The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

VI. Erlangen’s Stauffer-Dead “Sleep” Under God’s Protective Eye

German Lutheran professor of New Testament, ETHELBERT STAUFFER, of the University of Erlangen, likewise stresses the “sleep” (of-the-dead) concept-as they rest “under God’s eyes” and “protection.” Commenting on 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 and Philippians 1:23, he writes: CFF2 901.2

“Later writings display a considerable development of the problem together with copious additions of traditional material. But the basic formula is the same in all the changes of concepts and thought forms and is: the dead ‘sleep’ (Daniel 12:2, 13; Test. Zeb. 10:4 ff.; IV Ezra 7:95; S. Bar. 21:25; 1 Thessalonians 4:13 ff.; 2 Peter 3:4). They sleep under God’s eyes and in his protection. Jesus commends his spirit into God’s hands, with the words of the early Biblical evening prayer (Psalm 31:5; Luke 23:46; cf. 1 Peter 4:19; 1 Cl. 27:1); and Stephen, with the same words, commends his spirit into Jesus’ hands (Ch. 25).” ⁵⁸ CFF2 901.3

1. CHRISTIAN RESURRECTION OPPOSED TO GREEK INNATISM

Stauffer likewise makes sharp distinction between the doctrine of the “resurrection” and the Greek concept of Innate Immortality: CFF2 901.4

“The resurrection of the saints which is a part of the picture of the parousia has nothing whatever to do with the Greek belief in the essential immortality of the soul (Ch. 32). It happens because Easter happened, and it is exclusively confined to those who confess Christ (1 Corinthians 15:23). But it must not be conceived as a resurrection of the flesh, as though the conditions of our life before death were to be reconstituted (Ch. 58), but is to be associated with a change from which even those who remain alive are not exempt.” ⁵⁹ CFF2 902.1