The Early Church and the Afterlife: Post-death existence in Athenagoras, Tertullian, Origen and the Letter to Rheginos

151 Pages·2017·1 MB·English

by  David Rankin

The Early Church and the Afterlife
The resurrection of the dead was, as Tertullian says, ‘the chief article of the whole
Christian faith’ (D e resurrectione 39.3) and one of those beliefs which most dis-
tinguished Christian thought from much other contemporary thinking. This book
looks at the way in which post-death existence is represented in the work of the
early Church Fathers – notably Athenagoras, Tertullian and Origen – and the
Letter to Rheginos, and how these representations compare with its treatment both
in scripture and in contemporary, modern theological reflection.
E xamining these attitudes to life after death, and putting them into conversa-
tion with more modern interpretations, the book asks four main questions. First,
whether resurrection happens immediately after death. Second, if there is continu-
ity or discontinuity of space and time between death and a resurrection life. Third,
it explores whether post-death existence was thought to be embodied or not, and
if so how might it be embodied. Finally, it addresses the issue of continuity, or
discontinuity, of personal identity after death.
This book sheds light on the formation of a key doctrine of Christian faith. As
such, it will be of significant interest to scholars and academics working in the
history of religion, theology and patristics.
David Rankin is an ordained minister of the Uniting Church in Australia, and has
served as both Principal of Trinity College Queensland, Australia, and Head of the
School of Theology at Griffith University, Australia. His publications in the field
include F rom Clement to Origen (2006) and Athenagoras (2009).
The Early Church and
the Afterlife
Post-death Existence in Athenagoras,
Tertullian, Origen and the
Letter to Rheginos
David Rankin
First published 2018
by Routledge
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and by Routledge
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Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2018 David Rankin
The right of David Rankin to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
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without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Rankin, David (David Ivan), 1952– author.
Title: The early church and the afterlife : post-death existence in
Athenagoras, Tertullian, Origen and the letter to Rheginos / David
Rankin.
Description: Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, [2018] |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017023724 | ISBN 9781138091252 (hbk : alk. paper) |
ISBN 9781315108148 (ebk)
Subjects: LCSH: Future life—Christianity—History of doctrines—Early
church, ca. 30-600. | Immortality—Christianity—History of doctrines—
Early church, ca. 30-600. | Resurrection—History of doctrines—Early
church, ca. 30-600. | Athenagoras, active 2nd century. | Tertullian,
approximately 160-approximately 230. | Origen. | Treatise on the
Resurrection. | Fathers of the church.
Classification: LCC BT903 .R36 2018 | DDC 236/.209015—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017023724
ISBN: 978-1-138-09125-2 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-10814-8 (ebk)
Typeset in Times New Roman
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
To my wife Julie Mackay-Rankin for her love and support

Contents
Acknowledgements ix
1 Introduction 1
PART 1
Moving from death to resurrection: stages and continuity? 23
2 Do we pass through stages? 25
3 Is there a gap? 47
PART 2
Will I have a body, and is it still me? 69
4 The nature of post-death existence in Athenagoras 71
5 The nature of post-death existence in Tertullian 89
6 The nature of post-death existence in Origen and
the Letter to Rheginos 111
7 Conclusion 127
Subject index 135
Citations from the Fathers 137
Selected scripture passages 139

Acknowledgements
T his book has been some time in coming. I wish to acknowledge the support of
my colleagues, library staff and students at Trinity Theological College and at the
Brisbane College of Theology during the early stages of this project, that of my
colleagues in the Wantage and Abingdon Methodist Circuit in the UK during my
three years there and of the staff at the Bodleian Library in Oxford in its middle
period, and then ministry colleagues and friends back here in Brisbane in its lat-
ter stages. All have encouraged me greatly. I appreciate as well the support and
advice of the editorial team at Taylor and Francis and to the reader who made
many helpful suggestions for the improvement of the manuscript. To my family
too I owe so much. To my darling wife, Julie Mackay-Rankin, for her particular
support and encouragement throughout the whole project, I dedicate this book.