이 정석 교수의 신학 문답 Q&A

1. The doctrine of intermediate state answers to the very practical and existential question: where to go immediately after death and how to live there. It extends the period between one’s personal death and physical resurrection after the return of Christ. In the funeral service and the pastoral care of the bereaved(great comfort, homecoming. The end of pilgrimage, Hoekema), this doctrine is crucially important. Moreover, in this individualistic age, the eschatological interest primarily takes a place in the immediate after-life.

 

2. However, this doctrine is quite controverted in the modern theology. Traditional belief in this intermediate state is fundamentally challenged even to deny its existence itself. Moreover, in the structure of Christian eschatology, it raises the problem of twofold expectation and the tension between individual and cosmic eschatology or individual eschaton and cosmic eschaton, even though G. C. Berkouwer explained it as “two aspects of a unitary expectation”(no independent doctrine, Hoekema). 

 

3. There are several differerent views on the intermediate state:

(i) Sheol: Undivided existence of the dead [Judaism, Liberalism]

(ii) Conscious Existence: Divided expectation [Orthodoxy]

(iii) Unconscious Existence: Soul-Sleep [Anabaptist]

(iv) Purgatory: Continuing Purification of Soul [Roman Catholic]

(v)  Annihilation of the Wicked and Conditional Immortality [Adventist, Jehovah’s Witness, Clark Pinnock, John Stott]

(vi) Immediate Resurrection [WDDavies, Paul and Rabbinic Judaism]

(vii) Non-Existence and New Creation [G van der Leeuw, Paul Althaus]

(viii) Further Probation: Second Chance for Salvation [Andover School]

 

4. Biblical and Theological Discussions

 

(i) Sheol: Undivided existence of the dead [Judaism, Liberalism]

 

(1)Sheol is the realm of death or the state of death without distinction and grave locally and symbolically as seen in Job10:21-22: “the place of no return, to the land of gloom and deep shadow, to the land of deepest night, of deep shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.” The dreary abode of the shades, the land of forgetfulness, the place of weakened consciousness and of slumbrous inactivity, where life has lost its interests and the joy of life is urned into sadness. So, GELadd in A Theology of the New Testament: “In the OT, human existence does not end with death. Rather, man continues to exit in the nether world… Sheol is not so much a place as the state of the dead Sheol is the OT manner of asserting that death does not terminate human existence… In the OT… the fate of the righteous and the unrighteous is the same.”(193-4): Gen37:35: All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. "No," he said, "in mourning will I go down to the grave to my son." So his father wept for him.; Gen42:38, But Jacob said, "My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow."; 1Sam2:6, "The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up.

 

(2) But, there is a hope for God’s deliverance of the righteous from Sheol:

With the coming of the Messiah, the Jews will be delievered.

Ps9:17

The wicked return to the grave, all the nations that forget God.

Prov15:24

The path of life leads upward for the wise to keep him from going down to the grave.

Ac2:24

But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

Ps49:14-15

Like sheep they are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them. The upright will rule over them in the morning; their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions. But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself. Selah

Ps16:10

because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

1Pet3:19

through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison

Ac2:27

because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

Ac2:31

Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay.

Ps17:15

And I--in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

Ps73:24

You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.

Hos13:14

"I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction? "I will have no compassion,

Prov14:32

When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous have a refuge.

In the OT, Sheol is smetimes contrasted with Shamayim in Job 11.8, Ps 139.8, Amos 9.2.

 

(3) In the NT, Hades/Gehenna is the place of punishment:

J.Jeremias: distinction between Hades and Gehenna/ Hades as the intermediate state [TDNT, Hades]

Intertestamental Period: development of this distinction

LBerkhof: “In the OT the word Sheol is used more often for grave and less for hell, while in the corresponding use of Hades in the NT the contrary holds.”(ST, 686) But, Ladd is right: “Jesus has almost nothing to say about Hades. The word occurs a few times(Mt 11.23=Lk 10.15, Mt 16.18)…We conclude that esus gives no information about the state of the wicked dead, and only affirms that the righteous dead are with God.”(194-5)

 

Mt5:29

If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell[Gehenna].

Mt18:9

And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

Mk9:43-46

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell[Gehenna], where "'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'

Mt5:20

For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Mt5:22

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell[Gehenna].

Mt10:28

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell[Gehenna].

Lk12:5

But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

Mt23:14

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

Mt23:32

"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell[Gehenna]?

Mt25:30

And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Mt25:41

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Lk16:28

for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'

Jam3:6

The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

 

(4) Sheol-Hades and the power of death and destruction are closely related. Therefore, the redemption from it is resurrection. And after ther Resurrection, it will be terminated:

Rev1:18

I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Rev6:8

I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Rev20:13-14

The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.

Mt16:18

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

1Cor15:26

The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Rev21:4

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Jn8:51-52

I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death." At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death.

Mt16:18-19

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

 

 

(ii) Conscious Existence: Divided Expectation [Orthodoxy]

 

WC32: “The souls of the righteous, being made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God[visio Dei] in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of the bodies… [The souls of the wicked after death] are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of he great day… Besides these two places (heaven and hell) for souls separated from their bodies, the Scripture acknowledgeth none.”[no separate intermediate place]

Heidelberg Q57: “That not nly my soul, after this life, shall be immediately taken up to Christ”

Second Helvetic Confession26: “We believe that the faithful, after bodily death, go directly unto Chrst.”

Provisional, incomplete, temporary state of waitng ejoyment and expeting torment.

 

1P2.9

if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment(kolazmenous, present passive participle-continuing, Hoekema).

Lk16.19-31

The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' "'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

Lk23:42-43

Thief: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise

Lk23:45

Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Ac7:59

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

Rev2:7

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Phil1:21-23

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;

2Cor5:6-8

(v.1-5)“Building frm God, the house not made with hands”(Calvin: the blessed cndition of the soul after death is the commencement of the building, and the glory of the final resurrection is the consummation of it)

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

1Thess4:16

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

Rom14:8

If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Rom8:38-39

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2Cor12:4

was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.

Rev2:7

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Heb4:14

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

 

Paradise in the OT: Neh2:8

And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king's forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?" And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.

Eccl2:5

I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.

Song4:13

Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with choice fruits, with henna and nard

 

(iii) Unconscious Existence: Soul-Sleep [Anabaptist, Oscar Cullmann]

 

Calvin’s Psychopannychia(1534): anthropological argument[substantiality an immortality of the soul], Christological argument[union with Christ and its indestructibility by the physical death], eschatological argument[the Kingdom of God and its uninterruptibility by the physical death]

Lberkhof: “confusing the worker with hs machine” Unconscious existence is a virtual non-existence. But Paul speaks disembodied state is “being home with he Lord”, beter than the resent life(2Cor5.6-9, Phil1.23) And he could reign and cry for revenge(Rev 6.9, 20.4)

Final Judgment argument, but only solem announcement of the sentence(already judged, Jn3), surprise by grounds, not he sentence itself.

 

Euphesmism of death as ‘sleep’

Jn11:13

Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

Ac7:60

Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Ac13:36

"For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed.

1Cor15:6

After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

1Cor15:18

Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.

1Cor15:20

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

1Cor15:51

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed--

1Thess4:13-15

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.

Ps115:17-18

It is not the dead who praise the LORD, those who go down to silence; it is we who extol the LORD, both now and forevermore. Praise the LORD.

Eccl9:10

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

Rev6.9-11, 7.9-10 dead martyrs

 

(iv) Purgatory: Continuing Purification of Soul [Roman Catholic]

 

Limbus patrum(OT saints), Limbus infantum(unbaptised children): limbus(fringe)-two places on the fringe or outskirts of hell.

OT saints directly gone to heaven: Enoch, Elijah etc. David in Ps23: dweling forever in the House of the Lord. Mt 22.32: God of the living=God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob(Grudem, 821)

Alexandrian School-origin, much imagnation

They can be shortened and alleviated by the prayers and the good works of the faithful on earth, and especially by the sacrifce of the mass. The Pope is supposed to have jurisdiction over purgatory. It is his peculiar prerogative to rant indulgences, lightening the purgatorial sufferings or even terminating them.

Non-canonical text and biblical texts “only by a very forced exegesis”: absolutely no support in Scripture, moreover rests on several false premises(soteriological).

Immediate judgment insisted on he ground of Heb 9.27(Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment), but who decide many degrees of heaven, hell and purgatory?

 

Mt12:32

Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

1Tim:18

May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day

Mt5:26

I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

1Cor3:10-15

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

Is4:4

The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire.

Mic7:8

Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.

Zech9:11

As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.

Mal3:2

But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness,

1Cor15:29

Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?

 

 

(v) Annihilation of the Wicked and Conditional Immortality [Socinian, Adventist, Jehovah’s Witness, Clark Pinnock, John Stott]

 

The goodness of God argument, but person and concept a priori are different.

Annihilation[death penalty] as the eternal punishment, but it can be a blessing for some[Berkhof, 691-2]

Limited duration of punishment

 

Rom6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1Cor15:51-55

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed--in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

Mt25:46

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Rev20:13

The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done.

 

 

(vi) Immediate Resurrection [WDDavies, Paul and Rabbinic Judaism]

 

The different attitude between 1Cor 15 and 2 Cor 5, but Paul clearly teaches future resurrection accompanying the second advent(Phil 3.20-21, 1Thess 4.16-17) And Jesus emphasis (Jn 5.25-29)

RHCharles, WLKnox also pointed out the change of Paul, but no ntermediate body in Paul.

Phil3:20-21

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

1Thess4:16-17

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

 

Jn5.25-29

For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

 

(vii) Non-Existence and New Creation [G van der Leeuw, Paul Althaus]

 

Only one eschatological perspective for the believers, no continuity-ttlly dies and creates out of nothing at the resurrection.

Paul Althaus: independent cntinued existence of a bodiless soul is Platonic and denies the signifcance of the body. Then, why is the day of judgment still necessary? Thorougly individualistic and ignores the redemption of he cosmos.

 

(viii) Further Probation: Second Chance for Salvation [Andover School]

 

Second Probation for certain class or perhaps for all. The eternal state of man will not be fixed until the day of judgement.

1Pet 3.19, 4.6[preaching of Christ in the Hades]

Unbelief as the only ground of condemnation