Resurrection hope; immortal soul; bodily resurrection; conscious intermediate state assured
The Church of the Brethren affirm the doctrine of resurrection: at death, the soul enters a conscious intermediate state, and at Christ's return, all the dead will be raised with transformed, glorified bodies. This is the Christian hope, distinct from disembodied immortality alone.
The intermediate state is understood as conscious: believers rest with the Lord while awaiting resurrection (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). This provides comfort to the bereaved and assurance of continuity. However, the ultimate reality is not a disembodied afterlife but bodily resurrection in the new creation.
The resurrection of the body—a transformed, glorified body fitted for the new creation—is central to Christian eschatology and hope. This reflects the incarnational theology of historic Christianity: the body is not evil or disposable but is redeemed and transformed. God does not save souls alone but renews whole persons (body and soul) in the new creation.
Key Distinctions
- Intermediate state:
- conscious presence with Lord; not unconscious sleep
- Immortality type:
- immortal; conscious in intermediate state
- Bodily resurrection:
- bodily resurrection of all; new creation
Scripture References
Sources
- Church of the Brethren Church Manual and theological materials
- CoB pastoral theology and funeral practices
- Church of the Brethren Annual Conference Doctrinal Statements