V. Binney—In Maturity Repudiates Eternal Torment Thesis

As previously noted, THOMAS BINNEY, D.D., LL.D. (17971874), noted Congregational minister and controversialist, first held a five-year pastorate at Newport, where he began his career as an author. He then transferred to a church at Weighhouse, in London, where for forty years he labored with untiring vigor and effectiveness. He was a man of commanding presence and unusual powers. In his later years he was also professor of homiletics at New College.CFF2 447.2

Binney was an independent thinker, putting all teaching to the test of God’s Word. With him, it must “square” with the Book to be approved. He was author of numerous works, and was also a Conditionalist. In his very last sermon at Weighhouse he again declared his personal belief in the “ultimate destruction of the wicked, after punishment according to their works, but not in their eternal or never-ending torment.” Here are other expressions:
“‘Anything that has a beginning may have an end ... All enemies are to be destroyed ... they are not destroyed yet ... But he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.’” ^{9090) A Congregational Minister, “The Late Rev. Thos. Binney,” The Bible Echo, May 8, 1874, p. 26.}CFF2 447.3

Canon Constable, who greatly admired Binney, sent a presentation copy of his Duration and Nature of Future Punishment ^{9191) On Constable, see pp. 337-354.} to him, and received a letter back from Binney dated March 5, 1869, stating that he had long held similar opinions. He stated further that he had read similar books by Dunn, Litton, Minton, White, and other Conditionalists. Then he gave this as his “deliberate testimony”CFF2 448.1

“‘The subject is one which very much engrosses the minds of thoughtful men just now, and one, too, which it will not be possible for preachers long to ignore. The tendency in most, I think, is to take your [Constable’s] view ....CFF2 448.2

“‘The difficulty of conceiving that evil, in the form of either sin or suffering, is to be as eternal as the holy and glorious One,—this is an argument which seems to deaden the sound even of the most distinct and loudly speaking texts.’” ^{9292) Henry Constable, “Thomas Binney and Life in Christ,” The Bible Echo, May 15, 1874, pp. 35, 36}CFF2 448.3

When Binney had this doctrine first brought to his attention he “gave himself no rest until he was satisfied that he had penetrated to the very foundation of the case.” As a result “he abandoned the teaching of his early years,” rejecting the views of many associates and adopting the teaching of Scripture. He held that in a world ruled by such a God as ours, evil could not be eternal. ^{9393) Ibid., p. 36.} This is the testimony of an unpublicized Conditionalist.CFF2 448.4

The movement had already spread to an extent not commonly realized, and included the names of many notables. Conditionalism now had the respectful ear of a host of scholars who pondered its claims.CFF2 448.5