Life after Death

299 Pages·2016·2.05 MB·English

by  Anthony C. Thiselton

“In our time the doctrine of the last things has become more and more
problematical for many people, and the idea of a life after death has lost the
obvious plausibility it had in previous centuries. In this book Anthony Thiselton
provides a comprehensive and illuminating discussion of biblical views on these
issues. Thiselton skillfully employs philosophical analysis in the service of
expounding biblical texts. This book illuminates these issues in a masterly and
perceptive way and provides many new and helpful insights. I warmly
recommend it.”
— VINCENT BRÜMMER
Utrecht University
“Despite the eschatological turn in much of twentieth-century theology, too little
attention has been dedicated to the actual content of the ‘last things’ in recent
literature. As a leading New Testament scholar and theologian acquainted with
all of the problems and pitfalls in this area of study, Anthony Thiselton is
admirably equipped to tackle this subject. This comprehensive and accessible
work will become an important point of reference not only for scholars and
teachers but also for those ministering to the dying and the bereaved.”
— DAVID FERGUSSON
University of Edinburgh
LIFE AFTER DEATH
A New Approach to the Last Things
Anthony C. Thiselton
W B. E P C
ILLIAM ERDMANS UBLISHING OMPANY
G R , M / C , U.K.
RAND APIDS ICHIGAN AMBRIDGE
© 2012 Anthony C. Thiselton
All rights reserved
Published 2012 by
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
2140 Oak Industrial Drive N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49505 /
P.O. Box 163, Cambridge CB3 9PU U.K.
18 17 16 15 14 13 12 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Thiselton, Anthony C.
Life after death: a new approach to the last things / Anthony C. Thiselton.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and indexes.
ISBN 978-0-8028-6665-3 (pbk.: alk. paper)
ISBN 978-1-4674-3631-1 (mobi)
1. Eschatology. I. Title.
BT821.3.T45 2012
236 — dc23
2011018127
www.eerdmans.com
Contents
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Introduction: A New Approach
1. Death, Dying, and the Meaning of Life
1.1. Facing Death: The Inevitability of Dying
1.2. Mourning for the Deaths of Others
1.3. Death and the Meaning of Life
2. Things Not Seen
2.1. The Problem for Doubters
2.2. A First Step: Promise and Trust
2.3. Promise and Language
3. The Sacraments, the Covenant, and the Bible: Completing the Argument
for Doubters
3.1. Promise, the Sacraments, and the Word
3.2. Promise and Covenant
3.3. Completing the Argument: Does God Speak through the Bible?
4. Waiting and Expecting
4.1. Waiting and Expecting in the Biblical Writings
4.2. What Is It to “Expect”?: Wittgenstein’s Answer
4.3. Attitudes to “Expectation” in Christian Thought
5. Two Apparent Problems: The Intermediate State or Immediately with
Christ? Will There Be a “Millennium”?
5.1. An Immediate Departure to Be with Christ or an Intermediate State
before the Resurrection?
5.2. Gilbert Ryle’s “Paradoxes” of the Participant and the Logician
5.3. Will There Be a Millennium? A Further Controversial Issue
6. The Return of Christ
6.1. The Central Teaching of Paul
6.2. Further Questions on Paul’s Teaching
6.3. The Teaching of Jesus and the Book of Acts
6.4. Hebrews, John, and Revelation, and the Postbiblical Church
7. The Resurrection of the Dead
7.1. Do Our Conclusions Represent a New or Distinctive Approach?
7.2. An Exegesis and Exposition of 1 Corinthians 15
7.3. The Nature of the Spiritual Body as the Ongoing Work of the Spirit
8. Is Holiness Given at Once in the Resurrection, or Gradually in
Purgatory? What Does “Eternal” Mean?
8.1. Gradual Purification in Purgatory?
8.2. The Nature of Holiness in the Immediate Power of the Spirit and the
Presence of God
8.3. Eternity as Timelessness, Everlasting Duration, Simultaneity, or
Multidimensional and Transformed Reality?
9. Claims about “Hell” and Wrath
9.1. The Nature of “Hell”: Everlasting Punishment in Christian Thought
9.2. An Assessment of the Biblical Evidence
9.3. The Wrath of God
10. The Last Judgment and Justification by Grace through Faith
10.1. Judgment Anticipated with Joy? Vindication and Truth
10.2. The Last Judgment, “Verdictives,” and Justification by Grace
10.3. Universal Judgment: Will It Involve Retribution? Will All Be Judged?
11. The Beatific Vision of God: From Glory to Glory — The Final State of
the Redeemed
11.1. Two Meanings of Glory: God’s Presence and His Glory as God’s Self
11.2. Two Further Meanings of Glory: Loving God for His Sake, and
Seeing Him Face-to-Face
11.3. The Symbolism and Purpose of the Book of Revelation
11.4. The Symbolic Language concerning the Last State of the Redeemed in
Revelation
12. The Beatific Vision and Trinitarian Work of God: More on the Final
State of the Redeemed
12.1. Joy, Wonder, and Christ’s Crucifixion and Resurrection
12.2. The Continuing and Ever-Fresh Work of the Holy Spirit after the
Resurrection: The Transformation and Enhancement of Sense
Experience
12.3. The Purposes of God the Father: Divine Dialogue; God as All in All
Bibliography
Index of Names
Index of Subjects
Index of Biblical References
Acknowledgments
I owe sincere thanks in many directions for the publication of this book, which
reflects my practical concern for this subject. However, two people deserve
special thanks. My wife, Rosemary, has once again corrected all the proofs, as
well as helping in other ways. My secretary, Mrs. Karen Woodward, has typed
the entire manuscript with efficiency, speed, and patience, while also preparing
lecture outlines and fulfilling other University duties. In addition to these two,
Mr. Milton Essenburg has brilliantly edited the typescript, and I am grateful to
him, Mr. Jon Pott, Ms. Linda Bieze, among others at Eerdmans, for seeing
another book through the press.
ANTHONY C. THISELTON, FBA
Emeritus Professor of Christian Theology
University of Nottingham, U.K.
Abbreviations
Anchor Bible
AB
Ante-Nicene Fathers
ANF
Authorized Version
AV
W. Bauer, F. W. Danker, W. F. Arndt, and F. W. Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and
Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd edn. 2000
BDAG
ConBNT Coniectanea Biblica Neotestamentica
Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament
EDNT
Fathers of the Church
FC
Forschungen zur Religion und Literatur, des Alten und Neuen Testaments
FRLANT
Harvard Theological Review
HTR
International Critical Commentary
ICC
ICC
Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
JETS
JSJSup Supplements to the Journal for the Study of Judaism
JSNTSup Supplements to the Journal for the Study of the New Testament
Journal of Theological Studies
JTS
Library of Christian Classics
LCC
Luther’s Works
LW
New English Bible
NEB
New International Commentary on the New Testament
NICNT
New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis
NIDOTTE
New International Greek Testament Commentary
NIGTC
New International Version
NIV
NJB New Jewish Bible
NovTSup Supplement to Novum Testamentum
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers
NPNF