Christian Beliefs About Life After Death – Paul Badham (PDF).
The Old Testament progresses, the focus
shifts from a collective understanding
of the nation to a more individualistic
relationship with God. This shift leads
to a recognition that divine justice for
the individual cannot be reconciled with
the experience of innocent suffering and
martyrdom without belief in a future life.
This belief in life after death emerges
as a necessary consequence of the
individual’s relationship with God, as
seen in the writings of Job, Ecclesiastes,
and the prophets lsaiah and Daniel. This
belief in resurrection and a final judgment
gains acceptance among Jews and is
reaffirmed in the Christian Gospel. The
Old Testament’s doctrine of man and
its faith in God ultimately lead to the
development of a resurrection hope,
despite the initial denial of life after
death. This new doctrine becomes a
necessary part of lsrael’s faith in order to
remain tenable.
