Jesus and the Demise of Death: Resurrection, Afterlife, and the Fate of the Christian

by Matthew Levering

What happens after death to Jesus and to those who follow him? Jesus and the Demise of Death offers a constructive theology that seeks to answer that very question, carefully considering both Jesus' descent into hell and eventual resurrection as integral parts of a robust vision of the Christian bodily resurrection. Taking on the claims of N.T. Wright and Richard B. Hays, Matthew Levering draws strongly upon the work of Thomas Aquinas to propose a radical reconstruction of Christian eschatological theology--one that takes seriously the profound ways in which Christianity and its beatific vision have been enriched by Platonic thought and emphasizes the role of the Church community in the passage from life to death. In so doing, Levering underscores the hope in eternal life for Jesus' followers and gives readers firm and fruitful soil upon which to base conversations about the Christian's future.

Genres: Theology, Religion, Biblical Studies, Christianity

238 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Matthew Levering (PhD, Boston College) is professor of religious studies at the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio. He is the author or editor of numerous books, including Ezra & Nehemiah in the Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible. He is also coauthor of Holy People, Holy Land and Knowing the Love of Christ.

Reviews

[Samuel G. Parkison · Rating 4 out of 5]

It should probably be 3.5, but the good parts of this book were so outstanding I felt strange about giving it 3 stars as a whole. The objectionable parts are exactly what one should expect coming from a Protestant reader: Levering is a true Roman Catholic theologian, and it shows. Still, his reflections on merit and purgatory—though wrong, I believe—were clear and sensible, given his premises. The chapters on Christ’s descent, Christ’s resurrection, and the beatific vision were the best.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't particularly agree with Matthew Levering here. Coming from a Catholic perspective he buys much more into the platonic-Christian synthesis than I do. On the other hand I love the way he engages with Evangelical scholars like N.T. Wright, James Dunn, Richard Bauckham and Nancy Murphy and presents a thoughtful Thomist read on Jesus death and descent into Hell, his resurrection and glorification and his Ascension. Some thought provoking stuff here about the intermediary state, the nature of the soul and transcendence. Well worth a look.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first section of the study contains three chapters on the descent into hell, the resurrection of Christ and his ascension and session. The second half, moves to apply these insights through four chapters on 1). faith-Eucharist-Almsgiving; 2). Can we merit eternal life? 3). Do we have spiritual souls? and a final meditation on the future of the new creation and the beatific vision.

Levering pushes back on the charges of platonism that hampers the modern discussion of the intermediate state. He also takes aim at NT Wright for similar claims, although he happily employs Wright positively as a conversation partner throughout. Each chapter concludes the conversation by bringing Thomas Aquinas as a guide to scriptural interpretation to close the discussion and draw conclusions.

The more difficult questions addressed include:

1. The nature of Christ's ascended presence in heaven. What does it mean for Christ to be at the right hand in a corporeal sense? And where is that exactly? How is he sitting and standing? Levering suggests that the ascension is corporeal reality, but the right hand must be a metaphorical image of authority and title.

2. In "Do we have spiritual souls" Levering reviews recent attempts to defend non reductionist physicalism. He finds them wanting, not least because they are incompatible for an intermediate state, which has biblical grounds. He cites Aquinas as being aware of the relations between brain functions and soul-capacities.

3. A refreshing discussion of the Beatific Vision closes this volume, and NT Wright is again taken to task over his, what others have termed, "eschatological naturalism", which tends to underplay the transformative nature of glorification in a new creation. We might say, with Wright's view, we wake up on resurrection morning and head straight for the office as usual! We need to recognised that human life will be radically different in a glorified state.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

"[We are] always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our bodies." - 2 Corinthians 4:10

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me..." - Galatians 2:20a

As I read this book, I almost heard the above verses playing in my head the whole time, although I don't recall if he ever stated them in the book. These verses speak of something glorious that occurs in the faithful: the events of Christ's life (especially those surrounding His Pasch) are lived out in our lives. In each one of us, there is death followed by life. Because of this, Levering begins this beautiful work by discussing what happened to Our Lord after He died: His descent into hell, His glorious resurrection, and His Ascension and sitting at the right hand of the Father. He then proceeds to a discussion of "eschatology" or the theology of the last things (death, the soul, judgment, the beatific vision, and resurrection), which he models on the last things of the life of Christ.

In this book, Levering unites the interpretation of Scripture with a discussion of the (often mutually opposed) views of modern theologians, all the time in comparison to the theology of St. Thomas Aquinas. In truly Thomist fashion (and Ratzingerian fashion as well), Levering takes what is good from the moderns and shows how - when separated from the chaff - it harmonizes beautifully with traditional theology.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in Christology and eschatology (especially Catholic Christology and eschatology).