FreeInChrist
Active Member
This is an article written by Buff Scott Jr. ~ Reformer~ : "Reformation Rumbling"
This pretty much lines up with much of my belief on the subject
The State Of The Dead - Where Are They?
[Disembodied Spirits]
Lately, I have been rehashing and researching this subject. Having submitted a great deal of written material on this topic in years past, and considering how current the theme is in many quarters, I thought it time to review and revisit the topic again. So let us begin by inquiring, "Where are the dead?" Are disembodied spirits—that part of man that separates from the body at death—"asleep" or alert in the unseen world?
To address these questions, we should evaluate the Greek term "Hades," as used eleven times in the new covenant Scriptures, although not always translated "Hades." The passages are found in Matthew 11:23, 16:18, Luke 10:15, 16:23, Acts 2:27 & 31, Revelation 1:18, 6:8, & 20:13-14.
During my research, I relied heavily on biblical scholars, all of whom are well versed in the Greek New Testament. Scholarly Campbell says, "Hades should never have been translated 'hell,' as is the case in the common versions." He describes "Hades" as "the receptacle of all the dead, [where] there are rewards and punishments." He goes on to say, "Jesus and the converted thief were together in Hades, while they were together in Paradise." As you recall, Jesus told the thief that "today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43).
Where did Jesus' spirit go that day? We know His body was placed inside a tomb, but what about His spirit, the real Jesus? To locate the place, we need only to turn to Acts 2:27 and 31. Peter, quoting from David, says, "...because you will not abandon me to Hades." Many versions employ "grave," but that is a translational mistake. In Psalm 16:8-11, from where the quotation is lifted, "grave" is used and it comes from the Hebrew "sheol." However, "sheol" carries a number of renderings, according to scholarly Adam Clarke in his commentary on Job 7:9, and includes grave, state of the dead, Hades, Hell, and sometimes a deep pit.
The Greek "Hades," on the other hand, carries one basic meaning, namely, the unseen abode of departed spirits, both good and evil. This is precisely how Campbell uses the term. He writes, "For 'Hades' is represented as the receptacle of separated spirits—whether good or evil—whether happy or tormented; in which there is a Paradise, an 'Abraham's bosom,' and in which there is a 'tartarus,' separated from it by an impassable gulf" ("Hades," Millennial Harbinger, pgs. 703-7, 1856).
It is interesting that Campbell, to support his view that Hades contains both good and evil spirits, refers to Samuel who told wicked King Saul when he (Samuel) was called out of Hades, "Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me" (I Samuel 28:19). "With me?" Where? In Hades, the unseen abode of departed spirits. Samuel was not speaking of the common grave.
Briefly, let's return to Acts, chapter two, verse 31. "Seeing what was ahead, he [David] spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he [Jesus] was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his body see decay." Again, some versions render "grave" in the place of "Hades," but that is incorrect. Now note: The real Jesus, His spirit, was not left in the unseen abode of departed spirits, nor did His body see decay—two parts, body and spirit. This is easily understood when we recall that Jesus, at the point of death, surrendered His spirit to the Father. James says, "The body without the spirit is dead"—two parts (2:26). Jesus' spirit returned to His Father. God the Father delivered His Son's spirit to the Paradise side of Hades, and there it remained until it was reunited with His body.
But what about "soul?" Paul names three parts of man—spirit, soul, and body (I Thess. 5:23). In the Greek, "soul" refers to "life" or the biological/physical entity of man. Although "spirit" and "soul" are occasionally used interchangeably, the core translation of "soul" is "a living being." The NIV says "man became a living being"—a "soul," in other words. (Gen. 2:7). When Jesus died on the cross, He committed His spirit to His Father. Nothing is said about His committing His soul. So, yes, it seems "breath of life" may be substituted in the place of "soul" (Gen. 2:7).
The Scriptures seem to confirm there's an intermediate state for the dead, both good and evil. And we're talking about active, alert, and live spirits, not "sleeping spirits." At the resurrection of the righteous, the real us will be reunited with our transformed bodies and taken to Heaven where we will reign with God throughout eternity (Phil. 3:21). The wicked will be cast out of God's presence and annihilated/lost forever.
In conclusion, let us clearly understand the central part of a person is his/her spirit. Do you recall what occurred when Jesus said to the child who had died? His said, "Child, arise!" Then the passage reads, "And her spirit returned, and she got up at once" (Luke 8:54-55). Her spirit was the authentic child.
This pretty much lines up with much of my belief on the subject
The State Of The Dead - Where Are They?
[Disembodied Spirits]
Lately, I have been rehashing and researching this subject. Having submitted a great deal of written material on this topic in years past, and considering how current the theme is in many quarters, I thought it time to review and revisit the topic again. So let us begin by inquiring, "Where are the dead?" Are disembodied spirits—that part of man that separates from the body at death—"asleep" or alert in the unseen world?
To address these questions, we should evaluate the Greek term "Hades," as used eleven times in the new covenant Scriptures, although not always translated "Hades." The passages are found in Matthew 11:23, 16:18, Luke 10:15, 16:23, Acts 2:27 & 31, Revelation 1:18, 6:8, & 20:13-14.
During my research, I relied heavily on biblical scholars, all of whom are well versed in the Greek New Testament. Scholarly Campbell says, "Hades should never have been translated 'hell,' as is the case in the common versions." He describes "Hades" as "the receptacle of all the dead, [where] there are rewards and punishments." He goes on to say, "Jesus and the converted thief were together in Hades, while they were together in Paradise." As you recall, Jesus told the thief that "today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43).
Where did Jesus' spirit go that day? We know His body was placed inside a tomb, but what about His spirit, the real Jesus? To locate the place, we need only to turn to Acts 2:27 and 31. Peter, quoting from David, says, "...because you will not abandon me to Hades." Many versions employ "grave," but that is a translational mistake. In Psalm 16:8-11, from where the quotation is lifted, "grave" is used and it comes from the Hebrew "sheol." However, "sheol" carries a number of renderings, according to scholarly Adam Clarke in his commentary on Job 7:9, and includes grave, state of the dead, Hades, Hell, and sometimes a deep pit.
The Greek "Hades," on the other hand, carries one basic meaning, namely, the unseen abode of departed spirits, both good and evil. This is precisely how Campbell uses the term. He writes, "For 'Hades' is represented as the receptacle of separated spirits—whether good or evil—whether happy or tormented; in which there is a Paradise, an 'Abraham's bosom,' and in which there is a 'tartarus,' separated from it by an impassable gulf" ("Hades," Millennial Harbinger, pgs. 703-7, 1856).
It is interesting that Campbell, to support his view that Hades contains both good and evil spirits, refers to Samuel who told wicked King Saul when he (Samuel) was called out of Hades, "Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me" (I Samuel 28:19). "With me?" Where? In Hades, the unseen abode of departed spirits. Samuel was not speaking of the common grave.
Briefly, let's return to Acts, chapter two, verse 31. "Seeing what was ahead, he [David] spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he [Jesus] was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his body see decay." Again, some versions render "grave" in the place of "Hades," but that is incorrect. Now note: The real Jesus, His spirit, was not left in the unseen abode of departed spirits, nor did His body see decay—two parts, body and spirit. This is easily understood when we recall that Jesus, at the point of death, surrendered His spirit to the Father. James says, "The body without the spirit is dead"—two parts (2:26). Jesus' spirit returned to His Father. God the Father delivered His Son's spirit to the Paradise side of Hades, and there it remained until it was reunited with His body.
But what about "soul?" Paul names three parts of man—spirit, soul, and body (I Thess. 5:23). In the Greek, "soul" refers to "life" or the biological/physical entity of man. Although "spirit" and "soul" are occasionally used interchangeably, the core translation of "soul" is "a living being." The NIV says "man became a living being"—a "soul," in other words. (Gen. 2:7). When Jesus died on the cross, He committed His spirit to His Father. Nothing is said about His committing His soul. So, yes, it seems "breath of life" may be substituted in the place of "soul" (Gen. 2:7).
The Scriptures seem to confirm there's an intermediate state for the dead, both good and evil. And we're talking about active, alert, and live spirits, not "sleeping spirits." At the resurrection of the righteous, the real us will be reunited with our transformed bodies and taken to Heaven where we will reign with God throughout eternity (Phil. 3:21). The wicked will be cast out of God's presence and annihilated/lost forever.
In conclusion, let us clearly understand the central part of a person is his/her spirit. Do you recall what occurred when Jesus said to the child who had died? His said, "Child, arise!" Then the passage reads, "And her spirit returned, and she got up at once" (Luke 8:54-55). Her spirit was the authentic child.
