Universal reconciliation
Outside historic orthodoxy
The teaching that every person, and in some versions even the devil, will eventually be reconciled to God through Christ, so that hell is temporary.
Also called: Christian universalism, universal restoration, apokatastasis, evangelical universalism
What it means
Universal reconciliation, sometimes called Christian universalism, differs from simple universalism. It affirms that salvation is only through Christ and that the unrepentant will face judgment. But it holds that God's judgment is remedial: hell purifies rather than punishes forever, and in the end every person will repent, believe, and be saved. Holders appeal to passages that speak of God reconciling "all things" and of every knee bowing to Christ.
The idea goes back to some early Christian writers and was rejected by the church in the sixth century, when it was condemned along with other teachings associated with Origen. The historic creeds and confessions teach that the final judgment is final.
What Scripture says
The punishment of the wicked is as eternal as the life of the righteous.
Jesus says it would be better for His betrayer if he had not been born.
Some sin will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.
Holders cite every knee bowing, but this describes submission, not every person being saved.
Holders cite God reconciling all things, which Paul ties to peace made through the cross.
What is wrong with it
Jesus says the punishment of the wicked is eternal, that some sin will not be forgiven in the age to come, and that it would have been better for Judas never to have been born, which could not be true if Judas would one day enjoy eternal joy. Scripture describes death as the end of the opportunity to repent, followed by judgment. The passages holders cite describe Christ's universal reign and the restoration of creation, but the same letters speak of those who will be excluded.
How it undermines the truth
It undermines the finality of judgment, the urgency of the gospel, and the truthfulness of Christ's warnings. It turns hell into a purgatory and implies that suffering, rather than Christ's work alone, accomplishes a sinner's purification. It also weakens the meaning of faith in this life, if all will believe eventually anyway.
How it can harm a church
Because it uses gospel words and affirms Christ's uniqueness, it can sound orthodox while removing the reason to repent now. Members may grow careless about their own souls and about evangelism, and the church's prayer and preaching for the lost lose their urgency. It gives a comfort Jesus never offered.
This page describes a teaching, not the faith of any person who holds it.
History
Associated with some teachings of Origen (3rd century); condemned in the anathemas against Origenism in the sixth century.
Where it comes up
Confessions: WCF 33.2; LBCF 1689 32.2; Belgic Confession Art. 37; Athanasian Creed
On this site: Final judgment
Related terms
UniversalismOutside historic orthodoxy
The teaching that all people will be saved, whatever they believe, so that faith in Christ is not necessary for salvation.
Eternal conscious punishmentHistoric orthodoxy
Those who die without Christ will experience God's just punishment consciously and without end.
AnnihilationismSerious error
The teaching that the unsaved will not suffer forever but will cease to exist, either at death or after a period of punishment.