Representations of the concepts of “heaven” and “hell” were formed through the profound interplay of the biblical narrative and theological reflection carried out by the main figures of the Christian tradition.

Heaven and Hell: Divine Synthesis

Representations of the concepts of “heaven” and “hell” were formed through the profound interplay of the biblical narrative and theological reflection carried out by the main figures of the Christian tradition. On the one hand, the images of heavenly life and hellish torments are rooted in the descriptions of the Holy Scripture, where the original state of humanity in heaven is lost due to the fall of sin, and the subsequent entrance into Christ’s communion with the Triune God gives hope for the restoration of that state. As noted in one source, "the righteous inherit heaven, eternal blessed life, and the sinners—hell. Heaven existed at the beginning of human history... Through His incarnation, Christ granted every person the opportunity to attain communion with the Triune God and return to heaven" (source: link txt).

On the other hand, these representations were additionally shaped by theological reflections, where the teachings on the nature of the soul and its condition, reflected in the symbolism of light and darkness, play a key role. For instance, another source emphasizes that "the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the roots of heaven... Christ revealed heaven and hell to us, showing that the highest path is seen in offering oneself as a gift to God" (source: link txt). Here we see that the concepts of “heaven” and “hell” are based not only on biblical events but were also reinterpreted through spiritual experience and the inner life of the person, determining their choice between the state of light and darkness.

Moreover, an important aspect of the formation of these ideas is the historical and cultural context: in ancient mythological representations, for instance, the idea of the "golden age" already contained an element of utopia, which later gained new development in Christian interpretations. Thus, the images of heaven and hell came to encompass not only external space but also the inner state of the soul, defined by individual moral choices and one's relationship with God.

Thus, the representations of heaven and hell were formed through the synthesis of biblical revelation – where the events of the fall and the resurrection of Christ set the primary framework – and subsequent theological interpretations carried out by prominent representatives of the Christian tradition, which allowed a shift from the original mythological images to the teaching of heaven as a state of the soul attainable through God’s love and salvation.

Supporting citation(s):
"The righteous inherit heaven, eternal blessed life, and the sinners—hell. Heaven existed at the beginning of human history. At its end there will be not only heaven but also hell. For in the Holy Scripture it is spoken of both heaven and hell. The teaching of the Holy Scripture that man, after his creation, was placed in heaven, and subsequently, having lost communion with God, was deprived of it, is key. Since the fall, the desire to regain a heavenly life continues to live in man. Through His incarnation, Christ gave every person the opportunity to attain communion with the Triune God and return to heaven." (source: link txt)

"The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the roots of heaven; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit we know that God is within us, and we believe in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and we experience Him. Christ revealed heaven and hell to us, showing that the highest path is seen in offering oneself as a gift to God." (source: link txt)