Hell: What the Bible REALLY Teaches
M. Thomas Wark

I.


WHAT IS HELL?

Oh Hell...

Just what is meant by this word "hell"?
They say, sometimes, "It's cold as hell,"
Sometimes they say, "It's hot as hell,"
When it rains, "It's hell," they cry,
And it's also "hell" when it's dry.

They "hate like hell" to see it snow,
It's a "hell of a wind" when it starts to blow.
Now "how in the hell" can anyone tell
"What in the hell" they mean by this word "hell"?

This married life is "hell" they say...
When he comes in late, there's "hell to pay."
When she starts to yell, it's a "hell of a note,"
And it's "hell" when the kids you have to tote.

It's "hell" when the doctor sends his bills,
For a "hell of a lot" of trips and pills,
And when you get this you will know real well
Just what is meant by this word "hell."

"Hell yes," "Hell no," and "Oh hell" too,
"The hell you don't" and "the hell you do;"
And "what in the hell?" "0 the hell it is!"
"The hell with yours!" and "the hell with his!"

Now "who in the hell?"---and "0 hell where?"
And "what in the hell do you think I care?"
But "the hell of it is," "it's as sure as hell,"
That we don't know "what in the hell,"
IS "Hell"!

James Whitcomb Riley's uproariously funny poem illustrates perfectly the confusion that prevails in our culture over the meaning of the word "hell." Tragically, a nearly equal level of confusion exists in the minds of most Christians. As "God is not the author of confusion" (I Corinthians 14:33, NKJV) we must seek the origin and explanation of this confusion elsewhere.

We believe that it originates primarily from two sources: 1) the traditions of men [cf. Mark 7:13], and 2) translations of Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts into English by men who were influenced by said traditions. For example, The King James Version of the Holy Bible translates one Hebrew and three Greek words by the single English word "hell.' The Hebrew word SHEOL [Aramaic=SHYUL] it renders as "hell" 31 times. It also renders as "hell" the Greek words HADES (10 times), GEHENNA (12 times), and, in its verbal form, TARTARUS (1 time). Now each of these Hebrew and Greek words has a very specific and distinct meaning. They should not have been translated by the same English word. Some of the newer translations have attempted to remedy this. However, these are not always consistent.

The infidel Voltaire is reputed to have said: "if we would speak, we must first define our terms." Sound advice, this! In the studies that follow we shall endeavor to do just that.


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