The Myth of Hell, Part 2

I stated previously that the word "hell" is not in any manuscript. Ever! This is wholly accurate and not debatable. Is the mistranslation "hell" in the translation you have? Yes! In some instances there may be an asterisk next to the word. That asterisk leads you to a footnote. That footnote states something along the lines of "Greek Gehenna" and then lets you know that's the use in every other verse as well.

Most people gloss right over this. As though changing a word from one actual thing to something else in the Bible (or any publication) is a light matter and to be blown off as inconsequential. Cognitive dissonance runs rampant in Christendom.

What is Gehenna (the actual word in the Bible - not hell) and why does it matter? Let me show you just how dramatically significant and impactful this single word, and mistranslating it is, to the text.

The first use is in Jesus' sermon on the mount. It does not "first appear" in Matthew 5, as some say. That's just the order you read it in your Bible based upon placement.

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother[c] will be liable to judgment; whoever insults[d] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell[e] of fire" (Matthew 5:21- 22, ESV).

1. Notice the footnote? Some of your Bibles have it. It will give you the actual, correct interpretation of the word. This alone should be enough to cause you alarm.

2. Who is this written to? Jews (not to be confused with Israelites of the 10 Northern tribes).

3. What is the covenantal and historical context? This is written to a particular ethnic group (Jews and Israelites) who were under the Mosaic (old) Covenant.

This is why Jesus says "You have heard that it was said to those of old..." Non Israelite pagans would care nothing about the written or oral (in this case) Laws of the Israelites. The audience matters. Our culture has an unhealthy tendency to remove something from its context and misapply to it themselves.

Christ, speaking to people under the Law, brings up the Law to remind them of the offense (murder) and its consequence (judgment/death). In an attempt to show the inadequacy of the Law to change a person's heart, and thus their behavior, Christ says "...and whoever says 'You fool!' will be liable to the fire of Gehenna."

Gehenna is an actual location outside of Jerusalem. It has a long history to the Israelites. In the Old Covenant Scriptures (Genesis - Malachi) it was known as The Valley of Ben Hinom (see attached image). This is where some disobedient Israelites made sacrifices to the false god Molech --

"Moreover, he burned incense in the valley of Ben-hinnom and burned his sons in fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had driven out before the sons of Israel" (2 Chronicles 28:3).

"And he defiled Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, that no one might burn his son or his daughter as an offering to Molech" (2 Kings 23:10).

This geographical location was a place of complete disgrace to an Israelite. First of all, it was outside of the "light of the world," Jerusalem. It was in the "outer darkness" of the pagan world. Second, it was where they took dead bodies and trash to burn. Third, criminals were taken here as punishment.

So, Gehenna was a disgraceful geographical location outside of Jerusalem where criminals and trash were taken and burned. It was constantly on fire. What's more, according to Hebraic folklore, deep within the recesses of Gehenna was a gate through which someone walked where the Lake of Fire was located.

Now, considering the actual word used, the audience to whom this is being said, and the facts laid out about the actual geographical location, let's take another look at the text:

"...and whoever says 'You fool!' will be liable to the fire of Gehenna." Which makes more sense?

1. If anyone, anywhere, throughout all of time has hate in their hearts, their soul will burn in eternal conscious torment forever and ever after they die physically if they don't believe in Jesus as the sacrifice for their sins

or...

2. If you (an Israelite) thinks the Law makes you better than someone else, and you try and live by that insufficient standard, you will be liable to the fire of Gehenna.

Words matter. Definitions of words matter. Words used within particular cultures matter. Mistranslating words, changing them, redefining them, and then leaning on tradition is not good. The consequences are grave!

In the next installment I will address when and why the correct word was mistranslated, placed into the Bible, and reproduced throughout history.

The Myth of Hell, Part 3