IS 550 Theological SummitAnnual Theological Theme:

Eschatology

“The Biblical Doctrine of Death, Immortality, and the Resurrection”

Presenter: Joel W. Cocklin

Spring Trimester Summit January 3, 2012

• A mystery – little is known about what happens after death.

• Sheol – a) distinct place of shadowy, joyless existence for both good and evil (Gen. 37:35; Job 30:23)b) a silent forgetfulness in the depths of earth (Ps. 88:12)

• Death – a) not annihilation, but a transition to something of which they knew nothing (Judg. 2:10)b) Associated with sin (Gen. 3:19,22; Ezek. 18:20-21)

• Hope – A national hope (Hosea 6:1-3)

O.T. Doctrine of ‘Death’

• Job – 1) hope only in the dark silence of the underworld (17:13-16)2) Expects God to vindicate the righteous (19:25-27)3) Strikes rich and poor (21:23-26; 24:20, 22-24)

• Jeremiah – 1) grim reaper (9:22)2) Mourns for the nation (9:1)3) Didn’t like funerals, leave corpses for the wild beasts (16:4)

Wisdom Writers Concepts of ‘Death’

Ecclesiastes – 1) Bitterness of death (7:26), futility of life (1:2; 12:8)2) God’s act incomprehensible – good and evil alike (3:18-21)3) Epicurean attitude (8:15; 9:9; 2:14b,16; 4:2)4) Egyptian concept (12:5-8)

Wisdom Writers Concepts of ‘Death’(Continued)

• Babylonians – placed useful objects in the tomb• Egyptians – 1) placed useful objects in the tomb

2) Exact continuation of life after death – supply of food, drink, etc.3) Soul would not recognize the body unless it escaped decomposition4) Soul = bird5) Death = entrance to the judgment chambers6) Heart of person weighted to determine amount of righteousness7) Pyramid Texts, Coffin Texts, Book of the Dead

Influence on the Hebrews from Other Cultures

Early O.T. – 1) little mention of resurrection2) Generally, continuation of one’s life in one’s descendants (Gen. 12:1-3) & issue of childlessness (Gen. 30:2224; Ruth 4:10)3) No concept of individual resurrection

Babylonian Exile – CHANGE: shift to significance of the individual (Jer. 7:26; 42; Ezek. 18)

O.T. Doctrine of ‘Resurrection’

Inter-testamental Period – 1) Emphasis on the resurrection of the dead (2 Esdras 7:32-37; 2 Macc. 7:9-11,23-29; 12:43-45; 14:37-46)2) Pharisees accepted teaching, Sadducees rejected3) Influenced N.T. thought: Matt. 24; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:50-54; 2 Pet. 3:1-13; Jude; Rev.

O.T. Doctrine of ‘Resurrection’(Continued)

1. Glorified earthy Zion (Isa. 65:20-22; Zech. 8:4)

2. Confidence in God to lead to future state (Job 14:13-17; 19:25-27; Ps. 16:9-10; 17:15; 73:23-28)

3. National spiritual rebirth (Hos. 6:2; 13:14) & Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones (Ezek. 37)

O.T. Concept of the ‘Resurrection of the Body’

Isaiah – Dead raise to reward or punishment (25:8; 26:19)

Daniel – Individual responsibility & final judgment: different future state for each (12:2-3)

O.T. Emphasis on ‘Individual Resurrection’

• Frequent association with sin• Physical (Acts 12:23) or Spiritual death (1

Tim. 5:6; Eph. 2:1; Rev. 3:1)?• Origin of death

a) In Adam all die (Rom. 5:12-17; 1 Cor. 15:22)b) Wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23)c) Emphasis on the flesh (Rom. 8:6)d) Law kills (Rom. 7:7-12)e) Ministry of death (2 Cor. 3:6-7)

N.T. Doctrine of ‘Death’

1. Hebrew concept of returning to the ‘fathers’ (Lk 16:22)

2. Entrance to eternal friendship w/ God (Jn 12:24)

3. Very little about the nature of life after death4. Resurrection of the righteous (Lk 14:14f) –

Pharisees5. Dying thief – immediate companionship (Lk

23:43)6. Going to the Father (Jn 16:28)7. Preparing rooms (Jn 14:2f)

What Jesus Said About Death

8. Sending Comforter (Jn 14:26)9. Tribulations vs. Overcoming (Jn 16:33)10. Eternal life is knowing God and his Son (Jn

17:3)11. “I am the resurrection and the life.” (Jn

11:25)

What Jesus Said About Death(Continued)

1. Sin closely related death (Rom. 5:21; 6:16)2. “By man came death” (1 Cor. 15:21); “in

Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22)

3. Last enemy to overcome (1 Cor. 15:26)4. Swallowed up in victory (1 Cor. 15:54)5. Antidote for death – right conduct (1 Cor.

15:58)

Paul’s Doctrine of ‘Death’

1. Jesus’ death is the center of attention2. He destroyed death’s power and its fear

(Heb. 2:14-15)3. Death’s destruction = immortality (2 Tim.

1:10)4. Reconciled to God (Rom. 5:10)5. Jesus has the keys to death and hell (Rev.

1:18)6. The dead are asleep (1 Thess. 4:14)

Death in the N.T.

7. Waiting a day when death is completely swallowed (2 Cor. 5:4)

8. Mortality will put on immortality (1 Cor. 15:53)9. No more death and sorrow. Tears will be wiped

(Rev. 21:4)10. Immediate OR Future?11. Death cannot separate from God’s love in Christ

(Rom. 8:38-39)12. In death given comfort, rest, and assurance (Lk

16:22-25; Rev. 6:9-11)13. Waiting a day when death will be completely

swallowed up by life (2 Cor. 5:4)

Death in the N.T. (Continued)

1. Influenced by inter-testamental writings (1 Cor. 15:51-52), BUT different.

2. Unified view of the nature of Jesus’ resurrection – Robert H. Gundry

3. Pharisaical influence – Phil. 3:5; Acts 23:6-84. Best example – 1 Cor. 155. Resurrection is not the raising of the SAME

body, but giving a NEW body which is continuous w/ the old (1 Cor. 15:44)

6. Sōma = Physical body – “the first Adam” – Spiritual body – “the last Adam”

N.T. Doctrine of Resurrection

5. Resurrected body is the same person (Lk 24:29-32) – bears marks of identification (Jn 20:24-29)

6. What is different?a) Another form (Mk 16:12)b) Sits at the table (Mk 16:14)c) Ascends into heaven (Lk 24:51)d) Goes through shut doors (Jn 20:19,26)

N.T. Doctrine of Resurrection(Continued)

Baptism – raised through the power of God (Col. 2:12)

Lord’s Supper – Church’s celebration on the first day of the week

Parallels Involving Christ’s Resurrection

In all 4 GospelsMatthew 28:11-15Mark 16:1-8Luke 24:1-12John 20:11-18

Resurrection of Jesus

Paul: “temporal” is replaced by “eternal” (2 Cor. 4:7 – 5:10)“body of humiliation” (Phil. 3:21)

Not all questions answered: WHEN, WHERE, HOW, WHO?

Will die, but gain because with Christ (2 Cor. 5:6; Phil. 1:20-21)

Christian Resurrection

Emphasis on the ‘Be’ and ‘Do’

1. After hearing this presentation on the biblical doctrines of death, immortality, and resurrection, how would you answer Shelley’s mother; “Where is Shelley now? She never asked Jesus into her life, she was only two. Does she have the body of a two year old? Is she in heaven?”

2. As the pastor officiating at the funeral and graveside interment services of a Christian believer, what would you be sure to include? What would you be sure to exclude?

3. As a clergy person, what do you have yet to do within yourself in dealing with your own fears and uncertainties surrounding death and resurrection?

Questions