Comprehensive Coherency

Instead of randomly picking at scripture like chicken scratch, the Bible must be handled as intact and consistent, its parts in agreement with the whole, complementing, not contradicting any other part. 

If it’s necessary to “rightly divide” (2 Timothy 2:15), then it’s certainly possible to wrongly slice.   

The emphasis of this chapter is that the Bible is in harmony with itself, and our understanding of the final fate of man must be in harmony with the Bible as a whole.  The Old Testament is foundational to the New, and the New is fulfillment of the Old.  They are distinct, but not discordant.  Together they form one unified whole.  Likewise, the law and the prophets, the gospels and the epistles, provide many voices, but one testimony.   

To prevent turning a subtext (an obscure meaning) into a pretext (an alleged justification) for a proof text (a disconnected text used for affirmation), we must understand the context.  And the context is not just the immediate neighborhood.  A word is in a phrase, a phrase in a sentence, a sentence in a paragraph.  But don’t stop there.  The paragraph is in a chapter, the chapter in a book, the book in a collection of sixty-six.  

And the sixty-six books are one Book (Biblos- the book), and “all scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16).  One book; many writers; all inspired by God.  I’m assuming that if you’re still reading this book, you believe in the Book.  

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 1:20, 21

Bible doctrine must be based on comprehensive coherency (the whole in harmony with its parts), not isolated exegesis (interpretation of a part detached from the whole).  Comprehensive (“including all”) coherency (“forming a consistent whole”) answers the question, What do all the relevant texts consistently teach?  That question must be answered on the final fate of unbelievers.  

Finding what all the relevant texts consistently teach is the only means to accurately decide what the Bible teaches on any subject.  Reading every related passage and letting the built-in dictionary define the words is the key to finding comprehensive coherency.  Again, the Bible is a book written to clearly communicate, not confuse.  If the scriptures say the wicked perish, then they surely do.  And if the scriptures say it again and again, then we shouldn’t imagine that a handful of scattered texts contradict it.

Comprehensive coherency considers how many, how specific, and how clear.  It takes into account the preponderance (greater in number- what does it say over and over again?), prominence (greater in importance- what does it say in the most direct way?), and perspicuity (greater in clearness- what does it say in the plainest sense?) of all the applicable scriptures.  Something reiterated numerous times provides more testimony than anything infrequently mentioned (the many vs. the few).  Something particularly emphasized holds more value than anything only possibly implied (the specific vs. the incidental).  And something expressed in plain language merits more consideration than the figurative, allegorical, and apocalyptic (the clear vs. the obscure).  

Comprehensive coherency, what all the relevant texts consistently teach, gives confidence that when read as a cohesive whole the Bible presents clear and consistent truth. You don’t have to explain away why something doesn’t mean what it says or have to try to justify a seeming contradiction .  Applying these considerations (how many, how direct, how clear) to the teaching of endless torment reveals that it is wholly smoke- it is a myth based on the few, incidental, and obscure.  Its supposed proof texts are severed from and inconsistent with the rest of the Bible.

For example, if there are one hundred texts describing the final fate of unbelievers using words such as perish, death, destruction, consume, and end (and there are), and only four or five that speak in terms that could be interpreted as ceaseless agony (and that’s it to my count), the testimony of the one hundred should not be easily overthrown by the four or five.  Believing there is no contradiction, the Bible student will not allow a few texts to nullify the overwhelming, but should seek clarity on the few.  

If there are texts expressly speaking on the subject, such as Matthew 13 which says “so shall it be in the end of the world” (vv. 39-49), such specific language takes priority over any incidental expression.  “As tares burned in the fire” (explicitly speaking of what happens at the end of the world) is of far greater pertinence than an incidental phrase such as “everlasting burnings” (Isaiah 33:14) that is not even talking about the final fate.  But as we shall see as we move forward, champions of endless torment persistently prioritize the incidental and ignore the precise, quoting phrases like “everlasting burnings” while ignoring plain words like perish and death and plain pictures like tares and chaff being burned up in fire.

Texts that speak ever so plainly, such as John 3:16, speak ever so authoritatively, and should never be eclipsed by allegorical apocalyptic pictures.  We must interpret the obscure by the clear.  Fog hides the sun; the sun clears the fog.  It is absurd that the simplicity of John’s gospel “written… that ye might believe” (John 20:31) would be muddied by the mysterious imagery of John’s revelation.  But that’s exactly what the myth of endless torment does- shadows veil light.

As I said at the beginning, I believe the Bible.  I believe the Bible is true and authoritative.  I do not believe in endless torment.  I used to, but now I don’t, not because I don’t believe the Bible, but because I am genuinely convinced that the Bible does not teach it.  

Yes, I used to be just as sure that it did.  And I taught that it taught it.  I did not arrive at my current conclusion by way of wishful thinking, sentimental philosophizing, influence of a sect, or coaxing of a cult.  No, I was convinced by the comprehensive coherency of scripture on the subject.  

I knew every proof text for endless torment.  Unquenchable fire, undying worms, ever ascending smoke, weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth were all part of my orthodox vocabulary.  But through reading what was actually said I discovered each and every detached proof text did not teach unending misery.  And I found that all the relevant texts consistently teach eternal life in Christ and an end of life without Him.