He did not believe in eternal punishment , but he did see the possibility of eternal penalty . And so the choice is whether we accept God's offer and invitation willingly, or take the long and terrible way round through ages of purification. Gregory of Nyssa offered three reasons why he believed in universalism. First, he believed in it because of the character of God . Second, he believed in it because of the nature of evil .
Evil is essentially negative and doomed to non-existence.
Third, he believed in it because of the purpose of punishment . The purpose of punishment is always remedial. But I want to set down not the arguments of others but the thoughts which have persuaded me personally of universal salvation. First, there is the fact that there are things in the New Testament which more than justify this belief. The New Testament itself is not in the least afraid of the word all .