Body, Soul, and Life Everlasting: Biblical Anthropology and the Monism-Dualism Debate

by John W. Cooper

Publisher:

Eerdmans

, 2000

Overview

John Cooper writes in the preface to this volume, “Body, Soul, and Life Everlasting was written to remind thoughtful Christians that some sort of “dualistic” anthropology is entailed by the biblical teaching of the intermediate state, a doctrine that is affirmed by the vast majority in historic Christianity. The book makes the case that as Holy Scripture progressively discloses what happens to humans when they die, it teaches not only that each of us will undergo bodily resurrection, but that believers continue to exist “with the Lord” until the resurrection.… The argument of the book is mainly exegesis and theological reflection on Scripture, only touching on some of the philosophical aspects of the body-soul or mind-body problem.”

Contents

Top Highlights

“The central issue is whether the soul can survive and function apart from the human body. In other words, is human nature constructed in such a way that at death it can ‘come apart,’ the conscious personal part continuing to exist while the organism disintegrates?” (Page 1)

“Calvin’s doctrine of personal eschatology is that immediately after death the souls of believers enjoy rest and fellowship with Christ until their resurrection at his second coming. Then they enter God’s new creation.” (Page 14)

“what millions of Christians believe will happen to them when they die is also a delusion.” (Page 1)

“ First, a doctrine affirmed by most of the Christian church since its beginning is false” (Page 1)

“Augustine’s anthropology is a two-substance dualism. Human beings are composed of spirit and matter intimately conjoined so that the soul permeates and animates the entire body. Whereas the body depends for its existence and activity upon the soul, the reverse is not true. Augustine’s view of the human constitution dominated Christian thought in the West unchallenged until the thirteenth century, as did his views on many theological topics.” (Page 11)

Product Details

• Title: Body, Soul, and Life Everlasting: Biblical Anthropology and the Monism-Dualism Debate
• Author: John W. Cooper
• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Print Publication Date: 2000
• Logos Release Date: 2016
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Man (Theology) › Biblical teaching; Man (Christian theology)
• ISBNs: 9780802846006, 0802846009
• Resource ID: LLS:BDYSLLFVRLSTNG
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T22:10:08Z

About John W. Cooper

John Cooper’s career began in the United States Army as a Chaplain’s Assistant. From there he continued his studies at the University of Toronto and then at Calvin Theological Seminary. He taught Philosophy at Calvin College from 1978 to 1985, when he joined the seminary faculty. As an ordained Christian Reformed Minister John appreciates the need for Calvin Theological Seminary to train students in traditional Scripturally-based theology, practical application and hands-on training. His goal is for students to be academically and Scripturally prepared to meet the challenges of Christianity through his teaching of philosophical theology and apologetics. “I appreciate our tradition’s combination of academic excellence with faithfulness to Scripture. My job is to help students understand the most important theologies, religions, philosophies, and worldviews that challenge biblical Christianity. This enables students to defend the faith and press the claims of the gospel more effectively.” John and his wife, Sylvia, have two grown children, John and Catherine. He enjoys current events, church activities, classical music, choral singing, sports and gardening. John Cooper has written Body, Soul, and Life Everlasting: Biblical Anthropology and the Monism -Dualism Debate; A Cause for Division?: Women in Office and the Unity of the Church; Our Father in Heaven: Christian Faith and Inclusive Language for God; Panentheism—The Other God of the Philosophers: From Plato to the Present;, and dozens of articles.