Death After Life or Life After Death? Differing Early Christian Views on Death and the Afterlife
David C. Sim’s 2015 article Death After Life or Life After Death? Differing Early Christian Views on Death and the Afterlife, dissects the Christian beliefs about life after death. The article presents that the Christians’ belief in life after death is based on the Scriptures of the New Testament. For example, the article provides two verses supporting life after death according to Christians. The first is drawn from Acts 24:15 which states that “The resurrection of the dead, of both the just and the unjust, will precede the Last Judgement” (Sim 143). Additionally, the second justification for life after death is based on John 14:2, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” According to Sim’s article, the life after death that is believed by Christians can only be understood in the sense of God’s eternity. The author states that it does not mean that the soul is immortal but rather there is a resurrection which precedes judgment. Finally, Sim in his article believes that the existence of life after death is supported by Catholic Catechism and Church Fathers teachings.
This article by David Sim references several Christian religious texts to back its claims about the existence of life after death. The main text that the article relies on is the Catholic Catechism which forms a central part in the teaching of Christians. The Roman Catholic Church was the original church to have been pioneered by Saint Peter the disciple of Christ. Subsequently, catechism forms an integral part of Christian’s religious beliefs. The article quotes catechism verse which states that “The resurrection of the dead, of both the just and the unjust, will precede the Last Judgment” (Sim 143). This verse offers essential support to the views fronted by Christians about the existence of life after death. Evaluation of this provision by the catechism shows that there will be life after death but only for the righteous in the eyes of the Lord. The looming judgment after resurrection would determine the people who live and those who get banished to hell. Additionally, the article makes a case for life after death by also mentioning the texts from the New Testament which also provide support for the resurrection of bodies. The article states that the doctrine of the resurrection of bodies in the New Testament is based on the resurrection of Christ.
The article by David Sim is valuable for diverse reasons on its assessment of Christians’ belief in life after death. The first reason that backs up the value of the article is the reference to integral books use by Christians in their religious activities. The article makes references to the teachings of the Church Fathers. The Church Fathers are held in high regard in the Catholic religion as they are believed to have been the embodiment of religious Christian traditions. Church Fathers are also known to have had wide knowledge about the teachings of Christ. Subsequently, Christians consider the teachings of Church Fathers on resurrection as credible and true. Other references used by the article include the Bible and the Catholic Catechism which are also credible sources of the Christian religion (Sim 145). Secondly, the article is valuable due to its historical references which it uses to define the origin of the belief in life after death. As for its historical references, the article draws from the death of Christ and the teachings of Church Fathers as to the origin of belief in life after death. Thirdly, the article is valuable for its analysis of various Christian religions that believe in life after death. The article samples views from the Jewish and Greek religions on the existence of life after death. Sim states that the belief in life after death is a “reinterpretation of the traditional Greek understanding of the soul’s immortality to make it palatable and consistent in its new Judeo-Christian context” (Sim 146). Such a review of diverse beliefs from different religious backgrounds offers an in-depth insight into the origin of the Christians belief in life after death.
In conclusion, the article by Sim offers an impressive and in-depth analysis of the Christians belief in life after death. Sim’s article analyzes provisions by the Bible in the New Testament and Catholic Catechism on life after death. The author states that the takeaway from these religious books is that the belief in life after death is based on the resurrection of Jesus. Additionally, the resurrection of the people does not literally point to their immortality but the definition is according to eternity that is defined by God. Sim clarifies this part to avoid confusion that might be created by people believing that humans can be immortal. Ultimately, the article summarizes the origin of the beliefs of Christians on the possibility of life after death as was promised by Jesus Christ.