What does the Bible teach about "fire" in the phrase "Hell fire"? I was studying today Matthew 5:22(KJV).


  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.


I understand that Dante's Divine Comedy had a substantial influence on our idea of what Hell is, and though I wonder if many any longer believe it to be the place of flames described by Dante, it's still the idea that (I suspect, if we're all honest), most Christians have pop into their heads before they start talking about it.

Therefore, asserting my personal belief that Hell isn't a place of flames, what are the Biblical beliefs or support for the Lord's use of "fire" in this verse?


As you consider this, note that my point of view is that the Lord is proposing (whether literally or figuratively) greater dangers for greater errors of judgement.


Angry without a cause -> danger of judgement (a "crime" against an individual.  Most likely judgment by your brother, family, friends, neighbors etc.)
Name calling without a cause -> danger of the council (a "crime" against society: slander)
Calling someone disobedient/sinful without a cause (Prov 12:15, Ex 20:16, etc.) -> danger of hell fire. (a "crime" against God, bearing false witness, final judgment)


I understand the "hell" part, but what is the Biblical basis for using the descriptor/adjective "fire?"  What idea was the Lord trying to convey?
There is a view known as annihilationism which regards the final penalty as complete extinction of being.  In this view the "fire," if literal, devours the impenitent, thus bringing about their everlasting destruction, or if symbolic stands for that annihilation itself.  

A good reference along these lines is the book by Edward William Fudge, The Fire That Consumes: A Biblical and Historical Study of the Doctrine of Final Punishment published by iUniverse.com, Inc.: Lincoln, NE (2001) in which he states on page 428:


  "Eternal fire" is certainly not a temporary punishment which holds any promise of restoration, but it fits very well the idea of everlasting extinction such as befell the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, as Genesis describes, the rest of the Old Testament reminds, Jesus warns and Jude plainly says.  The phrase argues against restorationism but not against conditionalism.
  
  "Unquenchable fire" is usually taken to mean perpetual pain, and it might mean that - if we had no Old Testament prophets to explain the language.  There it clearly signifies a divine judgment which cannot be stopped or slowed down until its destruction is complete.


As mentioned in one of the suggestions, perhaps it would be more profitable to elicit a response from those who hold this view.