The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

IX. Temple’s Taylor—Denies Presumptive “Deathlessness” of the Soul

Numerous Old World theologians now vigorously challenge the Greek notion that only the body dies, while the soul —set free at death—lives on after finding release from the hampering, outworn body. For example, F. J. TAYLOR, ⁵¹ of the faculty of William Temple College, Hawarden, England, denies this presumptive “deathlessness” of the soul, and includes the “whole man” in the work of redemption. In contrast with the commonly held erroneous view of death, Taylor stresses the New Testament position, with death as the CFF2 854.4

“death of the whole man, and such phrases as ‘freedom from death,’ ‘imperishability’ or ‘immortality’ could only properly be used to describe what is meant by the phrase the eternal or living God... ‘who only hath immortality’ (1 Timothy 6:16). Man does not possess in himself this quality of deathlessness beet must, i f he is to overcome the destructive power of death, receive it as the gift of God, ‘who raised Christ from the dead,’ and put death aside like a covering garment (1 Corinthians 15:53-54). It is through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that this possibility for man (2 Timothy 1:10) has brought to light and the hope confirmed that the corruption (Romans 11:7) which is a universal feature of human life shall be effectively overcome.” ⁵² CFF2 854.5