title: Death and the Afterlife in the New Testament
author:  Jaime Clark-Soles 
description: <div>"This is a welcome contribution"</div> (James D.G. Dunn, The Christian Parapsychologist)<br /><br /><div>"The virtues of this book, which [are] not aimed at academics, are twofold. First, it is clear and will keep the attention of a general audience (although the studies of anthropological terms will slow some down). Second, it rightly emphasizes that NT eschatology is not a single thing but a plurality: different writers have different views. Indeed, Clark-Soles correctly observes that individuals can even contradict themselves." -Dale C. Allison, Jr, <em>Interpretation</em>, January 2008<br></div> (Dale C. Allison, Jr)<br /><br /><div>"This volume may serve as a useful reference work for seminary and theological students since it summarizes key interpretive options on death and the afterlife for Paul, the Fourth Gospel, Matthew, and the canonical Petrine texts...Most of the insights and interpretations in the book are solid, and often Clark-Soles avoids making definitive judgments, summarizing key options and leaving it to the reader to decide. Especially strong are her discussions of the absence of hell and eternal punishment language in Paul and the paraenetic functions of afterlife in all the texts. She provides valuable summaries and comparisons of the anthropological vocabulary in each of her four blocks of text...In sum, Clark-Soles has produced a valuable, encyclopedic work covering four major parts of the new testament, and it deserves a place in the libraries of pastors, seminary students, and religious studies and theology programs." Jeffrey A. Trumbower, <em>The Journal of Religion</em>, January 2008</div> (Jeffrey A. Trumbower)<br /><br />"Clark-Soles addresses some interesting parallel between the Fourth Gospel and the Epicurean doctrine...We have here a concise, accurate, well-researched study that should prove benefit to students and scholars alike." Casimir Bernas, Religious Studies Review, Vol. 33, No. 4, October 2007 (Casimir Bernas)<br /><br /><div><div>Reviewed in <em>International Review of Biblical Studies,</em> 2007.</div></div><br /><br />"This book is a compendium, relying on the work of many scholars. It has an extensive bibliography, an index of scriptural references, and a detailed general index. It would be valuable for research by preachers and teachers, and for interested laypersons who have been favorably exposed to critical methods. Most of all, it is a source for those asking: where did our ideas about death and the afterlife come from, and what purpose do they serve?" Eleanor Abarno, <em>Trinity Lutheran Seminary</em>, Winter/Spring 2009<br /><br /><div>"This is a welcome contribution"</div> (Sanford Lakoff)<br /><br /><div>"The virtues of this book, which [are] not aimed at academics, are twofold. First, it is clear and will keep the attention of a general audience (although the studies of anthropological terms will slow some down). Second, it rightly emphasizes that NT eschatology is not a single thing but a plurality: different writers have different views. Indeed, Clark-Soles correctly observes that individuals can even contradict themselves." -Dale C. Allison, Jr, <em>Interpretation</em>, January 2008<br></div> (Sanford Lakoff)<br /><br /><div>"This volume may serve as a useful reference work for seminary and theological students since it summarizes key interpretive options on death and the afterlife for Paul, the Fourth Gospel, Matthew, and the canonical Petrine texts&#8230;Most of the insights and interpretations in the book are solid, and often Clark-Soles avoids making definitive judgments, summarizing key options and leaving it to the reader to decide. Especially strong are her discussions of the absence of hell and eternal punishment language in Paul and the paraenetic functions of afterlife in all the texts. She provides valuable summaries and comparisons of the anthropological vocabulary in each of her four blocks of text&#8230;In sum, Clark-Soles has produced a valuable, encyclopedic work covering four major parts of the new testament, and it deserves a place in the libraries of pastors, seminary students, and religious studies and theology programs." Jeffrey A. Trumbower, <em>The Journal of Religion</em>, January 2008</div> (Sanford Lakoff)<br /><br />&#8220;Clark-Soles addresses some interesting parallel between the Fourth Gospel and the Epicurean doctrine&#8230;We have here a concise, accurate, well-researched study that should prove benefit to students and scholars alike.&#8221; Casimir Bernas, Religious Studies Review, Vol. 33, No. 4, October 2007 (Sanford Lakoff)
zlib_text: ![image](Images/image00133.jpeg)
  
  **Contents**
  
  _Title Page_
  
  _Epigraph_
  
  _Introduction_
  
    
  
  I
  
    
  
  The Beginning of The End
  
  Earthly Desires
  
  First Blood
  
  Dead Man Talking
  
  Murder in Paradise
  
  The Age of Myth
  
  Heart of Darkness
  
    
  
  II
  
    
  
  Odd Gods
  
  Maudness
  
  Incident at Golgotha
  
  Paradise
  
  Addicted to Life
  
  The Lost Weekend
  
  My Day with Maud
  
  Interlude
  
    
  
  III
  
    
  
  The Clinic
  
  Visitations
  
  Homecoming
  
  Second Goings and Comings
  
  Last Judgment
  
  The End
  
    
  
  _Epilogue_
  
  _Acknowledgments_
  
  _Picture Credits_
  
  _Also by George Pendle_
  
  _Copyright_
  
  **“And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it;  
  and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.”**
  
  —REVELATION 9:6
  
  **INTRODUCTION**
  
  **F** **or someone** who is set to play such a pivotal role in each of our
  lives, it seems strange that we know so little about Death. A deeply private
  figure, never interviewed or photographed, Death has been content to let his
  vast body of work do the talking. Now, for the first t