Page 122 - Gods Plan of the Ages

teaching series titled The Savior of the World. These represent some of the saints who have
held to this teaching in these latter days, demonstrating that this doctrine has never been
extinguished. It has always been held by a remnant of God's people.
In 1895 a Biblical encyclopedia was published that included an entry on the origin and
history of the doctrine of universal reconciliation. The authors of the encyclopedia were
Reverend John McClintock, and James Strong. This is the same James Strong who
compiled Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Neither of these men were
adherents of a belief in the restitution of all things, but they provided an unbiased account
of the history of this doctrine, and of some who taught this view. The Biblical encyclopedia
is now out of copyright, and is in the public domain, so I am including the majority of the
text from the article in this addendum.
McClintock and Strong did not provide an exhaustive history of this doctrine, nor
name all of those who have taught this truth, but what they did provide is well researched
and serves to provide an understanding that this is not some new teaching that has recently
appeared. As you read this article, I would draw your attention to the persecutions suffered
by many who taught this view, and note the role of the Roman Catholic Church in the
suppression of this doctrine. The Roman Church is not known to be a champion of truth,
but has frequently been the persecutor, and executioner, of men and women of conscience
who have sought to walk in the light of truth.
The following is taken from the Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical
Literature, Volume 10, 1895, pp. 109-133, Rev. John McClintock and James Strong.

I. Origin and History. -
(I.) Informal. -1. In Former Centuries....
In 195 Clemens Alexandrinus, who was president of the Catechetical School at Alexandria,
advocated Universalism on the ground of the remedial character of all punishment. His
pupil and successor in the school, Origen Adamantius, famous alike for his learning, piety,
and zeal, taught Universalism on the ground of the ever-continuing freedom of the will,
the deep mental and spiritual anguish occasioned by the light and knowledge of the truth
until it leads to repentance, and then the harmony of the soul with God. Origen's position,
abilities, and untiring efforts for the spread of the Gospel gave him great influence with
his pupils, and with the Church at large, in whose behalf he became a voluminous writer.
In addition to his position and work in the school of Alexandria, he also had care for
several years, in connection with Pamphilius, of the theological school at Caesarea, one
of whose distinguished pupils was the celebrated Gregory Thaumaturgus, a great admirer
of his master's theories, and finally, about A.D. 235, his strong defender and ardent
eulogist. Pamphilius, and Eusebius, the first Church historian, also defended Origen's
doctrines from charges brought against them by the Western Church, and in answering
the complaint that he denied all future punishment they quote from his writings in
contradiction thereof, not only his positive assurances of future and severe punishment,
but his equally positive assertion that such correction is purifying and salutary. In A.D.
364, Titus, bishop of Bostra, wrote in advocacy of Universalism, contending that, although
there are torments in the abyss of hell, they are not eternal, but that their great severity
will lead the wicked to repentance and so to salvation. Gregory of Nyssa, A.D. 380, also
advocated Universalism on the same grounds. Contemporary with him was the justly
celebrated defender of orthodoxy, Didymus the Blind, a successor of Origen in the school
at Alexandria, and a zealous Universalist. Prominent among his scholars was Jerome,
eminent alike for his abilities, his inconsistencies, and instability. Universalism as taught
by Origen is clearly and ably set forth by Jerome in his commentaries on the epistles, and
in his letters. John, bishop of Jerusalem at this period, was also an advocate of