Questions on Chapter 39.
Now, it is most unquestionable that the apostle expected to “be with Christ,” so soon as death should close his labors with the Church. Hence his language demonstrates that the soul neither dies nor sleeps with the body, in the grave or anywhere else, but is immediately “with Christ, which is far better.” This implies a state of conscious happiness. Once more: St. Paul says, “I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8.
St. Peter speaks in tones of exultant joy of his hope of immortal bliss: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you; who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5.
Upon the hypothesis that the soul ceases to exist when the body dies, or that an immortality of felicity awaits not the righteous after death, how impossible must it be for any sensible construction to be placed upon the scriptures we have presented, and many others that might be produced! We pursue the theme no farther. If the skeptic can gain delight to his own heart by persuading himself that unconscious nonentity is his own future heritage, let him — if he will — take his dark and gloomy course alone, nor vainly strive to destroy the foundation of the righteous. “O listen, man!
A voice within us speaks that startling word:
‘Man, thou shalt never die!’ Celestial voices
Hymn it unto our souls: according harps,
By angel fingers touched, when the mild stars
Of morning sang together, sound forth still
The song of our great immortality.”
QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER 39.
QUESTION 1. To what extent is immortality a doctrine of revelation?
2. Is it taught in the Old Testament?
3. How has it been viewed by pagans?
4. How is it argued from the tendency of its rejection?
5. How, from the belief of all nations?
6. How, from the soul’s innate desire?
7. How, from the inequality of rewards and punishments?
8. How, the souls of vast powers?
9. In what way can the immortality of the soul be argued from the resurrection of the body?
10. How may the soul’s immortality be proved from the Old Testament?
11. How may it be proved from the words of Christ?
12. How, from the teachings of the apostles?