The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 1

II. 4 Maccabees—Presses Immortal-Soulism Beyond All Predecessors

4 Maccabees, likewise named after Judas Maccabaeus, was a philosophical treatise on the supremacy of reason over passion, as illustrated by the struggles of the Maccabees. It was evidently written around the beginning of the Christian Era by a Hellenistic Jew in order to steady the Jews, surrounded as they were by philosophical heathenism. They were to stand alone, isolated by character and blessing. CFF1 673.1

But the writer was himself profoundly influenced by Alexandrian concepts—that is, by Platonism and Neo-Pythagoreanism. ¹¹ At first this book was attributed to Josephus, but that was disproved. Though it was neglected by the Jews, it was lauded by the Western Church. CFF1 673.2

1. MEN GO TO RESPECTIVE REWARDS AT DEATH

At the time of the writing of 4 Maccabees, in addition to the two great Jewish sects, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, there was a third sect represented by the author. Dr. Charles observes that the writer was “saturated” with Greek philosophy, as attested by his systematic adoption of their terminology. The writer was a Pharisee of the same school of thought as Philo, contending that “at death men meet with the reward or punishment due for their deeds.” CFF1 673.3

In brief, the righteous dead are immediately “received into bliss.” (See 10:15; 13:17; 17:18; 18:23.) And the wicked suffer eternal torture. (See 9:8, 32; 10:11, 15; 12:19; 13:15; 18:5, 22.) ¹² They are tormented in fire forever (9:9; 6:76). The faithful rise to endless bliss while the wicked descend to endless torment, varying in intensity. This treatise well illustrates the ascendant philosophy of this school of Jewish belief just before the time of Christ and the apostles. ¹³ Dr. Charles’s explanation is worth quoting: CFF1 673.4

“How the Alexandrian School came to adopt the doctrine of the immortality of the soul but not of the resurrection of the body is too large a subject to enter upon here, but it is usually attributed to their having come under the influence of the philosophy of Plato and the neo-Pythagoreans. That the author was saturated with Greek philosophy is proved by his systematic adoption of its terminology.” ¹⁴ CFF1 674.1

Because of this fact The Books of the Maccabees (especially 2 and 4) are often cited by proponents of Immortal-Soulism, since they unequivocally teach Innate Immortality. ¹⁵ And they are especially invoked by Roman Catholics because they also teach prayers for the dead and Purgatory. With the basic premise went these inseparable, supporting corollaries. CFF1 674.2

2. RIGHTEOUS IMMEDIATELY RECEIVED INTO HEAVEN

The writer of 4 Maccabees contends that at death the righteous are immediately received into bliss. Here are the documented declarations: After death,” ‘Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob shall receive us, and all our forefathers shall praise us’” (13:17). ¹⁶ According to this writer, the seven martyred sons of Solomona, referred to in 2 Maccabees, “now do both stand beside the throne of God and live the blessed age” (17:18). ¹⁷ These same martyred seven sons “are gathered together unto the place of their ancestors, having received pure and immortal souls from God” (18:23). ¹⁸ There is here, apparently, no mention of a resurrection of the body. This is, of course, in direct conflict with the position of 2 Maccabees. CFF1 674.3

3. WICKED PUNISHED WITH ETERNAL TORTURE

The wicked endure torments without end. Thus: “But thou for our cruel murder shalt suffer at the hands of divine justice sufficient torment by fire for ever” (9:9). ¹⁹ And, “Thou for thy impiety and thy cruelty shalt endure torments without end” (10:11), elsewhere referred to as “eternal doom” (10: 15). ²⁰ Again, “For which things the divine justice delivers thee unto a more rapid and an eternal fire and torments which shall not leave hold on thee to all eternity” (12:12). ²¹ And last, “For a great struggle and peril of the soul awaits in eternal torment those who transgress the ordinance of God” (13:15). ²² Such is the 4 Maccabees testimony. CFF1 674.4