The Other Side of the Good News: Contemporary Challenges to Jesus Teaching on Hell

Larry Dixon has written a very helpful book that gives an overview of the three contemporary challenges to the traditional understanding of hell as eternal torment - annihilationism, post mortem conversion and universalism. In particular he spends much time on the ideas of John Stott and Clark Pinnock who take the annihiliationist view. Dixon defends the traditional understanding of the teaching of Jesus on eternal torment in the context both of Jesus' own teaching and also a proper theological understanding of the great offense of sin in the eyes of a holy God.Ultimately Dixion reveals that God's grace and mercy are magnified in the provision of salvation through Jesus Christ. After all, why do we even need a savior if there is no hell?Dixon's editors did him no favors. He frequently states a person's position and then comments on that position without making a clear distinction between the faulty position and his own comment. This leads to frequent confusion and questioning if Dixion is agreeing or disagreeing with the faulty teaching. Dixon often quotes another person and then moves on, expecting the reader to make the correct determination as to whether that quote was orthodox or heterodox. This unfortunate lack of analysis leaves the less-informed reader hanging and confused at best, or possibly even misinformed at worst. Overall, with careful reading and a Bible close by, this is a good book to have in your library, a helpful reference for the topic, and a summary of good concise arguments.