Brian, you posted the following about Esau:
Esau who was hated before birth also repented in the flesh:
Hebrews 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have
inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of
repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
Esau desire to be an heir = " he would have "
Esau looked for repentance = " he found no place "
Esau was sincere = " sought it carefully "
Esau was sorry for sin = " with tears "
Esau went to hell ( he was hated before he was born )
Esau, you say was hated by God despite his sincere repentance and sorrow for his sin. I don't believe the Bible actually says Esau went to hell. There are a couple of verses which say God hated Esau and loved Jacob and I think you are basing your opinion of Esau on this.
IYO, when the Bible uses the term hate, it really means hate, I presume. It wouldn't ever be used hyperbolically to denote relative positions or preference of one over another? For example, when God hates someone or something, he thoroughly hates that person or thing and is bound and determined to destroy it. And when believers are told to hate someone (say the wicked or the world or whoever), they are literally and thoroughly to hate that person. Is this correct? |
