St. Paul’s view on Death

What was Paul thinking? John Drane argues that St Paul’s view on life after death was dominated by eschatology, just as Jesus’ had been. They both declared that the much-anticipated Kingdom of God had arrived. Recent events had led Paul to believe that he was truly living in the presence of God in his Kingdom, despite still being part of this fallen world: Jesus’ Passion Jesus’ death & resurrection Paul’s conversion

A contraditction… BUT, despite thinking this, Paul maintained that our present existence and experience of Christianity is but a foretaste of what is to come. For Paul, the future meant the return of Jesus in glory (the Parousia) and the transformation of Christians finally & fully to be like Christ: But our commonwealth is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power which enables him even to subject all things to himself. Phil 3:20-21

Paul’s intense Ministry – led to him changing his mind? Paul held a feverent apocalyptic view & expected all Christians to live until the Parousia… …This was challenged by the Thessalonian Christians as a large number of them had died.

Paul’s intense Ministry – led to him changing his mind? But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 St Paul responded by saying that they would be raised to life at the Parousia.

Paul’s intense Ministry – led to him changing his mind? Lo! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 Paul then added that the living would also be transformed at the same instant!

Paul’s intense Ministry – led to him changing his mind? Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 2 Corinthians 4:16 – 5:4 Then he declared that this transformation would be a gradual change, beginning with conversion and ending with death, which would lead directly into a new existence in a spiritual body without the need for the Parousia to arrive first.

So, why the change? The change in St Paul’s thinking represents a change from an unrefined Jewish view to a more sophisticated position that owed a lot to the influence of Greek philosophy. His thinking never changed on basic issues. He remained convinced that the coming of the new age was not just an internal experience in the lives of Christian people, but something that could come in power. And since Jesus was God’s son & Messiah, this ‘great day of the Lord’ must also be the day of Jesus’ return in glory.