General Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian)
Swedenborgianism is based on the theological writings of Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772), a Swedish scientist-mystic who claimed visionary access to heaven and hell. Swedenborg taught that God is one divine Person—Jesus Christ—in whom Father (divine love), Son (divine wisdom), and Holy Spirit (divine activity) are united aspects, not separate persons. Salvation comes through conjunction with God by shunning evil and practicing charity. The Bible is understood through Swedenborg's revealed inner or spiritual sense. Main bodies include the General Church of the New Jerusalem and the New-Church (Swedenborgian), organized after Swedenborg's death in 1787.
Theology
Christology
Soteriology
Salvation
Nuanced
Salvation through conjunction with God by shunning evil, practising charity
Atonement & Ransom
Nuanced
Christ overcame hells and restored order; not penal substitution
Predestination
Denies
God wills all to be saved; double predestination rejected; freedom essential
Original Sin
Nuanced
Hereditary evil inclination; not Augustine's guilt; overcome by regeneration
Eschatology
Soul & Afterlife
Nuanced
Soul enters spiritual world immediately; heaven and hell as spiritual states
Hell
Nuanced
Hell is real; people freely choose it by loving self above God
Heaven
Nuanced
Three degrees of heaven corresponding to degrees of love and wisdom
Second Coming
Nuanced
Second Coming = Lord's presence through New Church established by Swedenborg
Millennium
Nuanced
Not a literal future period; New Jerusalem = New Church spiritually understood
Ecclesiology
Scripture
Scripture Interpretation
John 1:1 — "The Word Was God"
Nuanced
Divine Truth (Logos) as God's activity; not a separate divine person
Isaiah 7:14 — "Virgin or Young Woman"
Nuanced
Spiritual sense: virgin birth prefigures Christ as virgin wisdom from God
Matthew 16:18 — "Upon This Rock"
Nuanced
Spiritual sense: rock is recognition of divine truth; Peter as truth-bearer
Romans 9:18-21 — "God's Sovereign Choice"
Nuanced
God's will coordinates with human freedom; divine providence guides all
James 2:24 — "Justified by Works"
Affirms
Faith and works inseparable; genuine faith produces reformed life
Matthew 28:19 — "Baptize in the Name"
Nuanced
Baptism represents initiation into recognition of divine truth and love
Hebrews 1:8 — "Your Throne, O God"
Nuanced
God addresses Christ as divine principle; affirms Christ's divine authority
Revelation 20:1-6 — "The Thousand Years"
Nuanced
Spiritual interpretation: inner transformation and heavenly governance
Genesis 1:1-2 — "In the Beginning"
Nuanced
Spiritual sense: creation as emanation of divine wisdom and love
Mark 16:9-20 — "The Longer Ending"
Nuanced
Content spiritually true; manuscript questions acknowledged; allegories affirmed
John 7:53–8:11 — "The Woman Caught in Adultery"
Nuanced
Spiritually true: mercy triumphs over judgment; divine love demonstrated
1 John 5:7-8 — "The Comma Johanneum"
Nuanced
Likely later addition; Trinity affirmed from other sources and spiritual sense
Deuterocanonical Books — "Tobit, Wisdom, Sirach, Maccabees"
Varies
No official stance; valued as spiritual wisdom; not canonical Scripture
Shepherd of Hermas — "Early Christian Text"
Varies
Early Christian wisdom text; valued spiritually; not canonical Scripture
Ethics & Practice
Sabbath
Nuanced
Sunday worship; Sabbath understood spiritually as rest in the Lord
Blood Transfusions
Affirms
No restriction; medicine and healing accepted
Military Service
Varies
No formal denominational position; individual conscience
Holidays
Affirms
Christmas and Easter observed; spiritually interpreted through correspondences