Systematic Theology, by Louis Berkhof - New Leaven

INDIVIDUAL
ESCHATOLOGY
I. Physical Death
The Scriptural idea of death includes physical, spiritual, and eternal death. Physical
and spiritual death are naturally discussed in connection with the doctrine of sin, and
eternal death is considered more particularly in general eschatology. For that reason a
discussion of death in any sense of the word might seem to be out of place in individual
eschatology. Yet it can hardly be left out of consideration altogether in an attempt to link
up past generations with the final consummation.
A. THE NATURE OF PHYSICAL DEATH.
The Bible contains some instructive indications as to the nature of physical death. It
speaks of this in various ways. In Matt. 10:28; Luke 12:4, it is spoken of as the death of
the body, as distinguished from that of the soul (psuche). Here the body is considered as
a living organism, and the psuche is evidently the pneuma of man, the spiritual element
which is the principle of his natural life. This view of natural death also underlies the
language of Peter in I Pet. 3:14-18. In other passages it is described as the termination of
the psuche, that is, of animal life or living, or as the loss of this, Matt. 2:20; Mark 3:4;
Luke 6:9; 14:26; John 12:25; 13:37,38; Acts 15:26; 20:24, and other passages. 5 And, finally,
it is also represented as a separation of body and soul, Eccl. 12:7 (comp. Gen. 2:7); Jas.
2:26, an idea that is also basic to such passages as John 19:30; Acts 7:59; Phil. 1:23. Cf.
also the use of exodus in Luke 9:31; II Pet. 1:15,16. In view of all this it may be said that,
according to Scripture, physical death is a termination of physical life by the separation
of body and soul. It is never an annihilation, though some sects represent the death of
the wicked as such. God does not annihilate anything in His creation. Death is not a
cessation of existence, but a severance of the natural relations of life. Life and death are
5 Cf. Bavinck, Bijb. en Rel. Psych., p. 34.
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