6, Berean Standard Bible)
Even in this life, those who understand and appreciate the incredible love of God can sense that warmth.
This is certainly not talking about destructive fire from God.
"At some point in time, there is no longer a curse, perhaps?"
The bible is clear on this subject,the curse was sin entering the world.
Mans carnal heart or mind now had a natural propensity of indignation against God,you see this in Adams initial reactions after the fall,his attitude towards God changed dramatically.
We all inherit this mind/heart/attitude.
"The biblical narrative is ambigious on so much that you would have to be God to know."
We would have to agree to disagree on this point,i see it as totally opposite to that.
