Difference between revisions of "Gehenna"

<p> <strong> [[Gehenna]] </strong> . A word derived from <em> Ge-Hinnom </em> , the valley on the west of Jerusalem. In this valley it is possible that [[Molech]] and [[Tammuz]] were worshipped (&nbsp; 2 Kings 23:18 , 2Ch 28:3; &nbsp; 2 Chronicles 33:6 , &nbsp; Jeremiah 7:31; &nbsp; Jeremiah 32:35 ). The recollection of this terrible worship gave to the valley a sinister character, and led to its being defiled by [[Josiah]] (&nbsp; 2 Kings 23:6; &nbsp; 2 Kings 23:10 ), for the purpose of preventing these rites. Thereafter it became the place for the burning of the refuse of the city, along with dead animals and the bodies of criminals. It was natural, therefore, that the name should become a synonym of hell (cf. &nbsp; Matthew 5:29; &nbsp; Matthew 10:28 ). In its eschatological force Gehenna was the place of punishment. It generally was conceived of as being under the earth, but it was very much vaster in extent than the earth. It was believed to be filled with fire intended for the punishment of sinners, who apparently went there immediately after death. Late Rabbinic thought would seem to imply that men who are neither great saints nor great sinners might be purified by the fire of Gehenna. Only those who had committed adultery or shamed or slandered their neighbours were believed to be hopelessly condemned to its fires, while the [[Jews]] were not to be permanently injured by them. According to the later belief, Gehenna was to be destroyed at the final consummation of the age. There is no clear evidence that Gehenna was regarded as a place for the annihilation of the wicked, although there are some passages which give a certain support to this opinion. No systematic eschatological statement has, however, been preserved for us from [[Jewish]] times, much less one which may be said to represent a general consensus of opinion. The NT writers employ the word in its general force as a synonym for the idea of endless punishment for sinners, as over against ‘heaven’ the synonym of endless bliss for those who have enjoyed the resurrection. They attempt, however, no description of suffering within its limits further than that implied in the figures of fire and worms. </p> <p> Shailer Mathews. </p>

<p> (Γεέννα, A.V. invariably "hell"), the Greek representative of גֵּיאּהנֹּם &nbsp;Joshua 15:8; Neb. xi) 30 (rendered by the Sept. Γαιέννα '','' &nbsp;Joshua 18:16); more fully, גֵּי בֶןאּהַנֹּם or בְנֵיאּה (&nbsp;2 Kings 23:10; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 28:3; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 33:6; &nbsp;Jeremiah 19:2), the "valley of Hinnone," or "of the son" or children of Hinnom," a deep narrow glen to the sosth of Jerusalem, where, after the introduction of the worship of the fire-gods by Ahaz, the idolatrous Jews offered their children to [[Moloch]] (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 28:3; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 33:6; &nbsp;Jeremiah 7:31; &nbsp;Jeremiah 19:2-6). In consequence of these abominations the valley was polluted by Josiah (&nbsp;2 Kings 23:10); subsequently to which it became the common lay-stall of the city, where the dead bodies of criminals, and the carcasses of animals, and every other kind of filth was cast, and, according to late and some, what questionable authorities, the combustible portion consumed with fire. From the depth asnd narrowness of thee gorge, and, perhaps, its ever-burning fires, as well as from its being the receptacle of all sorts of putrefying matter, and all that defiled the holy city, it became in later times the image of the place of everlasting punishnent, "where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched;" in which the [[Talmudists]] placed the mouth of bell: "There are two palm-trees in the valley of Hinnom, between which a smoke ariseth ... and this is the door of Gehenna" (Talmud, quoted by Barclay, City of Great King, page 90; Lightfoot, Centur. Chorograph. Matt. proem. 2:200). The Mohammedans still use the term as the current designation of the infernal regions (see D'Herbelot, Bibliothique Orient. s.v. Gehennen). In this sense the word is used by our Lord, &nbsp;Matthew 5:29-30; &nbsp;Matthew 10:28; &nbsp;Matthew 23:15; &nbsp;Matthew 23:33; &nbsp;Mark 9:43; &nbsp;Luke 12:5; and with the addition τοῦ πυρός, &nbsp;Matthew 5:22; &nbsp;Matthew 18:9; &nbsp;Mark 9:47; and by &nbsp;James 3:6. (See [[Valley Of Hinnom]]); (See [[Tophet]]); (See Hell). </p>