The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

V. Sweden’s Kahnlund-Creative Resurrection Bestows Immortality

Rector STEN KAHNLUND, ⁵⁵ of the state church of Sweden, recognized as an authority in theology, dealt forthrightly with the immortality question in 1945, in Vardagsteologi (“Everyday Theology”). He here places the Platonic immortality of the soul in opposition to the Bible position of eternal life only through a creative resurrection. He likewise contrasts Platonic Dualism, with man as an “undivided being.” Here is his initial paragraph: CFF2 819.2

“Eternal life comes under the sign of creation. The Bible does not speak of the immortality of the soul. This is a conception derived from Platonic philosophy, with which modern natural and mental (soul) science find reconciliation difficult. Body and soul constitute a unit. The human being is an undivided being, which cannot be subdivided into body and soul. If the body dies, the soul dies. The two are one.” ⁵⁶ CFF2 819.3

Then follows this paragraph on Life Only in Christ, not as an innate possession of man, but as wholly dependent on God:
“The Christian does not permit himself to be terrified by such thoughts [of death of the soul]. He knows that the Bible does not speak of an innate eternal life which the soul of itself possesses. But he knows that Jesus is the resurrection and the life and that he, who believes on Him, shall live even though he dies. And the resurrection of the dead and the eternal life is dependent on God. Without Him we are dead and remain under the power of death. But God can raise us from the dead. He can create life anew. He can cause the flame of life to be ignited by His Spirit and cause man with body and soul to arise renewed.” ⁵⁷ CFF2 819.4

The similarity of position of the men of different lands and different churches is both impressive and significant. (Photo on page 804.) CFF2 819.5