Immortality in the Old Testament.
By C. P. Bollman
THE assertion is made in a recent editorial article in the New England Evangelist, that "until the divine demonstration of invincible power in the victory of Christ over the grave, there was no knowledge of immortality beyond the gates of death." That any professed Christian should make such a statement is a matter of no little surprise, since it is a denial, not only of the Old Testament, but of the New as well, and even contradicts the teaching of Christ himself, who silenced the skeptical Sadducees by proving from the writings of Moses, the resurrection of the dead. See Matt. 22: 23-32. The apostle Paul says (2 Tim. 1: 9, 10), that the "purpose and grace" of God were "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;" but he does not say that "there was no knowledge of immortality" until after Christ arose from the dead. He could not have said that; for he elsewhere proves the contrary. In his defense before Agrippa he said: "And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers" (Acts 26: 6); and from verse 8, and also chapter 23: 6 we learn that that hope was the hope of immortality through a resurrection from the dead. Indeed, the apostle repeatedly argues at length to show the identity of his faith and the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The promise to Abraham was that he should be heir of the world (Rom. 4: 13); but we know, and Paul knew, that he did not receive it. And it was from this very fact that Stephen (Acts 7) argued the resurrection and Messiahship of Christ. The promise was not fulfilled to Abraham; therefore, he and all who are heirs with him, and who have died, or may yet die, must be raised from the dead that the promise may be fulfilled. In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, Paul shows that all the ancient worthies had that same faith. He speaks especially of Abraham, proving positively that his faith was in the resurrection. He says: "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac; and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure." Heb. 11: 17-19. Elsewhere we read, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Or, as James says: "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness; and he was called the Friend of God." James 2: 21-23. Thus we see that Abraham was justified by faith in the death and resurrection of Christ. But Abraham's faith was different in no wise from that of Abel, Enoch, and Noah, nor from that of the many who died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city." Heb. 11: 13-16. Life and immortality are indeed brought to light "through the gospel," but the gospel is as old as the promise of a Saviour. The doctrine that the gospel belongs only to the new covenant is false and misleading. The Scriptures testify (Gal. 3: 8) that "God preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed." And again we read of the Jews in the days of Moses that they had the gospel. Heb. 4: 2. The Old Testament is full of immortality through a resurrection. When under sore affliction the patriarch Job exclaimed:— "Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! that they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever! for I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God." Job 19: 23-26. David, too, spoke of the resurrection of Christ (Acts 2: 30, 31); Isaiah spoke of the resurrection of all the righteous, saying: "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust; for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead;" and the same thing was shown to Ezekiel in vision. Eze. 37. "And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets; who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, . . . out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again; and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection." "And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." Heb. 11: 32-35, 39, 40. But why pursue this subject further? for "if they believe not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead." If they reject the words of Christ (Luke 20: 37), neither have they any real faith in his resurrection or in his ability to raise those who believe in him. C. P. BOLLMAN.