Is Hell Eternal? Phil Johnson & Denny Burk Respond

Wretched Radio with Todd Friel

Fortis Institute

Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.8 • 3.2K Ratings

🗓️ 15 January 2026

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Segment 1 • Not all doctrinal errors are created equal: some are skin-deep, while some are truly fatal. • Denying core attributes of God (justice, omnipotence, Trinity) moves you firmly outside Christian orthodoxy. • Secondary issues can quietly morph into primary threats if they implicate larger, more central theological issues. Segment 2 • Hell may be a secondary issue… but it’s not just a “friendly disagreement.” • Rejecting eternal punishment often stems from seeking to redefine God’s character as only loving. • It may seem harmless, but it warps the gospel and threatens scriptural foundations. Segment 3 • Phil Johnson says that questions can be asked, but not every doctrine should be endlessly debated. • If one wants to deny hell, one usually has to get around some pretty clear words from Jesus. • Most historical rejections of hell came from cults or liberal fringe—not the faithful church. Segment 4 • Today’s “just asking questions” mindset is often doubt disguised as curiosity. • Hell isn’t up for revision—it’s central to Jesus’ message and the urgency of the gospel. • Tone matters, but clarity matters more: eternal conscious torment is the historic, biblical truth. ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

Transcript

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0:00.0	Wretched Radio begins in three, two, one. You are God's, little G. You are gods because you came from God.
0:13.3	When I read in the Bible where he says, I am, I just smile and say yes, I am too. Why do people
0:18.5	have such a fit about God calling his man little gods?
0:22.6	God came from heaven, became a man, made man into little gods.
0:27.6	We have the potential and the capacity through a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ to know God,
0:32.6	but that does not mean we are God.
0:35.6	The Bible is very clear. There is only one God, and he will mean we are God. The Bible is very clear.
0:37.9	There is only one God.
0:40.1	And he will not share his glory with another.
0:43.5	It's time for Rretched Radio with Todd Friel.
0:46.9	It's time for theological triage.
0:50.7	This is Rretched Radio.
0:52.9	You haven't heard the term. Oh, it's so helpful.
0:56.0	It helps us to catalog and categorize what level of theology we are talking about so that we can determine our response.
1:07.0	Joining us to discuss theological triage specifically about that incendiary subject, Hell. Denny Burke from Southern Seminary. Denny,
1:18.6	I haven't seen you in years, brother. How have you been? I'm doing great, man. I think it's been,
1:23.9	what, since about 2011? I think we did an event together.
1:40.0	And one of the terms that I have heard used by L. Moeller, did Al Moller create the concept of theological triage or did he rip that off?
1:45.1	No, I think it goes back to an essay that he wrote probably back in the 90s.
1:48.4	Define theological triage.
1:52.9	Well, theological triage is just cashing in on the concept of what happens in an emergency room or on a battlefield where you've got medical personnel trying to prioritize those
1:59.3	who need attention first because their injuries are the most grave.
	...

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