Jesus and the Demise of Death: Resurrection, Afterlife, and the Fate of the Christian

240 Pages·2012·2.09 MB·English

by  Matthew Levering

Jesus and the Demise of Death
Given the uncertainty of which we are so certain concerning
eternity, perhaps only a post-postmodern turn can save us from
being overwhelmed by our impending doom, our terminal
temporality.
—Carlos Eire, A Very Brief History of Eternity
Jesus and the Demise of Death
Resurrection, Afterlife,
and the Fate of the Christian
Matthew Levering
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY PRESS
© 2012 by Baylor University Press
Waco, Texas 76798-7363
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored
in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, elec-
tronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the
prior permission in writing of Baylor University Press.
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible
Catholic Edition, copyright 1965, published by Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Cover Design by Dean Bornstein
Cover Image: “The Resurrection,” c.1380 (tempera on panel) by Master of
the Trebon Altarpiece (fl.1380). Narodni Galerie, Prague, Czech Repub-
lic/ Giraudon/ The Bridgeman Art Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Levering, Matthew, 1971-
Jesus and the demise of death : resurrection, afterlife, and the fate of the
Christian / Matthew Levering.
238 p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 193) and index.
ISBN 978-1-60258-447-1 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Eschatology. 2. Catholic Church--Doctrines. I. Title.
BT821.3.L48 2012
236--dc23
2011032295
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper with a mini-
mum of 30% PCW recycled content.
To Ralph and Patty Levering

Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
Part I
The Passage of Jesus Christ
1 Christ’s Descent into Hell 15
2 The Resurrection of Jesus Christ 27
3 Sitting at the Right Hand of the Father 43
Part II
The Passage of Christ’s People
4 A People in Passage: Faith, Eucharist, Almsgiving 63
5 Can We Merit Eternal Life? 85
6 Do We Have Spiritual Souls? 97
7 Bodily Resurrection and Beatific Vision 109
Conclusion 127
Notes 131
Works Cited 191
Index 221
vii

Acknowledgments
Like many people, I have often wondered what there is for me and my
loved ones after death: what happens to us? Should even a theologian
preserve a discreet silence? As Christians, however, we have much to
hope for and much reason for hope. Holding “fast the word of life” (Phil
2:12), I wish to speak about this hope through Scripture and through
the doctrinal and theological tradition of the Church, which benefited
from Greek philosophical culture.
Many wonderful people helped me with this project. As will be
clear in the pages that follow, I owe a special debt to N. T. Wright,
without, however, ever having conversed with him. Although at times
I disagree with him, I do so from a position of broad agreement with
and strong admiration for what he has contributed to biblical studies.
When the Dominicans of the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St.
Louis invited me to deliver their Aquinas Lecture in January 2010, I
presented an early draft of chapter 1. The Dominican community in
St. Louis showed me gracious hospitality, and I owe particular thanks
to Dominic Holtz, O.P. Michael Drever invited me to lecture on God
and Greek philosophy at the Society of Biblical Literature, and the
resulting conversations benefited me in preparing this book. Timothy
ix