The afterlife as a spiritual reality and spiritual resurrection

Question 1

Question: Why has the popularity of the belief in physical resurrection lessened among modern Christians?

Answer 1

Answer: Some Christians raise theological and practical issues regarding physical resurrection, while others reject resurrection entirely.

Question 2

Question: What concerns do Christians have about the period between death and physical resurrection?

Answer 2

Answer: Many Christians question what happens to the soul in the interim period before physical resurrection occurs

Question 3

Question: How do Christians who reject physical resurrection but believe in an afterlife view the nature of that afterlife?

Answer 3

Answer: They view the afterlife as a spiritual state of the soul where eternal bliss is experienced, rather than a physical place.

Question 4

St Paul on a presence with Christ after death: N. T. Wright argues

St Paul on a presence with Christ after death

Answer 4

St Paul on a presence with Christ after death: N. T. Wright argues

Question 5

Question: How does St. Paul describe the choice between life and death in Philippians 1:21-24?

St Paul on a presence with Christ after death

Answer 5

Answer: St. Paul says he is torn between the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better, and continuing to live in the flesh to serve others, which is more necessary.

Question 6

Question: What influence did St. Paul’s words in Philippians have on Christian beliefs about the afterlife?

St Paul on a presence with Christ after death

Answer 6

Answer: St. Paul’s words influenced the belief in particular judgement immediately after death followed by a non-physical existence in Heaven.

Question 7

Question: How does St. Paul reconcile his belief in immediate presence with Christ after death with his teaching on the resurrection of the dead?

St Paul on a presence with Christ after death

Answer 7

Answer: St. Paul suggests in Philippians that there is particular judgement in addition to general judgement, not replacing it.

Question 8

Question: What does St. Paul mean by “to die is gain” in Philippians 1:21?

St Paul on a presence with Christ after death

Answer 8

Answer: St. Paul means that dying brings the gain of being with Christ, which he considers better than continued life in the flesh

Question 9

Question: What does St. Paul prioritize in his decision between life and death in Philippians 1:24?

St Paul on a presence with Christ after death

Answer 9

Answer: St. Paul prioritizes continuing to live in the flesh for the sake of spreading Christianity, even though being with Christ after death is preferable.

Question 10

Question: How does St. Paul’s view in Philippians challenge the traditional understanding of resurrection and judgement?

St Paul on a presence with Christ after death

Answer 10

Answer: St. Paul’s mention of being with Christ after death challenges the traditional view that judgement and resurrection only occur at the end times.

Question 11

Question: What theological concept does St. Paul introduce regarding the timing of judgement and the afterlife in Philippians?

St Paul on a presence with Christ after death

Answer 11

Answer: St. Paul introduces the concept of particular judgement, suggesting a judgement immediately after death before the final resurrection.

Question 12

Question: What does St. Paul’s teaching in Philippians imply about the nature of existence after death?

St Paul on a presence with Christ after death

Answer 12

Answer: St. Paul’s teaching implies that existence after death involves being with Christ in a non-physical state until the resurrection of the dead.

Question 13

Question: How does St. Paul’s perspective in Philippians provide comfort to believers regarding the afterlife?

St Paul on a presence with Christ after death:

Answer 13

Answer: St. Paul’s perspective offers comfort by affirming the immediate presence with Christ after death for those who believe, prior to the final resurrection.

Question 14

Question: According to N. T. Wright, what is the New Testament’s stance on what happens to us after death but before the resurrection?

St Paul on a presence with Christ after death: N. T. Wright argues

Answer 14

Answer: N. T. Wright argues that the New Testament is largely uninterested in this question.

Question 15

Question: Which passages does N. T. Wright acknowledge as discussing the state after death but before resurrection?

St Paul on a presence with Christ after death: N. T. Wright argues

Answer 15

Answer: Wright acknowledges passages like Philippians, John 14 (many dwelling-places), and Luke 23:43 (“with me in paradise”).

Question 16

Question: What does N. T. Wright note about these passages regarding the concept of the soul?

St Paul on a presence with Christ after death: N. T. Wright argues

Answer 16

Answer: Wright points out that none of these passages mention the psyche (soul), which challenges the popular understanding of the soul’s fate after death.

Question 17

Question: What conclusion does N. T. Wright draw regarding the early Christians’ understanding of the soul?

St Paul on a presence with Christ after death: N. T. Wright argues

Answer 17

Answer: Wright concludes that the early Christians did not intend to teach that the soul survives death until resurrection, contrary to popular belief

Question 18

Question: According to N. T. Wright, what influence has distorted the Christian understanding of the soul?

St Paul on a presence with Christ after death: N. T. Wright argues

Answer 18

Answer: Wright argues that Plato’s dualist notion of the soul has heavily influenced western Christian culture, despite being rejected in Jewish tradition

Question 19

Question: How does N. T. Wright describe the New Testament’s usage of the word ‘soul’?

St Paul on a presence with Christ after death: N. T. Wright argues

Answer 19

Answer: Wright suggests that when Paul and the gospels use the word ‘soul’, it aligns more closely with the Hebrew concept of ‘nephesh’, meaning a living, God-breathed creature

Question 20

Question: What is the unfortunate consequence of the Platonic influence on Christian theology, according to N. T. Wright?

St Paul on a presence with Christ after death: N. T. Wright argues

Answer 20

Answer: Wright argues that this influence has led to a misunderstanding where Christians believe souls go to heaven or hell immediately after death, overshadowing belief in the resurrection of the dead.

Question 21

Question: How does N. T. Wright’s view challenge traditional Christian beliefs about the soul and afterlife?

St Paul on a presence with Christ after death: N. T. Wright argues

Answer 21

Answer: Wright challenges the traditional belief that the soul exists separately from the body after death, advocating instead for a view where the focus is on resurrection at the end of time.

Question 22

Question: What theological concept does N. T. Wright emphasize as overshadowed by Platonic views of the soul?

St Paul on a presence with Christ after death: N. T. Wright argues

Answer 22

Answer: Wright emphasizes the resurrection of the dead as a key theological concept that has been overshadowed by Platonic ideas about the soul’s fate after death.

Question 23

Question: According to N. T. Wright, what cultural influence has shaped the popular understanding of the soul’s journey after death?

St Paul on a presence with Christ after death: N. T. Wright argues

Answer 23

Answer: Wright argues that the Platonic view of the soul’s immortality has influenced western Christian culture, steering it away from the biblical emphasis on resurrection and final judgement.

Question 24

Question: What do proponents of spiritual resurrection deny about Jesus’ and our future resurrected bodies?

Spiritual resurrection

Answer 24

Answer: They deny that Jesus’ resurrected body was physical, and they reject the idea that our future resurrected bodies will be physical.

Question 25

Question: How do proponents of spiritual resurrection describe the nature of resurrected bodies?

Spiritual resurrection

Answer 25

Answer: They typically claim that resurrected bodies are non-physical or simply souls with a physical appearance.

Question 26

Question: What was debated among early Christians regarding resurrection?

Spiritual resurrection

Answer 26

Answer: Early Christians debated whether resurrection should be understood as spiritual (non-physical) or physical.

Question 27

Question: Which view of resurrection eventually became dominant among Christians?

Spiritual resurrection

Answer 27

Answer: Physical resurrection became the dominant view among Christians over time.

Question 28

Question: What is Docetism, and what did it believe about Jesus’ resurrection?

Spiritual resurrection

Answer 28

Answer: Docetism was a Christian sect influenced by Gnosticism that believed Jesus was spiritually resurrected in a non-physical body that only appeared physical.

Question 29

Question: How was Docetism influenced by Gnosticism?

Spiritual resurrection

Answer 29

Answer: Docetism blended Christian teachings with Gnostic philosophy, which included elements from Platonism. Gnosticism emphasized the spiritual over the physical.

Question 30

Question: What did Docetists believe about divine beings and physical bodies?

Spiritual resurrection

Answer 30

Answer: Docetists believed that a divine being could not have a physical human body, as physical matter was seen as inferior to pure spirituality

Question 31

Question: How did Docetism resolve philosophical issues related to the incarnation?

Spiritual resurrection

Answer 31

Answer: Docetism resolved philosophical issues by denying Jesus’ full humanity while affirming his full divinity, thus sidestepping the problem of how a divine being could be fully human

Question 32

Question: What theological term describes Docetism’s belief about Jesus?

Spiritual resurrection

Answer 32

Answer: Docetism is considered antitrinitarian because it denied Jesus’ full humanity, which is integral to the Christian doctrine of the Trinity.

Question 33

Question: What impact did Docetism have on early Christian theology?

Spiritual resurrection

Answer 33

Answer: Docetism challenged and influenced early Christian theology by prompting discussions and debates about the nature of Christ’s resurrection and the relationship between divinity and humanity.

Question 34

However

Spiritual resurrection

Answer 34

However, Docetism was considered a heresy as it goes against the Bible “the word was made flesh” (John) and undermines the meaning of Jesus’ sacrifice during the crucifixion if the human suffering wasn’t real but just an appearance.