Hellfire preaching – What is it? Is hellfire preaching biblical?

what does the bible say?

Hell is a topic that is spoken of often in the New Testament. One of the most memorable sermons Jesus delivered on the subject was the parable of Lazarous and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31). In this passage, Jesus communicates God’s justice and the permanent torment and separation from God that those in hell experience. Another famous passage is Mark 9:47-48 in which He says that it is better to get rid of something that causes us to sin than for our whole self to be thrown into hell (Mark 9:47-48). Some other passages in which Jesus references Hell are Matthew 3:12 and Matthew 25:41. However, Jesus did not only speak of Hell—He spoke on a variety of spiritual subjects—one of the most essential being salvation (John 3:16; John 14:6). We are called to proclaim both the seriousness of God’s judgment and the hope of eternal life through Christ.

from the old testament

• Hellfire preaching is not mentioned in the Old Testament..

from the new testament

• Jesus spoke about hell and its punishment while He was ministering on earth, including Matthew 3:12: “‘His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire,’" and Matthew 25:41: “’Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’”
• A look at the New Testament shows that Jesus taught about hell and its consequences. For example, in Mark 9:47-48 Jesus taught, “And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’”
• In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus also shares a vivid parable concerning Hell. The parable has two main characters—a poor man, Lazarous, and a rich man. While the rich man lived in luxury, Lazarus was afflicted with sores and desired to eat from the rich man’s scraps. When the poor man dies he is carried by angels to Abraham’s side, but when the rich man dies he goes to Hades (Hell). When the rich man sees Abraham and Lazarus, he cries out: “‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame’” (verse 24), to which Abraham replies: “‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us’” (verse 25-26). The man then begs Abraham to send Lazarous to his brothers who are still alive to warn them, but Abraham insists that if his brothers do not listen to Moses and the Prophets they will not believe someone who rose from the dead.
• While Jesus spoke about the reality and torment of hell, this was only a part of His focus. He also taught that every person who believes in Him will not perish, but will have everlasting life (John 3:16) and He spoke frequently regarding the love and grace of God, calling all people to believe in Him as the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

implications for today

The term “hellfire preaching” is often used to refer to preaching that focuses on describing the details regarding the pain and displeasures of hell as a method to motivate people to turn to faith in Christ and live a holy life. Hellfire preaching is often used in a negative sense in reference to preaching that is primarily negative and judgmental, rather than focusing on the love and grace of God. Perhaps the period in which hellfire preaching was most common was in the Puritan era of America and England. The most well-known sermon of this type is “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards. It has been said that he described hell so vividly that hearers could smell the sulfur of hell burning. Ministers should still preach on Hell today, but they should do so as Jesus did. Just as Jesus spoke of the reality and suffering of hell in combination with the love and grace of God, so today’s ministers are called to proclaim the good news of Jesus as the solution to the eternal hell that awaits unbelievers. Acts 20:20 offers the example of Paul telling the Ephesian elders, “I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable.” In other words, he taught them the full counsel of God, not holding back the difficult aspects of Christianity. Today’s ministers are called to likewise share both the grace of God and warn people of the judgment that awaits those who reject His message.

Recap

understand

• Jesus taught the reality and punishment of hell.
• Jesus balanced warnings of judgment with calls to salvation and God’s love.
• Preaching today should combine both judgment and hope in Christ.

reflect

• How does the reality of hell shape the way you share your faith?
• How are you balancing a healthy awareness of God’s judgment with a focus on His love and grace?
• How can you share the hope of salvation with others without relying solely on fear or warnings of punishment?

engage

• How can we preach or share the gospel like Jesus—acknowledging hell but not only emphasizing that?
• How does understanding the justice of God alongside His grace influence our approach to evangelism and discipleship?
• What are practical ways we can help others grasp both the seriousness of sin and the hope found in Christ?