Comparative Chart: Views of Hell in Early Universalist Theology

Theologian	Nature of Hell	Duration	Purpose	Key Source
James Relly	A spiritual condition of alienation and blindness; possibly postmortem.	Temporary – ends when the soul is healed and enlightened.	Corrective and purgative – part of the soul's awakening.	Union, pp. 137–139
John Murray	A temporal experience of judgment, often in this life; not a postmortem place.	Brief and proportional, not necessarily after death.	Restorative – to awaken the soul to divine love.	Letters and Sketches, Vol. 1
Elhanan Winchester	A real postmortem state of suffering, especially for the wicked.	Long-lasting but finite – may endure for “ages.”	Purifying – prepares the soul for final restoration.	The Universal Restoration

Summary of Key Differences

Aspect	Relly	Murray	Winchester
View of Judgment	Spiritual blindness or self-imposed suffering	Temporal discipline by a loving God	God’s justice administered after death
Emphasis on Afterlife	Minimal; focuses on present spiritual condition	Minimal; salvation is realized in this life	Strong focus on future eschatological events
Christ’s Role in Hell	Christ redeems and accompanies souls even in hell	Christ’s atonement prevents eternal punishment	Christ overcomes hell after an extended judgment