A QUESTION ON IMMORTALITY.
By C. P. B.
WE are asked by a correspondent to explain what is meant by the expression "the pagan dogma that the soul or spirit is immortal," which appeared in these columns some weeks since. The meaning of the expression is simply that the doctrine of the natural immortality of the soul is not taught in the Scriptures but is of heathen origin. In proof of this statement we will give two or three brief quotations from historians. Herodotus testifies (Euterpe II. 123, p. 144) that the Egyptians were the first who asserted the doctrine that the soul of man is immortal, and later the Greeks adopted the same opinion. But it is to Plato, who was born 428 B. C., that the Christian world owes the doctrine as it is now held and taught. Concerning this, Dr Knapp ("Christian Theology," pp. 521 and 522) says: "In the varied web of proof [of the doctrine of the immortality of the soul] in our modern philosophical schools the chief threads, and, as it were, the entire material, are of Grecian origin." "The followers of Socrates, however, did the most for this doctrine, and especially Plato." Enfield in his "History of Philosophy," p. 115, says: "Even to the present day, Plato has many followers. His writings still give a tincture to the speculation and nature of philosophy and theology." That this doctrine is not taught in the Bible is virtually acknowledged in the quotation from Dr. Knapp, and anyone who will make a candid examination of the question in the light of the Scriptures, must make the same acknowledgment. We have said that the doctrine was of pagan origin; perhaps it would be better to say of Satanic origin, for it was first taught by the serpent when he tempted our first parents. God had said of the forbidden fruit: "In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die," and Satan said unto the woman, "Ye shall not surely die," but "ye shall be as gods." And this is substantially what is taught to-day. We are told that the soul, the most important part of man, is naturally immortal and cannot die, that that which appears to be death is simply transition. But such is not the teaching of the Scriptures. In Ps. 6:5 we read: "For in death there is no remembrance of thee; in the grave who shall give thee thanks?" and again in Ps. 146:3, 4 we have this testimony: "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish." Similar language is also used in Eccl. 9:5, 6. The Preacher says: "For the living know that they shall die; but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun." And with these texts agree the New Testament. Says the apostle (1 Cor. 15:16-18): "For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised; and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." This is a most explicit testimony that a future existence is absolutely dependent upon a resurrection from the dead. It is impossible to understand it in any other way, and it shows conclusively that the apostle Paul did not believe in the doctrine of the natural immortality of the soul. In speaking of this, we have said "natural immortality," for we believe in immortality, that is, that life and immortality are brought to light by Christ through the gospel, as declared in 2 Tim. 1:10. But Christ did not bring this life and immortality to light by showing that man already has immortality, but by demonstrating the truth of the resurrection of the dead, and by promising a resurrection unto eternal life to those who believe on him. Says the apostle: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 2 Thess. 4:16, 17. And we believe that in no other way can any person ever be with the Lord. All who are ever with the Lord must be there either by translation or by resurrection. Such is the testimony of the Scriptures. C. P. B.