Definition
Annihilationism (also conditionalism or conditional immortality) is the eschatological position that the unrighteous cease to exist after the final judgment rather than enduring eternal conscious punishment. Two variants are distinguished: (1) immediate annihilationism: the unsaved are destroyed at death or judgment; (2) conditional immortalism: only the redeemed receive immortality; the rest perish permanently. Annihilationism differs from universalism (all are ultimately saved) and from the doctrine of eternal conscious torment.
Biblical texts cited in its support include Ps. 37:10,20; Matt. 10:28 (“fear him who can destroy both soul and body”); John 3:16 (“shall not perish”); 2 Thess. 1:9 (“eternal destruction”). Historically defended by Tyndale and in modern times by Clark Pinnock, John Stott, and Edward Fudge.
Usage in the Corpus
None of the five corpus authors holds an explicitly annihilationist position. Jones and Noordzij defend universalism (apokatastasis), which excludes annihilationism. Warnock presupposes a literal final judgment without specifying the nature of the unsaved’s ultimate fate. Bullinger treats the lake-of-fire and the number 666 as eschatological realities but does not elaborate on the eternal condition of the condemned. Annihilationism serves in this corpus as a contrast position.