Jesus and the afterlife (original) (raw)
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Jewish Beliefs on the Afterlife
Chapter in Greek Resurrection Beliefs and the Success of Christianity, 2009
Although there is a clear historical connection, Jewish beliefs on the afterlife were never identical with what Christians held to be true. We must also consider to what degree Judaism actually influenced the development of the resurrection belief in Christianity. This forces us to ask another basic question, How typical of Judaism during this time was the belief in the resurrection, not least the belief in the resurrec- tion of the flesh? Does Judaism in early imperial times offer any clue for why early Christians chose this one form of belief in the afterlife and not anything else?
RES 2017 02 02 Cook on Resurrection Hell and the Afterlife
Mark Finney's short monograph on resurrection, hell, and the afterlife in ancient paganism, Judaism, and early Christianity is well worth reading. The first chapter is an examination of the afterlife in Greco-Roman paganism. In the second chapter he reviews the afterlife in the Hebrew Bible, and in the third he examines texts on the afterlife in Second Temple Judaism. The fourth chapter is a brief overview of the afterlife in the Dead Sea Scrolls and in later rabbinic texts. He then turns to Paul's views of the afterlife in chapter five, and in chapter six he reviews texts on the afterlife in the later New Testament. The seventh chapter summarizes developing beliefs in the afterlife in early Christianity, and the eighth chapter reviews the development of the concept of hell in the Hebrew Bible, Second Temple Judaism, and later Christianity. One can perhaps encapsulate the main thrust of his book in the following statements: ancient pagans had much less faith in the immortality of the soul than previously imagined, and in fact many accepted the concept of immortal flesh in the afterlife for certain heroes. In the Hebrew Bible and Second Temple Judaism there are few unambiguous texts that assert the resurrection of the body, although there was a strong belief in the immortality of the soul. Paul does not believe in the resurrection of the physical body and is uncertain about the nature of the resurrected Christ (" Christ's soul had been glorified " p. 183). A belief in bodily resurrection did emerge in later NT texts.
Resurrection of the Dead: A Jewish Belief
Sefer Press Publishing, 2025
This paper explores the evolution of Jewish beliefs regarding the resurrection of the dead and the immortality of the soul, tracing their roots in ancient scriptures, apocryphal texts, rabbinic discussions, and modern theological interpretations. It examines early biblical references linking resurrection to national restoration and righteousness, as well as apocryphal works that elaborate on afterlife expectations, including final judgment and spiritual transformation. Rabbinic debates are analyzed to illustrate varying perspectives on the scope and nature of resurrection—whether universal, restricted to Israel, or specific to the righteous. The study also considers influences from natural philosophy and the challenges posed to traditional views by modern Jewish thought, especially within the Reform movement. By mapping the theological, liturgical, and philosophical dimensions of resurrection beliefs, this work highlights their centrality to Jewish eschatology and their broader implications for understanding justice, redemption, and the human destiny.
Pavol Bargár (ed.), Bible, Christianity, and Culture. Essays in Honor of Professor Petr Pokorný, Prague: Karolinum, 2023
The objective of this study is to depict the “history” of ideas about resurrection in early Judaism as a precondition for understanding the meaning of resurrection in Christianity. I want to offer an overview of particular texts that refer to resurrection and against that backdrop, to explicate the development of, and changes in, belief in resurrection in the context of ideas about life after death in early Judaism. Simultaneously, I attempt to trace important shifts in scholarship that have occurred in recent decades as a consequence of discoveries and investigations of new texts.
THE RESURRECTION IN JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY ACCORDING TO THE HEBREW TORAH AND CHRISTIAN BIBLE
International E-Journal of Advances in Social Sciences, Abstracts and Proceedings of the INTCESS 2019 - 6th International Conference on Education and Social Sciences, 4-6 February 2019, Dubai, UAE, ISBN: 978-605-82433-5-4, 2019
This research outlines the concept of resurrection from the ancient Hebrew Torah to Rabbinic Judaism and Christianity according to authoritative and linguistically accurate scriptures accompanied by English translations. Although some contemporary scholars are of the opinion that resurrection is vaguely portrayed in the Hebrew Torah, our research into the ancient texts offers quotes and provides proofs to the contrary. With the passing time, the concept of the resurrection grew even stronger and became one of the most important doctrines of Judaism, enjoined as one of the thirteen articles of faith by Maimonides in the Mishnah. Imitative of the Jewish concept of God reaching out to save Israelites from gehenna, Jesus" crucifixion and death for the sins of the world, resurrection on the third day, descend into the hells and subsequent rise into heavens became the essential foundation of Christianity, with Christ's resurrection as the impetus for the resurrection of those who believe in him. According to this Pauline theology, Christian faith is based upon the resurrection of Jesus and the hope for a life after death.
Out of the Depths: The Development of Jewish Views of the Afterlife in Second Temple Judaism
2016
The concept of an afterlife was not present in the time of Ancient Israel. As understood primarily from their biblical literature, all the dead descend to Sheol—a place quite difficult to define due to the lack of primary documentation, but at the very least can be simply described as the place where all the dead are located. Nothing is known whether the Israelites believed if the souls of the dead remained intact and continued to exist, if they retained consciousness, or if they “lived” there forever. However, as the empires of the Ancient Near East began their conquests of Palestine and the eventual development of early Jewish faith took form, it is primarily Israel’s desire for deliverance from oppression that made its way to the evolution of their credence and understanding of life after death. This paper proposes a three-stage model in mapping out the development of Jewish thought on the afterlife: Restorative, Apocalyptic, and Resurrection. Various issues such as the Jewish hope of liberation from captivity, developing prophetic literature oriented towards a better future, revolt against external cultures incompatible with Jewish practice, and the anticipation of reward for righteousness will be addressed here and will be argued for as strong factors for the development of the Jewish understanding of life after death. This study will concentrate on the Second Temple Period of Judaism (515 BCE-70 CE) while also carefully considering the setting and circumstances before the period. It hopes to provide a definitive guide in future studies that will delve deeper into the history of Jewish afterlife. Highly Commended in the Social Sciences: Anthropology and Cultural Studies Category The Undergraduate Awards 2016 Dublin, Ireland