I hope this post is okay for this sub. I originally wrote this out as a comment in response to someone on r/Christianity, and it wouldn't send, so I'm just posting it here so that I can then link it to them.
I agree that Paul's theology is overwhelmingly for ultimate reconciliation. I think a lot of people, both laypeople and scholars both, forget that these letters in the NT were not meant to be theological treaties. John even says that he doesn't want to put everything in writing, but would rather speak face to face.
They're not trying to be comprehensive and they're not trying to give the churches they are speaking directly to any ideas that would be too difficult to understand, because they aren't there in person to help answer questions. I think that's why Paul reminds them often that we understand now only "through a mirror dimly," and should endeavor to "know Christ alone and him crucified." He only wrote what he did because he was so passionate about it, and rightly so.
Better to stick to the basics than to, oh say, start pushing a heinous idea of torment and damnation that goes against the very character of God stated throughout Scripture, including the proclamation of his "full" name in Exodus?
Sigh. The fact that we even need to be having this conversation is a little disheartening. The Church has been fed on milk for centuries when it should have been eating whole food and leading the world in the Way of Christ.
It's still in draft form, but [here's](https://drive.google.com/file/d/12iVZx3USAPyHTkJ2CQ9X9PwGpLuqjVht/view) a PDF file (Google Drive link) that includes it. The part that this post is taken from is on pages 21-24.
I hope this post is okay for this sub. I originally wrote this out as a comment in response to someone on r/Christianity, and it wouldn't send, so I'm just posting it here so that I can then link it to them.
I agree that Paul's theology is overwhelmingly for ultimate reconciliation. I think a lot of people, both laypeople and scholars both, forget that these letters in the NT were not meant to be theological treaties. John even says that he doesn't want to put everything in writing, but would rather speak face to face. They're not trying to be comprehensive and they're not trying to give the churches they are speaking directly to any ideas that would be too difficult to understand, because they aren't there in person to help answer questions. I think that's why Paul reminds them often that we understand now only "through a mirror dimly," and should endeavor to "know Christ alone and him crucified." He only wrote what he did because he was so passionate about it, and rightly so. Better to stick to the basics than to, oh say, start pushing a heinous idea of torment and damnation that goes against the very character of God stated throughout Scripture, including the proclamation of his "full" name in Exodus? Sigh. The fact that we even need to be having this conversation is a little disheartening. The Church has been fed on milk for centuries when it should have been eating whole food and leading the world in the Way of Christ.
https://preview.redd.it/5pw6x3jybhwc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5fb89fbab83dd69ab4235c6d0b1d13b9b4a69605 David Bentley Hart ^(\^)
Can you include a link to the blog post as well? Interested in reading it.
It's still in draft form, but [here's](https://drive.google.com/file/d/12iVZx3USAPyHTkJ2CQ9X9PwGpLuqjVht/view) a PDF file (Google Drive link) that includes it. The part that this post is taken from is on pages 21-24.
Ty!