Postmortem Opportunity

One of Jesus' most basic commands to his disciples was to tell the world about the good news of his life, death, and resurrection. From the earliest days of the church, Christians have embraced this calling.

But for those Christians who emphasize the need for an active response to the gospel in order to be saved, this raises some difficult questions: What about those who did not hear the gospel before death? Or what about those who heard an incorrect or incomplete version of the gospel? Or what about those who were too young or who were otherwise unable to respond?

In light of these challenging questions, theologian James Beilby offers a careful consideration of the possibility for salvation after death. After examining the biblical evidence and assessing the theological implications, he argues that there is indeed hope for faith—even beyond death.



James Beilby (PhD, Marquette University) is professor of systematic and philosophical theology at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is the author of Thinking About Christian Apologetics and Epistemology as Theology, the editor of Naturalism Defeated?, and the coeditor of numerous volumes, including The Nature of the Atonement, Divine Foreknowledge, The Historical Jesus, and Justification. His written work has appeared in publications such as Faith and Philosophy, Philosophia Christi, Religious Studies, and Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society.

Preface


Acknowledgments


1. The Destiny of the Unevangelized


2. Postmortem Opportunity


3. A Theological Argument for Postmortem Opportunity


4. Scriptural Objections to Postmortem Opportunity


5. Scriptural Evidence for Postmortem Opportunity


6. A Historical Objection to Postmortem Opportunity


7. Theological Objections to Postmortem Opportunity


8. Inclusivism and Postmortem Opportunity


9. Will All Be Saved?


10. Postmortem Opportunity, Universalism, and Hell


General Index


Scripture Index

"Beilby's scriptural and theological arguments are cogent, careful, and convincing. He does not claim too much for any of the passages but simply shows how those texts that might seem to close the door to Postmortem Opportunity, when considered fully and in context, do not. Beilby's book has convinced me of the plausibility of a Postmortem Opportunity for salvation for those who have not heard at all or have not heard well. Such a suggestion aligns with what I have found to be true of the character of God and enlivening for Christian mission and discipleship."



"Well-anchored in Scripture and Christian orthodoxy, Jim Beilby's book provides a careful and wise exploration of Postmortem Opportunity. Beilby's book is honest, humble, judicious, and insightful. Even if readers may disagree at points, Beilby will expand their horizons and offer much important food for thought."



"Beilby does an admirable job of working through every dimension of how we should understand the fate of those who have died without hearing the saving message of Christ. This is not just a complex and interesting theological question. The answers have emotional and existential importance to those deeply concerned about the eternal status of loved ones. Beilby skillfully draws on exegetical, philosophical, and theological resources to offer his view of Postmortem Opportunity for salvation, both for the unevangelized and the pseudoevangelized. Throughout, the book offers creative alternatives while avoiding speculative conclusions, all the time insisting on the centrality of salvation in Christ."



"Beilby's defense of the controversial idea of postmortem conversion is Biblically engaged, theologically robust, and philosophically sophisticated. It is hard to imagine a better or more thorough treatment of this complex set of issues. Indeed, this book is a model of how philosophical theology ought to be done." weniger anzeigen expand_less