I’m trying to study Apokatastasis for the first real time in my life… I’m looking for quotes from early believers that make it clear that early believers talked about and considered the restoration of all things.
I started a church a few years back and we are beginning to consider the idea that maybe Christian Universalism has some merit. I’m certainly at the point of living as if it is true and extremely hopeful…
Help me with any quotes you can…
Thanks, Josh
Welcome to the forum Josh! Excellent to hear your church is considering Christian Universalism!! Ilaria Ramelli is writing three major studies relating to apokotastasis in the early church, the first coming out later this year (she’s been researching it for thirteen years so far). However, I’ll try to gather some quotes ASAP (just running out the door to Bible study 
).
Currently, I think Hanson’s book, Universalism the Prevailing Doctrine of the Christian Church During its First Five Hundred Years, is probably the best resource available.
Here’s some relevant links:
chriscarrollsmith.blogspot.com/2 … thers.html
thebeautifulheresy.com/2005/ … hurch.html (summation of info in Hanson’s book)
Sonia
Whilst I guess he could be talking about Annihilationism, most Annihilationists I’ve come across stress that they don’t deny “eternal punishment”, just “eternal punishing”.
I found this thread helpful: Justin Taylor: Most Early Christians Were Universalists?
Be aware when reading through history, that universalists & non-universalists can get carried away, e.g. defining a person’s stance on the issue from one out of context quote. Also people (including myself) sometimes aren’t consistent or aware of the logical conclusion of their statements, e.g. they might say something which appears to support postmortem repentance/salvation, but not see that it potentially opens the door for universal salvation. Having said that, from what I’ve read, I think it’s extremely likely that at the very least Clement of Alexandria, Origen, & Gregory of Nyssa, were universalists.