Does God Hate His Enemies in Hell
The Concept of God's Hatred Towards His Enemies
The biblical concept of God hating His enemies is rooted in various passages throughout the Old Testament. For instance, in Psalms 139:21, David expresses his hatred towards those who hate God, stating, "Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD, and detest those who rise against You?" [1]. This sentiment is echoed in Deuteronomy, where it is written that God "repays to their faces with destruction; He will not hesitate to repay to his face the one who hates Him" [2].
In the context of hell, the question arises as to whether God's hatred towards His enemies persists. According to Augustine, the biblical command to "love your enemies" (Matthew 5:44) does not contradict the idea of God hating His enemies. Augustine argues that the command to love one's enemies is not incompatible with hating those who hate God, as the latter is an expression of righteous indignation [3].
The Patristic tradition, as represented by Augustine, interprets God's hatred towards His enemies as a manifestation of His justice. In his Exposition on Psalms, Augustine notes that those who hate God's people are, in effect, hating God Himself. one tradition argues that it is righteous to hate those who hate God, citing Psalms 139:21 as evidence [5].
Reformed theologians, such as Calvin, also grapple with the concept of God's hatred towards His enemies. In his commentary on Isaiah, Calvin distinguishes between God's punishment of believers and the reprobate, suggesting that God's wrath is directed towards the latter in a manner that is distinct from His disciplinary actions towards the former [6].
The biblical basis for God's hatred towards His enemies is not limited to the Old Testament. The New Testament also contains references to God's wrath and judgment, which can be seen as an expression of His hatred towards those who reject Him. The Patristic tradition, as represented by Hermas and others, understands God's punishment as a just response to human sin, rather than an expression of capricious wrath [4].
Sources
- Psalms “Psalms 139:21 (BSB) — Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD, and detest those who rise against You?”
- Deuteronomy “Deuteronomy 7:10 (BSB) — But those who hate Him He repays to their faces with destruction; He will not hesitate to repay to his face the one who hates Him.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — CHAP. XV.--40. But it is rather that statement which the Lord Himself makes in another passage which is wont to disturb the minds of the little ones, who nevertheless earnestly desire to live now acco (part 1): 18 a man may love his enemies, and hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers ! For He commands both things who calls us to the kingdom of heaven. And how these things do not contradict each other, it is easy to show under His guidance; but after they have been understood, it is difficult to carry them out, althou”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 2: Hermas, Tatian, Theophilus, Athenagoras, Clement of Alexandria — CHAP. VIII.--AGAINST THOSE WHO THINK THAT WHAT IS JUST IS NOT GOOD. (part 5): Scripture. And God does not inflict punishment from wrath, but for the ends of justice; since it is not expedient that justice should be neglected on our account. Each one of us, who sins, with his own free-will chooses punishment, and the blame lies with him who chooses.[8] God is without blame. "But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous, who taketh vengeance? God forbid."[9] He says, ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM CXXXIX.(5) (part 12): hate you."(2) He saith not, "who hate God." So he followeth the pattern, and saith, "Have not I hated those who hated Thee; Lord?" He saith not, "Who have hated me." "And at Thine enemies did I waste away." "Thine," he said, not "mine." But those who hate us and are enemies unto us, only because we serve Him, what else do they but hate Him, and are His enemies. Ought we then to love such enemies as these? Or do not they suffer persecution for God's sake, to whom it is said, "Pray for them that persecute you "? Observe ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 15.17: on my wrath, and did not smite as if I wished to destroy him; and thus I gave abundant evidence that I am not his enemy.” But I prefer another and commonly received interpretation, which leads us to understand that a difference between believers and the reprobate is here declared; for God punishes both indiscriminately, but not in the same manner. When he takes vengeance on the reprobate, he gives loose reins to his anger; because he has no other object in view than to destroy them; for they are “vessels of wrath, appointed to destruction,” ”