Eliminating Satan and Hell

by V. Donald Emmel

Publisher:

Wipf and Stock

, 2013

Overview

In this volume, V. Donald Emmel—a university pastor at San Jose State—describes his theories regarding Satan and hell, painting a picture that differs from the traditional understanding of eternal punishment. Emmel’s approach is intended to reassure those “who have been taught to fear the myths of Satan and hell.” He argues that, through misunderstandings and mistranslations, many see God as a cranky and punishing creator. Believing that the idea of hell and punishment is no longer valid in modern theology, Emmel points to “today’s scientific knowledge” in an attempt to debunk what he considers the “myths” of Satan and hell.

In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Scripture citations link directly to English translations, and important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.

Key Features

• Takes an alternative stance on the validity of hell and Satan
• Discusses the origins of Satan and hell, their limitations, and their place in today’s world
• Redefines the conversation surrounding hell and strips it of intimidation and control

Contents

• The Basics of Myth and Scriptural Formation
• Life and Death in Ancient Myths
• An Alternative Hebrew Community
• Hebrew Myths of Systemic Evil
• Hebrew Myths of Life, Death, and Sheol
• Yahweh: Punitive or Compassionate?
• Israel, a Monarchy or Servant?
• Persian Myths and the Introduction of Satan
• The Cradle for Apocalyptic Myths
• Greek Myths of Tartarus and Hades
• Search for a Different Understanding
• Jewish Apocalyptic Myths
• Daniel and the Oral Law
• Jewish Sectarian Groups
• First-Century Political Conflict
• Paul on Satan, Sin, Hell, and Related Concepts
• Satan in the Gospels
• Hell in the Gospels
• The Nature of the Creator-God
• An Unsettled Christendom
• Postscript

Top Highlights

“the Sybilline Oracles (ca. 200–100 BCE) we find a joining of the Greek Tartarus and the Jewish gehenna” (Page 100)

“For our study, it will be crucial to recognize that Genesis chapter 1 comes from the late P stream and was written hundreds of years after Genesis 2–3 and Genesis 6, both of which come from the early J stream. In later Israelite history these streams were interwoven and reedited into the one book we now have. The book of Exodus, for instance, is a combination of sources from J, E, and P.” (Page 6)

“There was no hint of a resurrection in Hebrew literature prior to the Babylonian exile of 587 BCE.” (Page 33)

“First; when the Hebrew canon was translated into the Greek Septuagint (ca. 285 to 246 BCE), the nearest Greek term for a concept like the Hebrew Sheol was the Greek term of hades. Thus, Sheol, was translated as hades, which made a conceptual shift from the Hebrew ‘neutral death’ with no punishment, to the Greek hades, ‘moral death,’ implying possible punishment. This meant all Jews, and the New Testament writers, who were using the Greek Septuagint as their Hebrew Scriptures were reading hades. Unfortunately, this Septuagint use of hades carried a punishing concept which is not in the basic Hebrew concept of Sheol.” (Page 34)

“As we examine Paul we need to separate: (a) where ‘Satan’ functions in a similar way to the Hebrew hassatan … as God’s faithful attorney general, (b) where Satan functions as a figure of speech representing a human system of evil that is opposed to God, and (c) where, if ever, Paul used the term ‘Satan’ for a personalized cosmological god as found in apocalyptic literature.” (Page 133)

Praise for the Print Edition

Emmel’s book offers an indispensable survey of the emergence of the concepts of Satan and hell as they appear in the writings of both the Old and New Testaments. By locating their origin in the myths that constructed the social and religious world of antiquity, Emmel discloses the contextual limitations of these mythical realities in their historical life-situation, and at the same time, their theological irrelevance for the world of today.

—Herman C. Waetjen, professor emeritus, San Francisco Theological Seminary, CA

Don Emmel is waging a long-overdue battle against the devil and his lair. His research shows how original Hebrew teachings changed when they were translated into Greek and then Latin, and how, once entrenched into doctrine, a complete reversal of Jesus’s theology came to be standard Christian orthodoxy. Emmel thinks it’s time to correct the record. You will agree with him as you close the book.

—Jack Batson, retired high school teacher, CA

Drawing on a wonderful pastoral sense and thorough scholarship, Emmel has helped free us from ideas of hell and Satan used to intimidate and control; and in the process has given a vision of a compassionate, loving God you and I can believe in.

—Jonathan Eastman, pastor, Presbyterian Church of Saint Helena, CA

Product Details

• Title: Eliminating Satan and Hell: Affirming a Compassionate Creator-God
• Author: V. Donald Emmel
• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Print Publication Date: 2013
• Logos Release Date: 2014
• Pages: 198
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Devil › Biblical teaching; Saṭan (The Hebrew word)
• ISBNs: 9781625644114, 9781498268806, 9781630872434, 1625644116, 1498268803, 1630872431
• Resource ID: LLS:LMNTNGSTNHLL
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T01:17:57Z

About V. Donald Emmel

V. Donald Emmel has been a university pastor at San Jose State University for 12 years, and for 22 years has been Presbyterian parish pastor in Oregon, Connecticut, and California. For several years he was the guest lecturer for Presbyterian students at Yale Divinity School.