On the End of the World and On Hell (Theological Commonplaces)

On the End of the World and On Hell consists of two of Johann Gerhard’s commonplaces. The first, On the End of the World, considers the transition of fallen creation to the New Heaven and New Earth in the Eschaton through Gerhard’s position that, besides mankind and the angels, all of creation will be totally annihilated before being made new. Within, Gerhard devotes the most pages to the chapters “On the Form of the Consummation” and “On the Attendant Circumstances of the Consummation of the Age,” covering his annihilation position and dealing with several Chiliastic/Millennialistic controversies.

The second, On Hell, or Eternal Death, provides a comprehensive, scriptural argument for the existence of Hell, against the teaching Universal Salvation apart from faith in Christ. It continues by examining the structure of Hell through the methodology of the four Aristotelian causes. Yet, this commonplace remains resolutely hopeful, as Gerhard repeatedly emphasizes the importance of these teachings to instill rightly ordered fear of God in the Christian life.