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PAUL DIRKS
Is There Anything Good About Hell?

explores our natural discomfort with hell, and then turns to argue for its goodness and glory. Drawing not only from Scripture, the early Church Fathers, and the Puritans, but also from secular philosophy and history, the book aims not to defend the doctrine of hell, but attempts something bolder—to persuade that hell, in all its terror, is good.

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Disbelieve hell, and you unscrew, unsettle, and unpin everything in Scripture. You may as well throw your Bible away at once. From "no hell" to "no God" there is but a series of steps.
—J.C. Ryle, Practical Religion

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“Well-Written and Captivating”

Is There Anything Good about Hell? has many strengths. The author knows what he is talking about. He has a broad knowledge of Scripture and is as likely to cite Moses or David as the NT to prove points. He is committed to Scripture, Reformed theology, and the Puritans. The book is well written and captivating. I commend it to readers, who want to go beyond sentimental views of hell and are willing to face difficult truths of Scripture.

Robert A. Peterson
Retired theologian and writer, author of Hell on Trial and co-author of Two Views of Hell

“Answers Questions We All Have”

Jesus—the most loving man who ever lived—talked a lot about hell. Yet, many believers seem to be embarrassed by this part of Christianity and so neglect it, redefine it, or simply deny it. Dirks outlines the Bible’s teaching on hell, answers questions we all have, and goes further to argue that it is ultimately good. What could possibly be good about hell? Pick up this book and find out!

Dr. Barton Priebe
Lead Pastor of Central Baptist Church and author of The Problem with Christianity: Six Unsettling Questions You Have Asked

“Page-Turner”

I never thought I would say this about a book on “hell,” but this one is a page turner! Amidst the confusing clamour of compromised positions and dead orthodoxies, the author brings a new, refreshing clarity to the traditional doctrine of hell. What captivated me most though, is his main thesis, a novel perspective, that hell is not only necessary to the Christian Gospel but is ultimately a good thing. Throughout, with solid biblical grounding and sound reasoning, I felt compelled to believe in all the right ways.

Robin Martens
Sow37 Podcast and Lead Pastor of Kinnaird Park Community Church

“Food for the Mind and the Soul”

Is There Anything Good About Hell is a thoroughly biblical defense of hell, but it is also much more than that. It is a call to consider how the reality of hell is indispensable for knowing the God of glory and love, the God who truly satisfies, and whose sovereign purposes answer the human cry for value, justice, and hope. Paul Dirks honestly addresses the skeptic’s questions, challenges believers to a deeper walk with God, and equips pastors to boldly and faithful proclaim the gospel. This book is food for the mind and for the soul. Highly recommended!

Gary Zekveld
Senior Pastor, New Westminster United Reformed Church

“Closely Reasoned Arguments”

The author’s closely reasoned arguments reinforce the principle that all that is true about the Creator’s person, decrees, desires, delights, and works are to be appreciated and celebrated by His people.  That includes the reality of hell which, perhaps surprisingly to some, is an expression of His goodness and love, as well as of His perfect justice, and a means of saving sinners. Dirks’ exposition of Scripture and his interaction with other authors goes a long way to help the reader overcome the natural embarrassment and discomfort (at best) or the rejection and denial (at worst) that often accompany this biblical doctrine that reveals a God who is worthy to be praised, and whose Son is worthy to be proclaimed to all the world as the only Savior of men and women!  Highly recommended.

Darcy Van Horn
Lead Pastor of Renfrew Baptist Church

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Hell Literature Reviews

Making Sense of Hell, Robert Golding

Making Sense of Hell, Robert Golding

An excellent Reformed investigation into some philosophical challenges universalists make about hell. Recommended in particular for ...
Rating:

87
Justice and Mercy: A Reply to Thomas Talbott, Robert Holyer

Justice and Mercy: A Reply to Thomas Talbott, Robert Holyer

Not many answers, but some penetrating philosophical questions for Talbott and his account of "justice" in ...
Rating:

66
The Most Encouraging Book About Hell Ever, Thor Ramsey

The Most Encouraging Book About Hell Ever, Thor Ramsey

Engaging popular level book on why hell glorifies God. The doctrine is good, the humour is ...
Rating:

89
Doom Eternal, J.B. Remensnyder

Doom Eternal, J.B. Remensnyder

One of the most comprehensive works on hell ever produced with major sections on the church ...
Rating:

88
God Is Great, God Is Good, Kelly James Clark

God Is Great, God Is Good, Kelly James Clark

An insufficiently scriptural account of God's goodness drives improper conclusions to some useful philosophical questions.  ...
Rating:

47
Paul's Concept of Eternal Punishment, James Rosscup

Paul’s Concept of Eternal Punishment, James Rosscup

Explores the concept of eternal punishment in Paul's epistles, focusing on three major passages. Moo covers ...
Rating:

70
The Doctrine of Eternal Punishment, Harry Buis

The Doctrine of Eternal Punishment, Harry Buis

Excellent, medium-length book which surveys both the historical and biblical doctrine of hell with breadth. Not ...
Rating:

82
On Predestination, Reprobation, and the Love of God, John Piper & Thomas Talbott

On Predestination, Reprobation, and the Love of God, John Piper & Thomas Talbott

Two leading theologians from opposite viewpoints spar over reprobation and how eternal punishment interacts with God's ...
Rating:

74
The Doctrine of Eternal Punishment, Sperry Lewis Johnson

The Doctrine of Eternal Punishment, Sperry Lewis Johnson

Three-part sermon series on hell by an excellent expositor. Deals excellently, if succinctly, with universalism and ...
Rating:

84
Fallacies in the Annihilationism Debate, Peoples and Peterson

Fallacies in the Annihilationism Debate, Peoples and Peterson

Peoples and Peterson interact over Peterson's traditionalist critiques of Fudge and others. Peterson corrects a couple ...
Rating:

67
The Decline of Hell, D. P. Walker

The Decline of Hell, D. P. Walker

An in-depth survey of views on hell in the 17th century. Fascinating and insightful, if narrow ...
Rating:

81
What is of Faith as to Everlasting Punishment? Reply to Dr. Farrar, E. B. Pusey

What is of Faith as to Everlasting Punishment? Reply to Dr. Farrar, E. B. Pusey

A response to Farrar's popular, universalistic teachings, Pusey argues for the orthodoxly of eternal punishment. Although ...
Rating:

81
Hell on Fire, Christopher Morgan and Robert Peterson et al.

Hell on Fire, Christopher Morgan and Robert Peterson et al.

Thorough scholarship from some of the best theologians alive. Stand-out chapters begin with Mohler's opening historical ...
Rating:

96
Hell: major twentieth century attempts to defend hell, Tony Gray

Hell: major twentieth century attempts to defend hell, Tony Gray

While too enamored with C. S. Lewis and the free-will view of hell, this long and ...
Rating:

82
Four Views on Hell 1st Edition, William Crockett

Four Views on Hell 1st Edition, William Crockett

Gerstner is not only an Edwards scholar, more than perhaps anyone else in our generation he ...
Rating:

59
Repent or Perish, John Gerstner

Repent or Perish, John Gerstner

Gerstner is not only an Edwards scholar, more than perhaps anyone else in our generation he ...
Rating:

85
Hell and Future Punishment: Select Sermons, Jonathan Edwards

Hell and Future Punishment: Select Sermons, Jonathan Edwards

Edwards is unarguably the greatest theologian of hell (and possibly heaven as well!) In his sermons ...
Rating:

95
Heaven and Hell, Peter Toon

Heaven and Hell, Peter Toon

This biblical and historical survey of the "last things" demonstrates a penetrating grasp of  historical theology ...
Rating:

72
How Can a God of Love Send People to Hell? John Benton

How Can a God of Love Send People to Hell? John Benton

An extremely short book that addresses common questions about hell and would be suitable for believers ...
Rating:

73
Seeing Hell, Trevor Christian Johnson

Seeing Hell, Trevor Christian Johnson

Presented in survey-style and with some weaknesses in the writing, this is still a very valuable ...
Rating:

76
London's Lamentations, Thomas Brooks

London’s Lamentations, Thomas Brooks

Although the scope of the material here (a response to the Great Fire of London in ...
Rating:

92
Everlasting Punishment and the Problem of Evil, Henri Blocher

Everlasting Punishment and the Problem of Evil, Henri Blocher

An intriguing chapter in an otherwise forgettable volume, Blocher explores the end of actual sin at ...
Rating:

82
Universalism and the Doctrine of Hell, Nigel Cameron

Universalism and the Doctrine of Hell, Nigel Cameron

A hodge-podge of essays on universalism, including Powys, Wenham, Harmon, Helm, and Blocher. Among these, only ...
Rating:

56
Heaven or Hell, R. A. Torrey

Heaven or Hell, R. A. Torrey

Punchy little book with lots of great stories and testimonies. You can tell it belongs to ...
Rating:

79
Two Views of Hell: A Biblical and Theological Dialogue, Edward Fudge and Robert Peterson

Two Views of Hell: A Biblical and Theological Dialogue, Edward Fudge and Robert Peterson

Not a terribly enjoyable book to read as neither Fudge's nor Peterson's writing is excellent, but ...
Rating:

84
Human Destiny, Sir Robert Anderson

Human Destiny, Sir Robert Anderson

Although not always theologically astute, the author, the Assistant Commission of Scotland Yard, has a knack ...
Rating:

83
Reasonable Damnation: Jonathan Edwards, Bruce Davidson

Reasonable Damnation: Jonathan Edwards, Bruce Davidson

A short article summarizing Edwards' logic concerning hell and it's eternity of punishments. For a short ...
Rating:

86
Hell: Remembering the Awful Reality, 9Marks

Hell: Remembering the Awful Reality, 9Marks

A number of short articles on hell. Although many of the authors are excellent, including Hamilton, ...
Rating:

79
A Kinder, Gentler Theology of Hell? Larry Pettegrew

A Kinder, Gentler Theology of Hell? Larry Pettegrew

Fascinating and insightful encyclopedia which surveys hell in history, world religions, literature, art and modern media ...
Rating:

81
The Beauty of Hell: Anselm on God's Eternal Design, Frank Burch Brown

The Beauty of Hell: Anselm on God’s Eternal Design, Frank Burch Brown

Interesting article on Anselm and hell from the perspective of beauty, but ultimately misreads Anselm. Excerpts ...
Rating:

52
Encyclopedia of Hell, Miriam Van Scott

Encyclopedia of Hell, Miriam Van Scott

Fascinating encyclopedia which surveys hell in history, world religions, literature, art and modern media. A very ...
Rating:

70
An Angry God? Eryl Davies

An Angry God? Eryl Davies

This short and hard-to-find book provides an excellent overview of the doctrines of wrath and hell ...
Rating:

86
The Doctrine of Endless Punishment, W. T. Shedd

The Doctrine of Endless Punishment, W. T. Shedd

W. T. Shedd, one of my favorite theologians, has written a learned and excellent book on ...
Rating:

93
Hell on Trial: The Case for Eternal Punishment, Robert Peterson

Hell on Trial: The Case for Eternal Punishment, Robert Peterson

Robert Peterson has written what is in my estimation the greatest defense of the doctrine of ...
Rating:

94
Whatever Happened to Hell? John Blanchard

Whatever Happened to Hell? John Blanchard

John Blanchard draws from an exceptionally deep well and along with Peterson’s Hell on Trial is one ...
Rating:

92
A Theodicy of Hell, Charles Seymour

A Theodicy of Hell, Charles Seymour

Contains philosophical objections to the doctrine of hell ...
Rating:

72
Hell and the Problem of Evil, Andrei Buckareff & Allen Puig

Hell and the Problem of Evil, Andrei Buckareff & Allen Puig

Contains philosophical objections to the doctrine of hell ...
Rating:

35
Heaven and Hell in the Preaching of the Gospel: A Historical Survey, David Larsen

Heaven and Hell in the Preaching of the Gospel: A Historical Survey, David Larsen

Great article which surveys the preaching on eternal matters in the history of the church. Concise, ...
Rating:

85
The Promise of the Future, Cornelis Venema

The Promise of the Future, Cornelis Venema

Highly recommended although it is far wider in scope that hell and judgment ...
Rating:

80
Species of Hell, Kronen & Reitan

Species of Hell, Kronen & Reitan

Probably the best objection to hell I have ever read, or at least it seemed so ...
Rating:

68
The Problem of Hell: A Philosophical Anthology, Joel Buenting

The Problem of Hell: A Philosophical Anthology, Joel Buenting

An uneven collection of essays from a philosophical perspective on hell. Among the more useful and ...
Rating:

53
The Attenuation of Traditional Doctrine, Paul & Linda Badham

The Attenuation of Traditional Doctrine, Paul & Linda Badham

Chapter in Immortality or Extinction. Merely skim-read the rest of the book. A few useful contrary ...
Rating:

24
Hell: The Logic of Damnation, Jerry Walls

Hell: The Logic of Damnation, Jerry Walls

This short, obscure book is the greatest book on hell ever written, in my estimation. Hartman ...
Rating:

68
The Typography of Divine Love, Jeff Jordan

The Typography of Divine Love, Jeff Jordan

Useful journal article, with some very interesting insights, albeit some unwarranted conclusions ...
Rating:

75
Hell, Divine Love, and Divine Justice, Michael Stoeber

Hell, Divine Love, and Divine Justice, Michael Stoeber

Interesting article on the role of compassion and love towards those in hell. Interacts with many ...
Rating:

67
The Problem of Eternal Punishment, J. I. Packer

The Problem of Eternal Punishment, J. I. Packer

Packer draws from a deep well and gets some things right about hell but unfortunately gets ...
Rating:

63
Hell, Vagueness, and Justice: A Reply to Sider, Trent Dougherty & Ted Poston

Hell, Vagueness, and Justice: A Reply to Sider, Trent Dougherty & Ted Poston

Short, philosophical article that includes some rather interesting thought experiments against Sider’s vagueness argument against the ...
Rating:

52
Love Wins, Rob Bell

Love Wins, Rob Bell

Intellectual pap. Poison masquerading as Christian insight. Nothing redeeming here. There are much better explanations or ...
Rating:

2
A Treatise on Hells Terror, Christopher Love

A Treatise on Hells Terror, Christopher Love

A 17th Century Puritan, Love’s writing on hell is bold, biblical and Edwardsian. Hard-hitting, but very ...
Rating:

89
Heaven and Hell in Enlightenment England, Philip Almond

Heaven and Hell in Enlightenment England, Philip Almond

Very useful overview of thinking on eternity in the 17th and 18th Centuries in England. As ...
Rating:

73
The Only Deliverer from the Wrath to Come, Thomas Vincent

The Only Deliverer from the Wrath to Come, Thomas Vincent

Puritan sermon on 1 Thessalonians 1:10. Much here on hell, but wider focus ...
Rating:

78
Fire and Brimstone, Thomas Vincent

Fire and Brimstone, Thomas Vincent

Characteristically systematic and passionate Puritan pleading concerning hell, Christ, and saving faith. Short, but very powerful ...
Rating:

87
Erasing Hell: What God Said about Eternity, and the Things We’ve Made Up, Francis Chan & Preston Sprinkle

Erasing Hell: What God Said about Eternity, and the Things We’ve Made Up, Francis Chan & Preston Sprinkle

A well-written, popular-level book by in answer to Bell’s Love Wins. At times it is frustratingly ...
Rating:

71
Eternal Punishment, A. W. Pink

Eternal Punishment, A. W. Pink

An extremely short but solid work from a renowned theologian ...
Rating:

76
Reconciliationism: A Forgotten Evangelical Doctrine of Hell, Andy Saville

Reconciliationism: A Forgotten Evangelical Doctrine of Hell, Andy Saville

Genuinely useful, if ultimately unbiblical viewpoint. Worth the interaction. See also Blocher’s chapter in Universalism and ...
Rating:

56
Sermons Upon Death and Judgment, William Bates

Sermons Upon Death and Judgment, William Bates

Most Puritan authors have excellent theology of hell and punishment, but Bates has some particularly good ...
Rating:

84
Hell and the Justice of God, Marilyn McCord Adams

Hell and the Justice of God, Marilyn McCord Adams

Some serious missteps here by McCord Adams in this philosophy-oriented article, and not only from a ...
Rating:

23
Divine Penology, L. B. Hartman

Divine Penology, L. B. Hartman

This short, obscure book is the greatest book on hell ever written, in my estimation. Hartman ...
Rating:

98






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