HADES NOT HELL | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 30, 1881

HADES NOT HELL.

THE Greek word hades is not translated in the revised version of the New Testament. This has caused some useless comments, on which the Christian at Work has the following note:—

“In the parable of Dives and Lazarus, the new revision will have instead of the word hell, the Greek word untranslated, hades, thus: ‘And in hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments.’ A prominent daily paper, in referring to this passage, and others where the Greek word hades is not translated but transferred to the English text, exclaims, ‘The presumption appears to be that the old hell of our fathers has been abolished by the Committee on Revision.’ Any Greek scholar would laugh at this remark. As well say that one had abolished fashions because in translating a French book, on coming to the word modes, instead of rendering it fashions, he simply introduced into his English, as American dressmakers do, the original French word, modes. The word hades means the place of the dead, both bad and good. The words ‘in torments’ define the part of hades where the wicked rich man was. It is as if I should say, ‘He was in New York harbor on Blackwell’s Island serving out a sentence.’ The Greek word gehenna is the one properly translated hell.”

These remarks of the C. at W. are somewhat mixed. It intimates that to give hades instead of hell is parallel to giving modes instead of fashions; that is, that it is giving the original instead of its English equivalent, and then adds: “The Greek word gehenna is the one properly translated hell.” This is very true; and hades is not properly translated hell; and therefore its illustration by the words modes and fashions is faulty; it has no application.

Hades in Greek is the equivalent of sheol in Hebrew. This is proved by comparing Ps. 16:10 with Acts 2:27. Sheol in the Psalm, is rendered hades in Acts, “Thou wilt not leave my soul in hades.” The authorized version improperly renders it hell.

“In torments” does not define any part of hades. It is so inferred from its use in a parable, in Luke 16. But parables prove no doctrines. Sometimes they are explained by inspiration itself, as in Matt. 13 the parable of the wheat and tares is explained; then the explanation is lawfully used to teach doctrine. The several parables of Luke are not explained, and may not thus be used. In parables, to inanimate things are ascribed or given the powers of animate creatures. Thus, in Judges 9 the trees are made to talk; and in Luke 16 dead men are made to speak; but in fact neither trees nor dead men ever speak.

That we are correct in this interpretation, and that dead men do not converse, or, that there is no animation or knowledge in hades, is proved by what is affirmed of sheol in the Old Testament. Thus, there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in sheol; Eccl. 9:10; there is no remembrance of God in death, no giving of thanks in sheol; Ps. 6:5; sheol cannot praise God, death cannot celebrate him; Isa. 38:18.

It is true that hades means the place of the dead, good and bad, for all are in the same condition in death. That which is spoken of sheol in the texts above, is true of hades. In it is no knowledge, nor work, nor device; in it there is no remembrance of God; no giving of thanks or praise. Dr. Young, in his Analytical Concordance gives the same definition to sheol and hades—“the unseen state.”

Dr. Young very properly distinguishes, under the word grave, between the cases where it is translated from gever, and from sheol. Gever is a place of burial, or a grave; sheol, often translated grave in the authorized version, is quite different in signification, and more nearly expresses condition than location; hence the definition—“unseen state.”

And this shows the error of those who divide hades into different apartments for two classes, in one of which the inhabitants are in happiness, in the other, in torments. It is an unscriptural theory, impossible as to its supposed facts.

Some affirm that the soul of Christ went to Paradise on the day of his death. But the Scriptures say he went to sheol or hades. We raise the question: Is Paradise in sheol or hades? If it is, then there is no wisdom nor knowledge, nor device, nor remembrance of God, nor thanksgiving, nor praise, in Paradise. We cannot consent to this. And another query: When “death and hades are cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death,” will Paradise—as a part of hades—be cast into the lake of fire?

We are thankful that the revised version is proving the means of bringing this question so prominently into notice. Adventists have for years been pressing it upon the attention of the public that hades was improperly translated hell; that it does not denote a place of punishment; and that gehenna is the Greek word which is properly translated hell. In this they were sustained by some of the best authorities; but in this they were bitterly opposed by the host of interested theologians who seem determined to have it that sheol or hades, in which are all the dead, is a place of torment, and that the punishment precedes the Judgment. But God reserves the unjust to the day of Judgment to be punished; 2 Peter 2:9; and rewards the righteous at the resurrection of the just; Luke 14:14; and “gives reward to his servants the prophets,” after, not before, the Judgment; Rev. 11:18. If this truth had been admitted by the ministry, who were supposed to have full knowledge of all the facts in the case, scoffers would have no chance to say that “the old hell of our fathers has been abolished by the Committee on Revision.” And thus it becomes evident to all that they who teach false theories of the Christian faith are the ones who finally subvert the faith, and give the enemy occasion to reproach the word of God.

The Christian at Work is inconsistent in its remarks. Its use of the French word, modes, and fashions, with the Greek, hades, and hell, makes the latter synonymous. Then it is quite lawful to render its own expression thus: “The word hell means the place of the dead, both bad and good.” But this is not true, in the true sense of the use of hell. It is true of hades; and if this word had never been translated hell, the confusion which now prevails on this subject would not have existed. For this confusion and its unhappy consequences the clergy are mainly responsible, because when the truth was presented to the people they hindered them from accepting it.