Q&R with Brad Jersak – “Eternal Punishment”? Oh, those goats

Question:  How does Matthew 25:31-46 not contradict the grace and mercy of God and God's desire that all shall be saved?  41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.... 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Response:  Thanks for this important and well-stated question. In response, I think it best to start with how they DO, in fact, contradict a number of key New Testament passages, including from the lips of Jesus, IF we follow translations that use ...