Estimated reading time 4.5 minutes
The biblical definition of death is never one of extinction, but rather of separation. Neither is death ever defined by lexicographers as extinction, annihilation, non-existence or unconsciousness. Death in the Bible is always representative of a separation between two things.
The proponents of “soul sleep” are fond of defining “death” as extinction, annihilation, non-existence or unconsciousness. This is, of course, a non-biblical way of think of death.
Scripturally, “death” is the separation of two things: in physical death the two things are the body and soul (Eccl 12:7); in spiritual death: man and God (Isa 59:1-2); in the second death: man and God (Rev 21:8; 22:14-15); in being dead to sin: Christian and sin (Rom 6:2, 11; Heb 7:26); in being dead to the law: Christian and the law (Rom 7:4).
The following references are included here only to demonstrate the opinion of Christians in the first centuries. They are not, of themselves, offered as doctrinal authorities. The question of death being an extinction of the soul was considered and rejected by virtually all early churchmen as the following references demonstrate:
- 180 AD, Justin Martyr, The resurrection is a resurrection of the flesh which died. For the spirit dies not; the soul is in the body, and without a soul it cannot live. The body, when the soul forsakes it, is not. For the body is the house of the soul; and the soul the house of the spirit. These three, in all those who cherish a sincere hope and unquestioning faith in God, will be saved." (Justin Martyr, Chapter X.—The Body Saved, and Will Therefore Rise)
- 177 AD, Athenagoras the Athenian, Chapter XXIV.—Argument for the Resurrection from the Chief End of Man. "For such an end as this, I suppose, belongs to beasts and cattle, not to men possessed of an immortal soul and rational judgment."
- 190 AD, Clement of Alexandria, “But we must as much as possible subject the soul to varied preparatory exercise, that it may become susceptible to the reception of knowledge. Do you not see how wax is softened and copper purified, in order to receive the stamp applied to it? Just as death is the separation of the soul from the body, so is knowledge as it were the rational death urging the spirit away, and separating it from the passions, and leading it on to the life of well-doing, that it may then say with confidence to God, "I live as Thou wishest." (book VII chapter XXII)
- 200 AD, Tertullian, Such severance, however, is quite natural between the soul and the body; for when the body is deserted by the soul, it is overcome by death. The soul, therefore, is endued with a body; for if it were not corporeal, it could not desert the body. (chapter 5, A Treatise on the Soul)
- 200 AD, Tertullian, Chapter LI.—Death Entirely Separates the Soul from the Body. “But the operation of death is plain and obvious: it is the separation of body and soul. Some, however, in reference to the soul's immortality, on which they have so feeble a hold through not being taught of God, maintain it with such beggarly arguments, that they would fain have it supposed that certain souls cleave to the body even after death.
- 200 AD, Tertullian, Chapter LII.—All Kinds of Death a Violence to Nature, Arising from Sin.—Sin an Intrusion Upon Nature as God Created It. “Such, then, is the work of death—the separation of the soul from the body. Putting out of the question fates and fortuitous circumstances, it has been, according to men's views, distinguished in a twofold form—the ordinary and the extraordinary.
- 260 AD, Methodius, whether it sojourns with us, partaking of death, or whether it is gifted with an endless immortality; what condition awaits us when we shall have separated from our bodies relaxed in death; whether we shall retain our perceptions, or have no recollection of our former sensations or of past memories; book 1, Oration on the Psalms.
- 307 AD, Lactantius, For the soul even in opposition to the body desires the worship of God, which consists in abstinence from desires and lusts, in the enduring of pain, in the contempt of death. From which it is credible that the soul does not perish, but is separated from the body, because the body can do nothing without the soul, but the soul can do many and great things without the body. Chapter XI.—Of the Last Times, and of the Soul and Body.
- 307 AD, Lactantius, Therefore, although they are joined and connected together from birth, and the one which is formed of earthly material is, as it were, the vessel of the other, which is drawn out from heavenly fineness, when any violence has separated the two, which separation is called death, then each returns into its own nature; that which was of earth is resolved into earth; that which is of heavenly breath remains fixed, and flourishes always, since the divine spirit is everlasting. Chapter XII.—Of the Soul and the Body, and of Their Union and Separation and Return.
- Ca. 2nd Century AD, The Clementine Homilies, "For there is every necessity, that he who says that God is by His nature righteous, should believe also that the souls of men are immortal: for where would be His justice, when some, having lived piously, have been evil-treated, and sometimes violently cut off, while others who have been wholly impious, and have indulged in luxurious living, have died the common death of men? Since therefore, without all contradiction, God who is good is also just, He shall not otherwise be known to be just, unless the soul after its separation from the body be immortal, so that the wicked man, being in hell, as having here received his good things, may there be punished for his sins; and the good man, who has been punished here for his sins, may then, as in the bosom of the righteous, be constituted an heir of good things. Since therefore God is righteous, it is fully evident to us that there is a judgment, and that souls are immortal. Homily II., Chapter XIII.—Future Rewards and Punishments.
- Ca. 2nd Century AD, The Clementine Homilies: And what is death but the separation of soul from body? For death does not even at all belong to those things which substantially exist: for death is nothing, … , but the separation of soul from body; and when this takes place, the body, …, is dissolved; but the soul, …, remains in life and exists substantially. Homily XIX., Chapter XX.—Pain and Death the Result of Sin.
Dear reader, it is important that we always keep before us the truth of the immortality of the soul when we read of “death.” We are brought to this knowledge by the testimony of both holy Scripture and pious churchmen of antiquity, recorded above. (Some may have objections to our references to the Clementine Homilies because of its questionable authorship. However, such references serve as a historical record of popular doctrinal understanding of our topic.) Death, then, is not the extinction of the soul, for either the righteous or the unrighteous, Moreover, it is equally important that we understand when the Bible speaks of eternal life being promised to those who believe on Christ, it is speaking of spiritual life as opposed to spiritual death. Those who understand annihilation for the souls of the wicked and eternal life for the souls of the righteous have misunderstood the meaning of “death.” The faithful believers have eternal life in the presence of their God, while the unbelieving sinners experience an eternal existence in a forever separation from the God they rejected — this, the Bible calls the “Second Death”.
Apostolically Speaking,
☩☩ Jerry L. Hayes
This essay is excerpted from the Bishop's book "Biblical Anthropology."
Biblical Anthropology is a study in what the Bible teaches concerning the origin, nature (ontology), history and destiny of mankind. Reviewed in this work is the debate over whether or not the human being is bipartite—such as only body and soul, or tripartite—such as body, soul and spirit. Biblical Anthropology addresses the question of whether or not the soul is mortal or immortal; that is, does the soul have existence apart from the body. What, exactly happens at death? Will there be a resurrection of the body, and if so what nature will the resurrected body take? These are important questions addressed in this book. Bishop Jerry L Hayes presents a very orthodox view of Christian biblical anthropology which relies heavily on holy Scripture with a generous sprinkling of quotes from the ancient churchmen such as Athenagoras, Tertullian, and Augustine to name a few.
Order your personal copy of this classic work on biblical anthropology by clicking the link provided here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1703392698/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Bishop+Jerry+Hayes%2C+Biblical+anthropology&qid=1572374388&s=books&sr=1-1&fbclid=IwAR3TaRUBLqYEIj2lC1GYgNzYf_E5yAomZHRcaKnBmFj0zJfy9mURNCb_wbM
This essay is excerpted from the Bishop's book "Biblical Anthropology."
Biblical Anthropology is a study in what the Bible teaches concerning the origin, nature (ontology), history and destiny of mankind. Reviewed in this work is the debate over whether or not the human being is bipartite—such as only body and soul, or tripartite—such as body, soul and spirit. Biblical Anthropology addresses the question of whether or not the soul is mortal or immortal; that is, does the soul have existence apart from the body. What, exactly happens at death? Will there be a resurrection of the body, and if so what nature will the resurrected body take? These are important questions addressed in this book. Bishop Jerry L Hayes presents a very orthodox view of Christian biblical anthropology which relies heavily on holy Scripture with a generous sprinkling of quotes from the ancient churchmen such as Athenagoras, Tertullian, and Augustine to name a few.
Order your personal copy of this classic work on biblical anthropology by clicking the link provided here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1703392698/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Bishop+Jerry+Hayes%2C+Biblical+anthropology&qid=1572374388&s=books&sr=1-1&fbclid=IwAR3TaRUBLqYEIj2lC1GYgNzYf_E5yAomZHRcaKnBmFj0zJfy9mURNCb_wbM
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT BY PURCHASING MY BOOKS FOR YOUR LIBRARY. -JLH
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