Outer darkness

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In Christianity, the 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 C. Hodges (1987, p. 87).

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

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 Latter-day Saints has two separate meanings.

[edit] Scriptural use: temporary abode of the wicked

Main article: Spirit prison

First, LDS scripture uses the term outer darkness to refer to a condition in the spirit world. The Book of Mormon teaches that after death, the spirits of those who "chose evil works rather than good" in mortality will "cast out into outer darkness".[1] This is considered to be a condition of great torment, where there will be "weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth"[2]. In this sense, outer darkness and spirit paradise are the two possible destinations for individuals immediately after death. This place of torment in the spirit world is much more commonly referred to by modern Latter-day Saints as spirit prison.

[edit] Popular use: permanent abode of sons of perdition

Second, in modern Latter-day Saint vernacular, outer darkness usually refers to an eternal state of punishment.[3] Very few people who have lived on the earth will be consigned to this state, but Latter-day Saint scripture suggests that at least Cain will be present.[4] Other mortals who during their lifetime become sons of perdition—those who commit the unpardonable sin—will be consigned to outer darkness.[5] It is taught that the unpardonable sin is committed by those who "den[y] the Son after the Father has revealed him".[6] However, the vast majority of residents of outer darkness will be the "devil and his angels ... the third part of the hosts of heaven" who in the pre-existence followed Lucifer and never received a mortal body.[7] The residents of outer darkness are the only children of God that will not receive one of three kingdoms of glory at the Last Judgment. Sons of perdition will remain in outer darkness and suffer for eternity with Satan. This state shares some similarities with certain Christian views of hell.

This second and more common meaning of outer darkness derives from the non-scriptural teachings of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Smith taught that those who commit the unpardonable sin are "doomed to Gnolaum—to dwell in hell, worlds without end."[8] The word gnolaum is used elsewhere by Smith to mean "eternal".[9] The term "outer darkness" may have been applied by others to Smith's "gnolaum" because he also described gnolaum as a place "where there is no light".[citation needed]

[edit] Meaning

It is unclear in the teachings of Mormonism whether both the temporary and permanent uses of outer darkness refer to physical places or if both are merely descriptions of personal states of suffering and torment. The uncanonized LDS Bible dictionary suggests that biblical "expressions about 'hell-fire' are probably ... figurative of the torment of those who willfully disobey God."[10] It is also unclear whether sons of perdition will ultimately be redeemed; of outer darkness and the sons of perdition, Latter-day Saint scripture states that "the end thereof, neither the place thereof, nor their torment, no man knows; Neither was it revealed, neither is, neither will be revealed unto man, except to them who are made partakers thereof".[11]

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Alma 40:13.
  2. ^ Alma 40:13; see also Matthew 8:12.
  3. ^ LDS Church. “Chapter 46: The Last Judgment”, Gospel Principles, 294.
  4. ^ Moses 5:22-26.
  5. ^ LDS Church. “Chapter 46: The Last Judgment”, Gospel Principles, 294.
  6. ^ LDS Church, Guide to the Scriptures: Hell; see also Doctrine and Covenants 76:43-46.
  7. ^ Doctrine and Covenants 29:36-39.
  8. ^ Joseph Smith, Joseph Fielding Smith (ed.) (1977). Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book), p. 361.; italics in original.
  9. ^ Abraham 3:18.
  10. ^ LDS Church, Bible Dictionary: Hell.
  11. ^ Doctrine and Covenants 76:45-46.

[edit] References