From Death To Life

Athanasius, Atonement And Annihilation The Official Magazine of the Conditional Immortality Association of New Zealand

Bible Teaching Life Death Resurrection Eternal Destiny June 2007 (Conference Edition) 1 www..co.nz Editorial Contents THANKS HEAPS! We had another fine Conference and dinner at the Barrycourt Issue 34 June 2007 Conference Centre. We had a good number there and visitors Editorial 2 from as far afield as Australia. David Burge Glenn Peoples spoke to us. His address, Athanasius, Atonement Twisted Scripture 3 and Annihilation, is found in this David Burge issue of our magazine. Near Death Experiences At Conference I had opportunity (NDEs) (Part Two) 7 to thank those that were there Armand Newrick for their support over the year. I Resurrection Revealed want to thank you, the reader, (Part Two) 11 too! Your support means that our Beryl Ching ministry continues to grow year after year. More people are able Athanasius & Annihilation (Part 1) 15 to see the gospel as the offer of Glenn Peoples LIFE ONLY IN CHRIST - and to free their conscience from the Creation & Anthropology terrible burden of having to (Part 2) 20 believe the traditional teaching of Eric Gunby “eternal torment” - David Burge. Faith of Our Fathers David Burge 24

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Editor: David Burge: [email protected]

www.afterlife.co.nz 2 T The Unquenchable There are several passages in Fire the Old Testament that speak of an “unquenchable fire”. None of w John the Baptist and Jesus them are capable of bearing the speak of an “unquenchable weight of the meaning that is fire” (e.g., Matt. 3:12; Mark i commonly put upon this phrase. 9:43). This is the judgment of God upon unrepentant King Josiah was told that the s sinners. That God has set a Lord’s anger would burn like a day when he will t judge the world with justice by Jesus e Christ is undeniable (Acts 17:31). What is at issue, however, is d the nature of that judgment. There are many who would argue that an S“unquenchable fire” must be one that will c never go out and that, as a consequence, the r fate of the lost is to be thrown into that i unquenchable fire where they will be tormented forever p and ever - literally without end. t fire against Judah and not be Old Testament quenched (2 Kings 22:17). The Examples threatened destructions of u The best way to find out Edom (Isa. 34:10), of Judah, what a particular Biblical and of Jerusalem (Jer. 7:20 cf. r phrase means is to compare 17:27; Ezk. 20:47-48) are all Scripture with Scripture. said to be by an “unquenchable e fire.” 3 www.afterlife.co.nz These latter instances clearly where do they get their refer to the destruction of Judah authority to read into this text and Jerusalem at the hands of the notion that it is saying the Babylonians. The anything at all about the fate of “unquenchable fires” which lost disembodied “souls”? consumed Judah were · Isa. 66:24 says clearly that unstoppable, but they were not these rebels are “dead”. From unending. These “fires” are not where do they get their still burning in Israel. authority to read into the text If we compare Scripture with the notion of eternal conscious Scripture we will be led to torment? Again, let me state it conclude that in many instances clearly: The picture is one of “fire” is but a dead bodies, not of metaphor, an tormented souls. image for the · The “worms” anger of God. If and “fire” no doubt and when the do what worms and fire is a literal fire do in any fire the picture is rubbish heap. They one of a fire that consume that which continues is thrown onto the without heap. interruption or The picture is not interference until one of a cosmic it burns out. It torture chamber but does however of an incinerator in always which all that is loathsome and eventually burn out. wicked is thrown in order that it Old Testament Origins might be finally and totally The language that Jesus uses destroyed. in speaking of the unquenchable The “Eternal Fire” fire is drawn directly from the Jesus also speaks of an Old Testament. From Isaiah “eternal fire” (Mat. 25:41), but 66:24, to be precise. again, when we compare · Isa. 66:24 speaks of “bodies” Scripture with Scripture, a very not of disembodied souls. From different picture emerges from

www.afterlife.co.nz 4 that which is often presented as them “an example of what is the clear teaching of the Bible. going to happen to the According to Jude 7, “they”, ungodly.” What then is going to that is, Sodom and Gomorrah, happen to the ungodly. Will actually underwent the their conscious souls be punishment of “eternal fire”. The tormented for eternity? Not at NRSV more accurately all! They will be burnt to ashes. represents the Greek here than Surely, if the fire that destroyed does the NIV! They “serve as an Sodom and Gomorrah was an example by undergoing a “eternal fire”, though having

punishment of eternal fire”. completed its destructive work it Surely the purpose of the fire has gone out, and if the fire of that fell upon Sodom and Gehenna is described in these Gomorrah was to destroy them words, as an “eternal fire”, we not to torment them. have every right to conclude Furthermore, that “eternal fire” that Gehenna too will burn for a is not still burning today! time until the wicked are no In fact 2 Pet. 2:6 tells us that more - and perhaps until the old the people of Sodom and earth itself is destroyed, and go Gomorrah were burnt to ashes out when heaven and earth are and that in this God made of made new (2Pet. 3:10, Rev. 21:1; etc.). 5 www.afterlife.co.nz An “Eternal Punishment” is not an eternal process of going on redeeming but a once One question remains. What for all redemption the effect of then does Jesus mean when he which goes on for eternity. speaks of an “eternal punishment”? (Mat. 25:46). Given all that we have already seen it stands to reason that an The uses the eternal destruction is not an word “eternal” in connection eternal process of destroying, with all of the following: which goes on for ever without Judgment … Heb. 6:2 end. Rather, it is a once for all Sin … destruction, the :29 effect of which Salvation … will be eternal. Heb. 5:9 Ultimately, an eternal Redemption … punishment is Heb. 9:12 not an eternal Destruction … process of 2Thess. 1:9 punishing the Punishment … wicked but a Mat. 25:46 once for all punishment the An eternal effect of which judgement is is eternal. not an eternal process of Conclusion judging but a That a fire is once for all judgment the effect “unquenchable” does not entail of which goes on for eternity. An its burning for all eternity. It is a eternal sin is not an eternal fire that cannot be PUT out. But process of going on sinning but it does not follow that it is a fire a once for all sin the effect of that will never GO out. In fact, which goes on for eternity. An Scripture tells us exactly that. eternal salvation is not an When the fire of Gehenna has eternal process of saving but a accomplished its destroying once for all salvation the effect work it will go out. of which goes on for eternity. Likewise, an eternal redemption

www.afterlife.co.nz 6 Near Death Experiences (NDEs) PART TWO Thus while I in no way question OUR RESURRECTION HOPE the reality of the experience, I do I do not doubt the reality of ask whether Christians who fail to what individuals experience in the put Bible truth ahead of these near death state. My mother had experiences are opening them an out of body experience while selves up to being led astray. The pregnant with my belief in a disembodied older brother in afterlife for all actually Australia (1960). The undermines the Apostle Paul (2Cor. exclusive claims of 12:1-10) boasts of a Jesus Christ to be the man who had an resurrection and the experience, whether in life, our lost world’s the body or not, he only hope for life and did not know. Paul, immortality. however, would rather DID JESUS HAVE boast of his sufferings AN NDE? as he lived out his In 1992 Roger B. hope in the The Devil’s lie has Cook, lecturer at the resurrection from the Open University, Milton, found universal dead! found universal Keynes, England, My mother was not acceptance across all produced an article in dead. The man Paul cultures even amongst the Journal of Near spoke of was not evangelicals. Death Experiences dead. God gave ‘out which claimed that of body’ visions to Jesus’ time between his crucifixion others in the Bible also - none of and resurrection was nothing more them were dead. This experience than a type of NDE. He claimed is not evidence for a disembodied that Jesus entered into a coma existence in the afterlife. Paul from which Joseph of Arimathea wanted only to “be like Christ in revived him. Thereafter (according his death and so, somehow to to Cook) Jesus was convinced he attain to the resurrection from had been resurrected from the the dead.’ (Phil. 3:10-11). dead when he had only revived.1 7 www.afterlife.co.nz This appears to be the tail message is stripped of its power! wagging the dog. Was Jesus The Gospel’s challenge to diverse really subject to some universal religious and philosophical systems law of surviving bodily death which promote natural, or innate from which he was revived or immortality is rendered ineffective. reunited with his corpse? Or is We can no longer cogently Cook allowing himself to be convince mankind of Jesus Christ’s driven by a spirit determined to exclusive claim to be the doorway perpetuate the original lie to Eve into the life to come.2 (“You will not die” Gen. 3:4) through the medium of the NDE. Who needs Jesus and the resurrection from the dead if ‘out NO REMEDY FOR of body life’ is the DEATH OUTSIDE universal inherent OF CHRIST right of every human When God told our being? Many first parents they evangelicals are would ‘surely die’ if unaware of the fact they took the that their theology of forbidden fruit (Gen. innate immortality 2:17), he meant reduces Jesus Christ that they would Contact with the dead to nothing more than return to the dust is forbidden in the an alternative means from which they Scriptures. of securing a better were taken afterlife. At least this (Gen.3:19). is how it would seem God was not threatening (as in the ears of a Hindu, for many claim) a “spiritual death” instance. as opposed to physical death. He Sadly, Christian writers who allow was warning of the total death the NDE to inform their theology of the whole person. There is no of Christian hope are shooting the remedy accessible to humanity Church in the foot! When it comes for the death state now that to fulfilling the great commission Eden has been closed and we no (Matt. 28: 18-20), death must longer have access to the tree of mean death if Jesus Christ’s life that grew there (Gen. 3:24). resurrection from the dead is to be When we exchange total death seen to have any value. Otherwise (as understood in the Bible), for Jesus is just another option for the “out of body” life, the Gospel afterlife! www.afterlife.co.nz 8 WHAT OF THE NDE? blast. These chemical reactions in the brain, in the Near Death state, When brain waves appear to result in sensations of peace and cease, breathing stops, body painlessness. temperature drops, and the desperate involuntary mechanisms Rational explanations can be for survival kick in. offered for some sensations related to NDE’s. It cannot be New Zealand apologist, creation explained how subjects in this scientist Jonathan Sarfati, who has state see deceased loved ones a PhD in chemistry, gives an who give them information which interesting explanation for the proves to be impossible for them ‘tunnel of light’ sensation. He to have known prior to the event. claims that as the body transitions into death, the Anyone with peripheral vision some knowledge narrows resulting of the paranormal in a sharp may make a concentration of connection light being between this and beamed onto the what happens brain, thus the when psychics ‘tunnel’ effect.3 channel or mediate on behalf How about the of the dead, a feelings of practice painlessness and condemned in the peace associated scriptures with an NDE? (Deut.18:10-11). A body Although NDE threatened with subjects do not voluntarily seek intense pain produces chemicals after the dead, the experience called opiods which stimulate appears to fall into this category. special receptor molecules located Perhaps these encounters make us on neurons in the brain. This more susceptible to demonic allows the body to desensitize to influence, ‘For Satan himself can the pain and carry on with normal masquerade as an of light’ 4 behaviour. An example of this 2Cor. 11:14. Demonic spirits do may be a soldier who continues to impersonate human beings, with fight unaware that his leg has disastrous outcomes (1 Sam. been nearly severed by a bomb Chapters 28 & 31). 9 www.afterlife.co.nz 2 Why wouldn’t the Devil be active God ’s Spirit is active in the in the Near Death state? conversion process. No one comes to Jesus Christ unless God first draws CONCLUSION them (Jn. 6:44). However, faith comes The NDE, as “proof” of a by hearing, and the message is heard through the word of Christ (Rom. conscious intermediate state, 10:17) implying the necessity for both stands in stark contrast to what intelligent communication and the Bible teaches on human reception of the Gospel. anthropology and the state of the 3 http://www.answersingenesis.org/ dead. It can be difficult to convey docs2/4327.asp this fact to well meaning Christians 4 Neil R. Carson, William Buskist, G. who believe in such an Neil Martin intermediate state with little Psychology: The Science of Behaviour biblical support! (Allyn & Bacon: Edinburgh Gate, Dr. R.J.Bauckham lectures on the Harlow, Essex, England, 1997) p. 108. history of Christian thought at the 5 org. ed. J. D. University of Manchester. He Douglas writes: ‘The NT hope for the New Bible Christian dead is concentrated on Dictionary 2nd. their participation in the Ed. resurrection (1Thes. 4:13-18) and (Leicester, there is therefore little evidence of England: IVP, belief about the ‘intermediate 1982) p. 346. state’.’ Bauckham makes reference The Author to only six passages usually put forward in support of the Armand is a traditional view of the member of intermediate state.5 Manukau Central Baptist church and a recent graduate from Carey One cannot help but wonder if the Baptist College with a degree in enemy seizes upon the opportunity applied theology. He has had a provided by NDE’s to promote the keen interest in theology since his lie that will keep a lost world from teenage conversion (See Issue 30) realizing the absolute necessity of and came to the conditionalist faith in Jesus Christ, for salvation, position about eight years into his by resurrection! walk with the Lord. He is married (Footnotes) to Suzanne and they have two 1 http://www.springerlink.com/ children Daniel and Emma. content/v9552637537322lk/ www.afterlife.co.nz 10 Resurrection Revealed II RESURRECTION IN THE in which to be buried ... Thus, this promise of God cannot be PENTATEUCH fulfilled apart from the General Resurrection resurrection.”7 God made promises to Though there is not a great Abraham that have yet to be deal about resurrection in the fulfilled. They can only be Pentateuch, there are fulfilled by his indications that resurrection. believers in In Genesis Jehovah did 17:8, God believe in a promises resurrection. Abraham that The narrative he will give the in Genesis 22 land to regarding Abraham and Abraham’s to his seed sacrifice of after him, as Isaac does not an everlasting mention possession. resurrection, This promise but the has not been commentary on fulfilled up to this event in now, and it Hebrews 11:17- cannot be 19 shows that fulfilled by any Abraham, at temporary least, believed possession. Derek Prince says, God could raise the dead. “Its fulfillment demands a Abraham not only believed complete and permanent Isaac could be resurrected, but possession of the whole land ... also that he would be The only part of the land that resurrected. His instructions to Abraham himself has hitherto his servants at the time confirm received for permanent this belief. He said to them, “...I possession is just space enough and the lad will go yonder and

11 www.afterlife.co.nz worship, and come again to we cannot deny that the early you” (Gen.22:5). As his patriarchs had knowledge of, intention to offer Isaac as a and belief in, resurrection. sacrifice was sincere, he George Williams sees Christ in believed that after the sacrifice His death and resurrection in God would raise the lad from the whole chapter of Genesis the dead, and they would both 22, and even considers the return to meet up with the “third day” in v. 4 as pointing to servants. the resurrection of Christ.8 We learn from Hebrews chapter A more doubtful reference is 11 that Abraham looked forward Genesis 25:8 himself to where inheriting a city Abraham is “whose builder said to die and and maker is be “gathered to God” (v. 11). his people”. This he could Some think this only have refers to the anticipated if afterlife.9 I am he had faith in inclined to a resurrection. think that it It was not only refers to the Abraham, but grave, or Isaac and gravedom, and Jacob and their being gathered offspring who to those who “died in faith, have already not having received the died and been buried. Abraham promises, but having seen them did not believe in an immediate afar off, and were persuaded of fulfillment of the promises, but them, and embraced them, and as Heb. 11:40 says, “that they confessed that they were without us should not be made strangers and pilgrims on the perfect.” earth ... they desire[d] a better country, that is, a heavenly one.” Commenting on Genesis 26, They had the faith that God had George Williams writes, “The “prepared for them a city.” promise of v. 3 of the land to (Heb. 11:13, 16). Knowing this, Isaac personally, as in the case www.afterlife.co.nz 12 of each Patriarch, involves was talking about the fact that resurrection.”10 Dake also says, these men would be “This implies resurrection, for he resurrected, and therefore He did not inherit a foot of land can say that He is their God, in during his life-time.”11 the present tense. (See the discussion under “Resurrection Regarding Joseph, Norman H. in the Gospels” on Matthew 22, Camp writes, “Joseph believed in Mark 12, and Luke 20). a future life and in the resurrection of his body.” In F.C.Payne sees circumcision on Genesis 50:24-26 he took an oath the eighth day as a type of of the children of Israel that they resurrection. The number eight, would take his bones back to he says, is the number of Canaan from Egypt. Three resurrection, or of new hundred years afterwards when beginning. Every male child was Moses led the children of Israel circumcised on the eighth day out of Egypt they took the into God’s covenant - a new embalmed body (or the bones) of beginning. (Lev. 12:2,3). This Joseph with them (Exodus 13:19), rite, of course, began in and buried it in Shechem (Joshua Abraham’s day, at the express 24:32). Says Norman H. Camp, instruction of God (Gen. 17:10- “...he believed in its [the body’s] 12). Payne reinforces his resurrection and the future interpretation of the number kingdom of God on earth, when eight by pointing out that David he should live again ... Surely the was the eighth son of Jesse, faith of Joseph will be honored by and “David was a type of Christ, God, and some day his bones will Who is the Resurrection and be raised out of that lonely, but the Life.” (Emphasis is 13 not forgotten grave in Shechem.”12 Payne’s.) In Deuteronomy Hebrews 11:22 draws our 31:16, Moses is told by God , attention to the fact that the “thou shalt sleep with thy stipulation of Joseph to take his fathers.” The Lord goes on to bones with them, was because of tell Moses that after he sleeps, his faith. the Israelites will go into idolatry, leaving us with no The Lord Jesus Christ explains doubt that He means, “After you that in Exodus 3:6, when God die...”. But sleep infers an refers to Himself saying, “I am the awakening. This is the first God of Abraham, the God of reference to death as a sleep. Isaac, and the God of Jacob”, He 13 www.afterlife.co.nz Resurrection of Christ 13. F. C. Payne. The Seal of In Lewis Sperry Chafer’s God, p.113. discussion on types, he includes Aaron’s rod that budded (Nu. 14. Chafer Vol. 1, p.220 (under 17:1-10) as a type of Christ’s “others”) resurrection. He refers to Heb. 15. Chafer Vol. 1, p.217 9:4 as the New Testament reference, and since Hebrews 9 About The Author is a listing of the tabernacle and The author, Beryl Joy Ching, its furniture, and refers to this spent over 40 years on the as a “figure” (K.J.V) or mission field in India. Her “illustration” (N.I.V.) (v. 9), and Conference Address, “Hinduism we know that the tabernacle and Conditional Immortality” (Iss. and its furnishings are types of 5, p2) reflects on the relevance of Christ, this seems a likely Conditional Immortality truth in a interpretation.14 Also, the mission context. Aaronic priesthood itself was a After returning to New Zealand to type of Christ’s priesthood - it “retire”, Beryl was for a long time “reveals Christ in His humanity 15 secretary of this Association. She and His priestly work.” has also been doing further study. Footnotes RESURRECTION AS REVEALED IN 7 Derek Prince, Resurrection of THE OLD TESTAMENT AND CONFIRMED IN THE NEW the Dead, p.41. TESTAMENT is the full title of her 8. Geo. Williams. Student’s Thesis presented to the Faculty of Commentary on the Holy the Freelandia Institute Biblical Scripture. Theological College in 9. Chuck Missler, Radio partial programme. fulfilment 10. Geo.Williams. See above. of the 11. Dake’s Annotated Reference requirements for the Bible. Degree 12. Norman H.Camp. The Master of Resurrection of the Human Biblical Body, p.8,9. Studies.

www.afterlife.co.nz 14 ATHANASIUS, ATONEMENT AND ANNIHILATIONISM (PART 1) Glenn Peoples tell you this? The reason is here: Athanasius sets out his work on What people say has the incarnation in several thematic implications, whether they sections. He starts out talking appreciate those implications or about the state of humanity as not. When a person says, “Jesus God created it. He then moves on died for me,” this confession of to talking about what happened faith has consequences whether as a result of the fall, and then the confessor sees what those about why and how God remedied consequences are or not. I’m this situation. drawing on He then moves Athanasius here on to because he apologetical explained so arguments, much of the defending the content of why fact that God Jesus came and did make what his death atonement in achieved that Christ against those some sceptical consequences objections. begin to appear There is really a on the horizon in series of talks a way that is lurking in those appreciated by subjects that few could be put to very good use as contemporary evangelicals, an explanation of the Christian Catholics or Orthodox. faith, but I’m going to pick out Athanasius gave – just one thread that runs through Catholic Christianity for that them: Jesus died for sinners. matter, very good theological On the face of it, it sounds too reasons to doubt what so much simple. Why do I need to tell you of it affirmed – and still affirms this? Why, especially, do I need to – about human nature, the quote the long dead fourth death of Jesus, and the century Bishop of Alexandria to consequences of sin. 15 www.afterlife.co.nz Humanity As God reflexion of the Word, and being made rational, they might be able Intended to abide ever in blessedness, Athanasius begins his talk on living the true life which belongs the incarnation by talking about to the saints in paradise” (3:3). humanity, since it was humanity In Athanasius’ vocabulary, being that God would become in the perfectly human, as humanity was incarnation. He begins where created, was to reflect the image humanity begins, in Genesis. of the true Word, that is, Jesus, Since in this talk my main who would be the perfect man. As interest in Athanasius is what long as humanity maintained the his views imply about human reflection of that perfection, they destiny, my main interest in would live forever in blessedness, what he says about the creation because God would continue to of humanity is give them life. in what he says From time to time about human we hear immortality, or theologians lack thereof. offering views on God made many whether or not, creatures, before the fall, including human humanity is beings. depicted in Compared to Scripture as the other immortal, with the creatures, potential to lose “Man,” that immortality, Athanasius or mortal, with the wrote, was possibility of gaining immortality if “created above the rest, but they passed the test that God set incapable of independent before them. Rather than perseverance” (from the speaking about humanity as being heading of chapter 3). either mortal or immortal, Athanasius explains that God Athanasius presents humanity as gave mankind a gift, creating being contingent or dependent on him in God’s image and “giving the reflection of the image of God. them a portion even of the Notice – it is not that humanity’s power of His own Word; so that immortality was contingent on having as it were a kind of maintaining this reflection www.afterlife.co.nz 16 (although this is true as a matter that God set before them, but of consequence). Humanity itself also able to “turn back” to the is contingent on this fact. This only thing that their own becomes all the more clear when resources could ultimately give Athanasius moves on to talk them: nothing: Death and about the fall of humanity, noting corruption, whence they came. there that humanity does not Reflecting on God’s sentence merely lose immortality, but it upon Adam, “You shall surely loses humanity itself. die,” or more literally, “dying you shall die,” Athanasius again talks The Fall and Death about man never escaping the Athanasius narrates for us the state he was in, but abiding in it: now familiar story of the fall of But by ‘dying ye shall die,’ what humanity. What exactly did God else could be meant than not warn Adam about? dying merely, but also abiding “He brought them into His own forever in the corruption of garden, and gave them a law: so death” (3:5)? that, if they kept the grace and I’m fairly confident that from remained good, they might still time to time you’ve heard keep the life in paradise without pastors or theologians sorrow or pain or care besides commenting on God’s sentence having the promise of “you shall surely die.” In all incorruption in heaven; but that if likelihood, you will have heard they transgressed and turned people talking about what Adam back, and became evil, they did not drop dead on that very might know that they were day, and the answer is often incurring that corruption in death given that Adam entered into a which was theirs by nature: no state of spiritual death on that longer to live in paradise, but cast very day. For this reason, we are out of it from that time forth to sometimes told, verses like die and to abide in death and in Romans 3:23, “the wages of sin corruption” (3:4). is death,” refer to something far Death was ours by nature, more dreadful than mere dying, Athanasius wrote. Humanity was but rather to separation – and created capable of dying, having ultimately eternal separation – a nature that could not endure from God. forever, able to pursue In reply to this outlook, I offer incorruption by keeping the law the following antidote from 17 www.afterlife.co.nz Athanasius, in what he said next human beings began, not to enter about the consequences of the a new state of perpetual fall: accursedness and misery For transgression of the (although there is no doubt that commandment was turning the state into which humanity them back to their natural state, entered was accursed and so that just as they have had miserable), but to actually “turn their being out of nothing, so back” into their natural state, that also, as might be expected, they is, to return to a former state. might look for corruption into That state is a state of “what is nothing in the course of time. not,” wherein people For if, out of a former normal “disintegrate” and “abide in death state of nonexistence, they were and corruption.” They lose not called into being by the merely happiness, or Presence and loving-kindness of embodiment, but they become the Word, it followed naturally “bereft of being” itself. Let’s put it that when men were bereft of bluntly – they eventually cease to the knowledge of God and were exist. turned back to what was not In the contemporary world of (for what is evil is not, but what popular evangelical theology, is good is), they should, since Athanasius is already in serious they derive their being from God trouble. In fact, given Athanasius’ who IS, be everlastingly bereft own view of human nature, he is, even of being; in other words, in my view, in considerable that they should be tension with himself. These disintegrated and abide in death statements about the fall appear and corruption (4:4-5). to be crystal clear. God created Whether Athanasius himself humanity out of nothing. God is countenanced the thought of the source of their being, and such a thing as “spiritual death.” when humanity rejects God, it He will have none of it here in loses its very being. The reasoning his work of the incarnation. is simple and uncontrived. But in Athanasius closes the door to an unrelated work Against the any such interpretation of his Heathen, Athanasius’ concern is to own comments about death. We lay out the Church’s teaching on have already seen his claim that the soul. There he claims quite when death came through sin, dogmatically that “The soul is immortal.” He seeks to prove this

www.afterlife.co.nz 18 holding back from his tenacious claim by telling the reader that argument for the soul’s the soul is distinct from the immortality. I have no interest body, that the soul is the in trying to solve the problem source of the body’s motion, for Athanasius, or holding him and that the soul goes beyond up as a paradigm of the body in imagination and consistency. If there is a lesson thought. Therefore, so we are here, it is that we are on much supposed to conclude, it is surer footing when we spell out immortal.1 Of course, one who he bug obvious truths of the is not already some sort of Gospel of Christ than we are dualist, favourably disposed to when we are trying to defend a the idea of soul’s immortality, is complicated framework of unlikely to grant that these theology because it is what the three claims are true at all – Church teaches. not at least if Athanasius meant what most dualists of his time (Part two next issue) meant when they use the word Glenn Peoples is 31 years old. “soul.” He lives in Dunedin, New There is a parallel between Zealand, with his wife Ruth, Athanasius’ argument here and and their four children. He was his argument in the our keynote speaker at Incarnation. In the incarnation, Conference this year. Read he argues in effect that God is Glenn's story in Issue 33 (pp. separate from creation, He is 8-10) of this magazine. the source of creations vitality or movement, and that God surpasses creation in creative power. Therefore when creation – us – separates itself from God, it dies. When discussing the immortality of the soul, then, he treats the soul like God and the body like creation. He believed, of course, that the soul was part of creation. This should have given him pause, calling to mind his argument from the Incarnation, and 19 www.afterlife.co.nz Creation And Anthropology II 2:7 as follows: “It has In this second article Richard sometimes been thought that Eric Gunby continues his the impartation of the life discussion of the first of four principle, as it is brought before interlocking themes that he says us in this verse, entailed makes up The Lost Biblical immortality of the spirit or soul. Paradigm. He seeks, “To establish It has been said that to be and convey the Hebraic-holistic made in the image of God view and involves understanding of immortality. The man as a living Bible never says soul.” so. If it involves THE BREATH immortality, why OF LIFE does it not also Nowhere does the involve Bible teach that omniscience or we have some omnipresence, or preexisting, any other quality immaterial, “soul” or attribute of the that is inserted Infinite? Why into or fashioned should one alone within our body of be singled out? dust (See Part 1, The breath of life Issue 33). Neither was not breathed is the breath of life into man’s heart, – mentioned in but into his Genesis 2:7 - nostrils. It some immaterial separable spirit involved physical life. that is “the real you.” The breath Throughout the Bible man, of life is in fact the impersonal apart from Christ, is conceived life force, or life-energy, or the of as made of dust and ashes, a life-principle itself. physical creature, to whom is lent by God a principle of life. Dr. Basil F.C. Atkinson, a The Greek thinkers tended to linguistic expert, who was under- think of man as an immortal librarian of Cambridge University soul imprisoned in a body. This Library, commented on Genesis www.afterlife.co.nz 20 emphasis is the opposite to that man? Present Truth magazine, of the Bible, but has vol 38.5). This is to say that the [unfortunately] found a wide Hebrews, in looking at a human place in Christian thought.” (The being saw only one unified Pocket Commentary of the thing: a creature, a being, a Bible, 1954, p. 32) person, or a soul, call it what Do you get it? Do you see you will. Any idea of a person’s what the Bible actually teaches? body being a ‘prison-house’ for The breath of life is impersonal the real inner self, or a vessel life force, or life-energy, the life- for some separate ‘soul’ only principle, not some immaterial temporarily joined to the body – immortal all such ghost constructions separable and are totally capable of foreign to the living on after Biblical the death of Hebraic the body. understanding of man; it A just would HOLISTIC not have VIEW been on their The Hebrews radar. The did not think body is not a of a human prison being as holding onto joined parts in the sense that some one part could exist uniquely or immortal soul, which is freed independently without the other when one dies. That is Greek part. The Biblical Hebraic myth, not Biblical-Hebraic faith. understanding of humanity was That is dualistic thinking. Such holistic; that is, they viewed a Anthropological Dualism is a human being as a whole (hence pagan Greek idea not a Biblical “wholistic,” if you will!). “Man is Hebraic idea. a holistic being. Human life is This difference is all-important! an indivisible unity,” writes It’s the difference between day Robert Brimsmead (What is and night. It is a c-note

21 www.afterlife.co.nz difference. And once you bring must weed out the pagan Greek your thinking into alignment corruption that has saturated with the clear teaching of the the church so that the pure Bible, it will change your Word of God can be heard! perspective and understanding TWO USES OF “MAN” forever. Perhaps some of you suspect me of wrangling about I don’t want to get too words, saying, in effect, “What’s technical, but it is important to the difference, who care’s if be precise in our study of the man has a soul or is a soul, the Word. In Genesis 2:7 and end result is the same, right?” following the noun “man” is Hold that thought and read on: used in two different senses. First, Greek View Hebrew View man, is Incarnated Enlivened or used to or Embodied Animated refer to Soul Body the *** formed Mythological Biblical dust Anthropology Anthropology (2:7); *** second, Dualistic Holistic man, is *** used to Soulology Theology refer to (Biblical Truth) the While each of the above pairs living whole person (2:8, 15, may sound similar to the 16). Man, in this first and most untrained ear, the truth is they basic sense, is the fashioned or are not. This is not wrangling formed dust. But, it doesn’t stop about words. This is not a there. God took the fashioned surface distinction. These two dust (man in the first sense) approaches are diametrically and breathed life into it; thus it opposed to each other. They become man alive (man in the cannot be truly reconciled. They second sense), man, the living cannot be mixed. Theological soul. integrity is hopelessly lost if you Man (in this second sense) is a mix them. Bottom line, one of combination of formed dust and them has to go. True believers

www.afterlife.co.nz 22 breath, or worded differently, By correctly hearing the Word body and spirit (small s as in of God on this matter, we clear spirit of life, the life principle, away mountains of miss- not the , nor some information, errors, and even individual prefab personality). It deliberate lies. We replace all of is this creatively combined dust that with exegetically sound and breath that becomes man, Biblical truth, as we take hold of the living person. Neither of the Scripture’s true righteous these two things, dust and doctrine of creation. breath, separately, constitute (Part 3 next issue). the dynamic person. Rather, these two things brought together became the living man, the holistic subject –as it were (as in Genesis 2:8, 15, 16). A good analogy is light from a bulb. The light is the result of a dynamic union: when electricity flows through a bulb, together they produce light. God produced man, a living soul, by The Author: bringing together dust and Eric Gunby lives in North breath. God brought about this Carolina, USA. He has a B.A. in combination in order that man Religion & Philosophy, from (the formed dust) would Kentucky Wesleyan College and become man, a living person, or has done graduate studies at a living soul. He did not insert a Southeastern Baptist Theological preexisting living individual (the Seminary, in Wake Forest, NC, Greek concept of “soul”) into a and at Western Conservative lifeless body. That is not what Baptist Theological Seminary, in happened. Portland, OR. This newsletter was produced, printed and published by: Resurrection Publishing PO Box 75-612 Manurewa Manukau 2243 New Zealand Subscriptions may be sent to the above address in the amount of NZ $15 for four issues. 23 www.afterlife.co.nz FFaithaith ofof OurOur FFaathertherss “Why Don’t You Believe 160) and the two epistles of The Traditional View?” Clement are silent as to this doctrine. At the same time the (Part Two) language used by these and In discussing Conditional other less important works is Immortality among Conservative consistent with a Conditionalist Protestants I am often told, view of . “That’s not the traditional view of the church!” I believe Scripture Justin Martyr is explicitly alone binds my Conditionalist when he says: conscience, but I “Now the soul also believe that partakes of life, those who say this since God wills it to often live. Thus, then, it misunderstand will not even what the “tradition” partake [of life] of the church is when God does not and would be will it to live. For to surprised to find live is not its that the view they attribute, as it is support is generally God’s … whenever not that held by the soul must the majority in the cease to exist, the spirit of life is early church. Irenaeus removed from it, and Part One of this article focused there is no more soul, but it on the Intermediate State. Part goes back to the place from Two focuses on Eternal Destinies. whence it was taken.” THE CONDITIONALIST (“Dialogue”, Chapter 6). VIEW Irenaeus (AD 180) held an In the early Christian writing explicitly Conditionalist view. He known as the “Epistle of says: “[I]t is the Father of all Barnabas” (AD 70-120) there is who imparts continuance for not a word as to eternal ever and ever on those who are conscious torment. So too, the saved. For life does not arise work known as “The Teaching of from us, nor from our own the Twelve Apostles” (AD 120- nature; but it is bestowed

www.afterlife.co.nz 24 THE UNIVERSALIST according to the grace of God. VIEW And therefore he who shall Many of the early fathers were preserve the life bestowed upon in fact card carrying him, and give thanks to Him Universalists (So says J.W. who imparted it, shall receive Hanson in “Universalism: The also length of days for ever and Prevailing Doctrine Of the ever. But he who shall reject it, Christian Church During Its First and prove himself ungrateful to Five-Hundred Years” from which his Maker, much of what inasmuch as he follows is has been drawn). The created, and has widespread not recognised belief that Him who Christ, between bestowed [the his death and gift upon him], resurrection, deprives himself descended to of [the privilege Hades and of] continuance there preached forever and the Gospel to ever. And, for the dead (See this reason, the Issue 33 for the Lord declared to contra view), those who and the practice showed Origen of prayers for the dead, themselves ungrateful towards may indicate that, at a popular Him: “If ye have not been level, many in the early church faithful in that which is little, believed that one’s eternal who will give you that which is destiny was NOT fixed at death. great?” indicating that those who, in this brief temporal life, Clement of Alexandria explicitly have shown themselves declared that all punishment, ungrateful to Him who bestowed however severe, was intended it, shall justly not receive from to purify the sinner. His pupil, Him length of days for ever and Origen, perhaps the most ever.” (Irenaeus, “Against famous and influential Heresies”, Book 2, Chapter Universalist in the early church, 34.3). taught that even Gehenna 25 www.afterlife.co.nz signified limited and curative The half-pagan emperor punishment. Origen was later Justinian attempted to have condemned for various heresies Universalism condemned. He (including his belief in the closed the theological schools, preexistence of souls) but he and demanded the was never officially condemned condemnation of Universalism for his Universalism. The council by law. But the doctrine was so that condemned “Origenism” at prevalent in the church that the the same time eulogized council refused to obey his edict Gregory of Nyssa, who was to suppress it. himself an My point is not outspoken to defend the Universalist and doctrine of a most Universal conspicuous Salvation (which I figure in do not believe is Christendom at supported by the time. Scripture). My As late as A.D. point is merely to 400, both suggest that an Jerome and honest appraisal Augustine of church history acknowledged will reveal that that there were both very many Conditionalism believers in and Universalism Universalism within the Church.Tertullian can at least lay an equal However, no writer among those claim to being part of “original who describe the heresies primitive Christianity” as can the prevalent throughout the first so-called “traditional view” of three hundred years of eternal conscious torment. Christendom ever intimates that ETERNAL CONSCIOUS Universalism was considered a TORMENT heresy, though it was believed by so many even among the One of the first clear advocates fathers. Nor did any creed of eternal conscious torment condemn the doctrine in favour was Tertullian (AD 197). He of eternal conscious torment. speaks of a time when “there

www.afterlife.co.nz 26 will be neither death again nor punishment; no appeal of resurrection again, but we shall interceding friends will profit be always the same as we are them” (Against the Greeks 3). now, without changing. The CONCLUSIONS worshippers of God shall always be with God, clothed in the There was a hard edge to the proper substance of eternity. theology of the Latins (in the But the godless and those who West) not found among the have not turned wholly to God Greeks (in the East). No historian will be punished in fire equally disputes that eternal conscious unending, torment was increasingly and they favoured in the West until shall have Augustine. Since then it has from the predominated. Nevertheless, it is very nature intriguing to note the variety of of this fire, opinion that existed among early divine as it Christian interpreters and that, were, a especially among those born to supply of the language of the New incorruptibility” Testament (the Greeks), there (Apology , was no attempt to impose upon 44:12-13). believers the awful doctrine of eternal conscious torment. So too, Hippolytus Scripture alone binds my (AD 212) conscience, but I believe history speaks shows us that belief in eternal thus: “The conscious torment was not as unquenchable and unending fire “universal” in the early church as awaits these latter [lovers of is sometimes supposed. When we evil], and a certain fiery worm consider the horrible nature of which does not die and which the doctrine, how it reflects badly does not waste the body but upon our loving God and the Lord continually bursts forth from the Jesus Christ, given that is body with unceasing pain. No founded on exegetically “thin ice” sleep will give them rest; no shouldn’t we be quick to abandon night will soothe them; no death this doctrine? will deliver them from - David Burge.

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