Immortality—Do We Have It Now? How Do We Get It?
By G. B. T.
IT is the generally accepted view of the greater part of the so-called “orthodox” churches that the soul is immortal, and that what we term “death” is not really death, but a mere transition. This is also the fundamental belief of the Roman Catholic Church, on which they build their belief in purgatory and other of their false teaching. It can be added, also, that the belief in inherent immortality and consequent consciousness in death is the foundation of all heathenism; it is the very tap-root of this awful darkness and gloom which hangs like a funeral pall over millions of the inhabitants of the earth who know not God. In very many modern sermons, prayers, and hymns, either directly or indirectly, reference is made to “immortal souls,” or consciousness in death. As an example, one favorite hymn reads: “A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify;
A never-dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.” Then the poet, seeming to forget what he said in the first verse, says in the second: “If I my trust betray,
I shall forever die.” The incongruity of saying a “never-dying soul” is to “forever die,” did not seem to be considered by the poet, and has not been by many thousands who have sung these stanzas in worship of God. Listening to these declarations from their earliest recollections, hearing them reiterated over and over by those who pose as religious teachers and whose sincerity they have no reason to call in question, many have naturally concluded that the Holy Scriptures abound in such terms as “immortal soul,” “deathless” or “never-dying spirit,” etc. Being told at funerals, as a source of comfort and consolation, that there is no such thing as death, but that the one we love has only gone on before to his reward, millions, without searching the Scriptures, have come to regard this as an established fact; and those who challenge the truthfulness of this tenet of “orthodoxy,” and endeavor to show how it sets aside many of the fundamental doctrines of the Bible, and is made the basis as well of some of the most horrible and God-dishonoring dogmas, are classed among the infidels and unbelieving. But at the risk of being so classified, we venture to reconnoiter around this citadel of error, and uncover the unscriptural foundation upon which it is built, and point out the real originator of this dogma. Gibbon says: “The theologian may indulge the pleasing task of describing religion as she descended from74heaven arrayed in her native purity. A more melancholy duty is imposed on the historian. He must discover the inevitable mixture of error and corruption which she contracted in a long residence upon earth, among a weak and degenerate race of beings.”—Volume 1, chapter 15, paragraph 2. That there is a “mixture of error” in much of the modern theology, all must admit. That none is more fatal, or inclined to lead farther from the truth, than a belief in the natural immortality of the soul, the Scriptures of truth must clearly show. Turning from the uncertain teachings of men to the eternal rock of Scripture, what do we find in reference to this subject? “The terms ‘immortal’ and ‘immortality’ are not found in the Old Testament, either in our English version or in the original Hebrew. There is, however, one expression, in Gen. 3:4, which is, perhaps, equivalent in meaning, and was spoken in reference to the human race; namely, ‘Thou shalt not surely die.’ But unfortunately for believers in natural immortality, this declaration came from one whom no person would like to acknowledge as the author of his creed. It is what the devil said to Eve, the terrible deception by means of which he accomplished her fall, and so ‘brought death into the world, and all our wo.’ But does not the New Testament supply this seemingly unpardonable omission of the Old, by many times affirming that all men have immortality?” “Remembering the many times you have heard and read from Biblical expositors that you were in possession of an immortal soul, how many times do you think the New Testament declares that you have such an immortal soul? One hundred times?—No. Fifty?—No. Ten?—No. Five?—No. Twice?—No! Once?—NO!”—“Man’s Nature and Destiny,” page 17. The word “immortal” is found but once in the New Testament, and is in this instance applied directly to the omnipotent God. “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Tim. 1:17. The original word, however, from which “immortal” is here translated, aphthartos, occurs in six other texts as follows: “And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.” Rom. 1:23. “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an uncorruptible.” 1 Cor. 9:25. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised uncorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Cor. 15:52. “To an inheritance uncorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.” 1 Peter 1:4. “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of uncorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.” 1 Peter 1:23. “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” 1 Peter 3:4. It will be noticed that in each text the word is translated “uncorruptible,” but in no instance is it applied to mortal man. The word “immortality” is translated from two words in the Greek, as follows: “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” 1 Cor. 15:53. “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Cor. 15:54. “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.” 1 Tim. 6:16. “To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life.” Rom. 2:7. “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption.” 1 Cor. 15:42. “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” 1 Cor. 15:50. “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” 1 Cor. 15:53. “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Cor. 15:54. “Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.” Eph. 6:24. “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” 2 Tim. 1:10. “In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity.” Titus 2:7. In these scriptures quoted we have the testimony of the Bible relative to the use of the words “immortal” and “immortality.” In not a single instance are the terms applied to man in his present state. It is explicitly stated that God “only hath immortality.” Immortality is an attribute of the Deity alone. Then man does not possess it. These texts show that immortality is set before us as something to seek for, and will be bestowed only upon the believer at the resurrection. It is at this glorious hour, not at birth, that “this mortal” puts on immortality. To claim, as many do, that the Scriptures teach that man possesses an immortal, deathless spirit by nature, is to torture and garble, by human reason and philosophy, the plain words of the Bible into meaning the very reverse of what they clearly say.