The Myths of Hell
by Mark Sanguinetti
The only other usage of the word hell as seen in both the Old and New Testaments is from the New Testament Greek word tartaroo, Strong’s # 5020. There is only one usage of this Greek word in the New Testament. It is seen in 2 Peter 2:4. This refers to angels who have sinned and not people.
2 Peter 2:4
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell (tartaroo), and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
KJV
The phrase “cast down to hell” was translated from one Greek word “tartaroo”. This is for fallen angels that have sinned. This is not for humans as only angels are mentioned in this verse. The spirit beings do not experience death. Instead they are bound by chains of darkness so that they cannot see to deceive humans. With darkness there are no burning flames of fire used for torture. The chains with darkness symbolize a restriction on the fallen angels that may have taken place starting with Noah’s time as Noah is mentioned in the next verse 5. Noah’s time is seen with the flood in the time period following Genesis chapter 6. During Noah’s time there was even more evil than we have today. Hence God had to restrict these fallen angels that are the spiritual source of evil. However many sinful angels today are not restricted and today we still have deception. In 2 Peter 2:4 they are reserved for future judgement that we see in the book of Revelation chapter 20. Also 1 Corinthians 6:3 says angels will be judged by saints who are in Christ followers.
Fire is sometimes looked at negatively. However, fire during the time of the original writings of the scriptures was used to see in the dark and for heat in cold weather. As then electrical lamps with light bulbs were not invented and used. At night time when the sun was not up the only ability to see was through candles with small flames of fire used to help the vision. With darkness there are no burning flames of fire used for torture. Instead the chains of darkness symbolize a restriction on the sinful angels ability to see in order to deceive. Also the darkness the demons will experience in the future can also result in the demons being blinded and deceived so that they torture each other. This to me looks like their punishment. An example of this method of victory was used by God in an Israel war with the Midianites as seen in the book of Judges chapter 7. Soldiers from Israel without the use of needed weapons defeated 15,000 Midianite soldiers. In Judges 7:22, 300 Israelites simply blew trumpets and then the Lord God caused the Midianite soldiers to turn on each other with their weapons. Then the defeat of the Midianites was finalized as recorded in Judges chapters 7 and 8.
Using Strong’s #5020, the definition for tartaroo is as follows:
(tartaros, the name of a subterranean region, doleful and dark, regarded by the ancient Greeks as the abode of the wicked dead, where they suffer punishment for their evil deeds;
it answers to the Gehenna of the Jews, see geenna); to hold captive in Tartarus:
(from Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 2000 by Biblesoft)
Using blindness in a more positive way is seen with Jesus Christ himself blinding a man named Saul who later became the Apostle Paul. Saul was of Jewish heritage, while also having Roman citizenship. Saul being blinded is read in Acts chapter 9. Saul was part of the persecution of the followers of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ spoke to him as read in Acts 9:4-6. Before this a light flashed around him and he fell to the ground. Then Jesus spoke to him about Saul persecuting Him through the persecution of his followers. Then Saul was blinded. Three days later a follower of Jesus Christ came to him as directed by Jesus Christ and healed him of his temporary blindness. Saul then believed in Jesus Christ, received the gift of holy spirit and later came to be also called Paul, which was his Roman citizenship name. Paul later became a very knowledgeable Apostle Paul for the Gentiles.
Again there is no reason to add ancient Greek or Roman mythology to the word of God. However, Koine Greek was likely used for the New Testament writings especially written by Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. The reason is that Koine Greek was the most understood and used language of the first century, which is the time of the New Testament writings. Please don’t be a follower of Hades, Molech, Pluto, Orcus or other pagan gods. Instead be a follower of our loving savior Jesus Christ. In the future there will be judgement of mankind that we see in Revelation 20:12-13. However, this judgement will not follow the belief of the mystical pagan Greek and Roman gods. Instead it will follow the God of love and his Son Jesus Christ with a goal of the purification of mankind’s sin nature. The result of the sin nature of humanity beginning with Adam as seen in Genesis chapter 3 is death and the grave. The payment to overcome the sin nature of mankind is through the Son of Man, Jesus Christ. Thanks to Jesus Christ humanity has the hope of eternal life through and with Him.
Thank you JESUS CHRIST.