# What does the Bible say about hell?

> What the Bible says about hell — Scripture in context, where Christians differ, without scare tactics or a substitute for pastoral care, plus one next step.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/what-the-bible-says-about/hell
By Andrew Kittridge, Founder of Lumin · September 6, 2026
Verses are chosen for the question being asked. Topic pages quote the King James Version (public domain). The public reader and iPhone Bible tab use the Lumin Translation, rendered from Hebrew and Greek with AI and then checked for clarity and fidelity. Glosses in answers are original summaries, not a second Bible. Open the named passage; AI is not the interpreter. [How we cite Scripture](https://www.lumin.faith/about#how-we-cite)

The Bible speaks of judgment, Gehenna, a second death, and a gift of eternal life. Jesus warns that God can destroy soul and body in hell; he also came that whoever believes would not perish. This page cites those texts without gore, without pretending an app knows who is damned, and without a novel “Lumin doctrine.” Heaven is a separate page. Fear here is meant to send you to Scripture, the gospel, and your church — not to a spectacle.

## Hell in the Bible

- **Matthew 10:28** — Fear the one who can destroy soul and body in hell (Gehenna), not those who can only kill the body.
- **Matthew 25:41, 46** — Eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; eternal punishment set over against eternal life.
- **Mark 9:43-48** — Gehenna, unquenchable fire, a worm that does not die — language that echoes Isaiah 66:24.
- **Luke 16:19-31** — The parable of the rich man and Lazarus: Hades, torment, a fixed chasm — a story, not a map Lumin will finish.
- **2 Thessalonians 1:8-9** — Punishment of eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord.
- **Revelation 20:10, 14-15** — The lake of fire; Death and Hades thrown in; the second death; names not found in the book of life.
- **Romans 6:23** — The wages of sin is death; the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- **John 3:16-18** — Whoever believes has eternal life; unbelief stands already condemned — gospel, not gore.

## Highlighted verse

> For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
>
> — Romans 6:23 (King James Version)

## Reflection

These texts are severe, and they are not a marketing device. Daniel 12:2 speaks of awakening to everlasting life or to shame and everlasting contempt. Hebrews 9:27 says people die once, then face judgment. The gospel hinge sits beside the warning: God so loved the world; Christ died for us while we were still sinners; the Lord is patient, not wishing any should perish but that all should reach repentance.

Christians differ on how to read the duration and nature of the judgment — readings that emphasize everlasting conscious punishment (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 14:11; 20:10) and readings that emphasize final destruction or the second death (Matthew 10:28; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:14). This page names those discussions. It does not anathematize a tradition or settle the chart. If you are afraid, take the fear to a pastor, not to an app that cannot know you.

## One next step

Read Romans 6:23 and John 3:16-18, then Matthew 25:31-46, with a pastor or mature Christian — not as a private verdict on anyone’s soul, and not as a scare.

## FAQ

### What is a key Bible verse about hell?

Matthew 10:28: fear him who can destroy soul and body in hell. Matthew 25:46 sets eternal punishment over against eternal life. Romans 6:23 is the gospel hinge: the wages of sin is death; the free gift is eternal life in Christ.

### How should Christians talk about hell?

Cite the texts without scare tactics or gore. The Lord is patient, not wishing any should perish. If you are afraid, take the fear to a pastor. An app does not know who is damned and will not pretend to.

### Do all Christians read hell the same way?

No. Christians differ. Some readings emphasize everlasting conscious punishment (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 14:11; 20:10). Some emphasize final destruction or the second death (Matthew 10:28; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:14). This page names those discussions. It does not declare a Lumin doctrine or anathematize a tradition.

## Related questions

- [What does the Bible say about heaven?](https://www.lumin.faith/what-the-bible-says-about/heaven.md)
- [What does the Bible say about salvation?](https://www.lumin.faith/what-the-bible-says-about/salvation.md)
- [What does the Bible say about hope?](https://www.lumin.faith/what-the-bible-says-about/hope.md)

## Related guides

- [Ask with Scripture you can open](https://www.lumin.faith/ask.md)
- [Read the chapter with Bible Coach](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-coach.md)
- [The Lumin Covenant](https://www.lumin.faith/trust.md)


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Answered by Lumin, a Christian AI app for iPhone and iPad that gives short, Scripture-cited
answers with one next step. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lumin-bible-ai-companion/id6754889412