Outer darkness

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In Christianity, the outer darkness (often capitalized as Outer Darkness) is a place referred to three times in the Gospel of Matthew (8:12, 22:13, and 25:30) into which a person may be "cast out", and where there is "weeping and gnashing of teeth". Generally, the outer darkness is thought to be hell; however, many Christians associate the outer darkness more generally as a place of separation from God or from the metaphorical "wedding banquet" that Jesus is expected to have upon his Second Coming. Translated literally, the Greek text of Matthew reads "into the darkness, the outer", with a definite article before both the noun and the adjective. For this reason, the New International Version translates this text as "outside, into the darkness".

The most detailed of the Biblical passages regarding the outer darkness is in Jesus' parable of the wedding feast (also known as the parable of the marriage of the king's son). In this parable, a king arranged a wedding for his son, but the normal guests did not come; therefore, the king sent his servants to gather guests from off the street. One of these guests, however, appeared without the proper wedding attire; therefore, the king said: "Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matt. 22:13-14, NASB.)

While many Christians equate the outer darkness to hell, some have controversially suggested that it represents a place for those who make it to heaven based on their faith, but have failed to perform good works during their time on the earth. See, e.g., Zane Hodges (1987, p. 87).

[edit] Usage in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Plan of Salvation, as illustrated by some within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [(not doctrinal)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a somewhat different and more nuanced interpretation of the outer darkness. Specifically, outer darkness to most church members has two separate meanings.

In LDS scriptures, the term outer darkness refers to a condition in the Spirit World. After death, the spirits of those who "chose evil works rather than good" in mortality will go to outer darkness (see Alma 40:13). It is considered to be a place of great torment with "weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth"^[1]. In this sense, outer darkness is the opposite of spirit paradise. This place of torment in the Spirit World is much more commonly referred to by modern latter-day saints as Spirit Prison or hell.

In modern LDS vernacular, Outer Darkness (usually capitalized and referred to without the definite article the) refers to the final destination of the souls of those so wicked as to not merit any kingdom of glory. These wicked souls are called Sons of Perdition. As a background, one should understand that LDS believe that most people will ultimately reside in a kingdom of glory—either the Celestial, Terrestrial, or Telestial Kingdoms—but that "in addition to the degrees of glory, there is a place of no glory...reserved for those who commit the unpardonable sin."^[2]. Those who have committed lesser (pardonable) sins are believed to go to a temporary state referred to as Spirit Prison—similar to the Catholic concept of Purgatory—where they learn about the Gospel and await the Resurrection and the Final Judgement and then continue to a kingdom of glory. Thus, Latter-day Saints believe that those in "Outer Darkness" (modern usage, not scriptural usage) have committed the unpardonable^[3] sin of willfully denying and contending against the Holy Ghost after gaining a full knowledge of the Gospel. It is believed few have gained such a knowledge and committed this sin. They are believed to inherit no glory and after being reunited with their bodies at the resurrection, will remain in Outer Darkness for eternity, with Lucifer himself, who will never have a body. This state shares some similarities with certain Christian views of Hell.

This place of no glory was called Gnolaum by Joseph Smith. Smith stated that those who commit the unpardonable sin are "doomed to Gnolaum, and must dwell in hell, worlds without end." The word gnolaum or "Gnolom" is used elsewhere by Smith to mean "eternal" (Abraham 3:18). The LDS Bible Dictionary calls the place "perdition". The place is scripturally unnamed.

Most church members now to associate the term "Outer Darkness" to Gnolaum or the place where Sons of Perdition will go in the afterlife. The confusion likely arose because Smith described the place where sons of perdition go as having "no light."

Outer Darkness is explained in further detail in the following links. [1] [2]