However, despite the protestations of many, hell is also clearly spoken of in
the New Testament, both by St. John the Baptist and Christ Himself:
“Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that
does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you
with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming
after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the
Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear
his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff
he will burn with unquenchable fire. Then Jesus came from Galilee to John
at the Jordan, to be baptized by him” (St. Matt. 3:10-12).
“But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be
liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the
council, and whoever says, You fool! shall be liable to the hell of fire” (St.
Matt. 5:22).
“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the
fire” (St. Matt. 7:19).
“I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham
and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the heirs of the
kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth” (St. Matt. 8:11-12).
“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear
him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (St. Matt. 10:28).
“The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his
kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into
the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (St.
Matt. 13:41-42).
“Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that
temptations come, but woe to the man by whom the temptation comes! And
if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is
better for you to enter life maimed or lame than with two hands or two feet
to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it
out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than
with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire” (St. Matt. 18:7-9).
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