If that's all Conditionalism is, Matt, then I am a Conditionalist—as well as a believer in the universal reconciliation of all to God. (Paidion)
Matt, Paidion got you that time, all views argue that life is a condition, and good because the bible teaches that. But Conditionalism does not stop there, nor is "that all" as you stated 3 posts above. Yet, you correctly pointed to the correct definition as you stated above: ‘eventual extinction’.
Although you may find some Conditionalists that believe many different things (and they are free to do so), the basic argument from Conditionalists is that fire, destruction, death, and primarily the second death are taken literally to mean they result in eventual annihilation. Also, the Conditionalists I have been speaking of argue that they are ‘Evangelical Conditionalists’, such as I have also stated myself that I do not find it necessary to divert from any other normal theological doctrine to accept Conditionalism. That is I hold to all the other common interpretations of salvation, especially those regarding the Final Judgment and Hell. The only real difference is that I believe people will be annihilated ‘eventually’ in Hell. So, the evangelical belief is that there is a general resurrection and a final last Judgment, after which the dead are thrown into hell, the LOF, and the second death. Any delay between the resurrection and Judgment is your guess, but not important to the premise that souls will be destroyed (annihilated) in Hell.
I do not believe, as it seems ‘some’ Conditionalists believe: that a person disappears or is extinguished at death, and that the dead are then recreated at the resurrection of the dead in order to face Judgment. Although I think this is unbiblical, and unnecessary it is not a premise to Conditionalism nor does it affect the basic point of Conditionalism.
Remember I said I have only read from a few Conditionalists,
but I have ‘shelves full’ of traditional (non-conditionalists) commentaries and theology books that do describe Conditionalists beliefs (although negatively, and in very little depth).
Never have I said God could not keep someone alive forever in order to fulfill their punishment. Remember I never attributed ‘all’ to either my view (as in ‘all’ will be annihilated), nor to what I believe is a general Conditionalist viewpoint.
That ALL share the
same fate is a Universalist idea, not a Conditionalist idea.
“Conditionalists believe that since the damned are not immortal and never will be,
they will actually perish in hell (annihilation). This is the punishment referred to in the Bible as destruction, by which one will perish in the lake of fire, the second death… Immortality is a gift bestowed by God upon his children. To receive this crown, a person must belong to Christ. Such is the condition of this conditional immortality. And
this conditionalist view is evangelical insofar as it is understood and articulated within a framework of evangelical Christian orthodoxy” (Explore Evangelical Conditionalism: Introduction, ‘Rethinking Hell’ site)
http://www.rethinkinghell.com/explore/
We affirm the future, bodily resurrection of both the saved and the unsaved; those who are saved, to the resurrection of eternal life in the presence of God; those who are unsaved, to face final punishment, consisting
ultimately in the destruction of body and soul, a permanent end to life and conscious existence. (Beliefs page, ‘Rethinking Hell’ site)
There is some debate among evangelical conditionalists regarding
finer eschatological details. For instance, some believe there is a consciously experienced intermediate state between physical death and judgment day, and others believe the intermediate state is not consciously experienced… All evangelical annihilationists believe that the damned (those who do not belong to Christ) are raised bodily from their graves at an appointed
day of judgment and are then
finally punished, they perish with finality, suffering the eternal punishment of destruction in hell. (What is Annihilationism? ‘Rethinking Hell’ site)
“Our understanding of the text is simple and elegant. Those who die a first time apart from Christ will be raised, judged and
sentenced to permanent execution: to
die a second time. And this, of course, coincides with the repeated and consistent testimony of Scripture that the wages of sin is death” (Chris Date, ‘Rethinking Hell’ site)
I could quote many more definitions from theological sources, and other writers but I would have to type it out, i hope this is enough (Note Bakers Theological dictionary of Theological terms, and note: Hell under fire' pg.203 on 'Destruction')
I'm a conditionalist and I don't rule out post-mortem repentance at all. I am not sure you speak for all of us… I'm a conditionalist and I don't rule out post-mortem repentance at all. I am not sure you speak for all of us. (Matt, from above)
We agree, as I never ruled out post-mortem repentance. But although you said “That’s all” you seem to understand that is ‘not’ all Conditionalism means, since you added: eventual extinction