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NASB | Luke 16:19 ¶ "Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Luke 16:19 ¶ "Now there was a certain rich man who was habitually dressed in expensive purple and fine linen, and celebrated and lived joyously in splendor every day. |
Subject: IS LAZARUS AND THE RICH MAN A PARABLE |
Bible Note: Greetings Sboone! Thanks for the response! We don't always have to agree, but I do appreciate your gentle spirit. :-) Allow me to touch upon a couple of your points. 1) If Lazrus and the rich man is a parable (which it is never called in Scripture), then the entire premise of the parable is false since the 'dead' are not in fact aware. Thus, the whole parable becomes meaningless. 2) As for the references to death as sleep, it makes more since to me to see it as metaphorical or phenomological language (lke the setting of the sun). Allow me to comment on the Scriptures that you list. a) Job 14:12 and 21: First of all, these can easily be understood as metaphorical descriptions. Secondly, it is dangerous to build a doctrine on many of the statements made in Job because many of them are Job's or his 'friends' comments based upon their understanding - but they are seldom correct in their understanding. :-) b) John 11:11-14: There is nothing in this passage that would forbid a metaphorical understanding. In fact, that Jesus had to tell them 'plainly' would indicate that He was speaking metaphorically. c) 1 Thess. 4:13-15: Same as above. d) Matt. 9:24: This verse actually contrasts death and sleep. As we go to the OT passages, we must remember that the OT saints did not rise until Christ's resurrection. So, their lot was the grave and they had no understanding that anything else was to come. Yet, Scripture makes it clear that there is something more to come (and it is now a present reality for Christians). e) Ps. 146:4: This verse neither supports nor refutes 'soul sleep'. The verse simply states that the 'plans' of man end when they die, so put your trust in God. :-) f) Gen. 12:7 and Ecc. 12:7: Again, these verses neither support nor refute soul sleep. Ecc. 12:7 simply states that the body goes into the ground and the spirit returns to God. This could agree with those who see believers entering into God's presence at death. We believe that the body will remain in the grave until the resurrection, but that we are more than just body. g) Dan. 12:2: I would still argue that this is metaphorical language. h) Dan. 12:13: The resurrection does not occur until the end, so this would be an appropriate description of a future event. i) Gen. 3:17-19: It would seem to be a major reach to argue that 'you' in reference to the body could not allow a spiritual component to man. :-) j) Ps. 115:17: The dead in the OT were not in Heaven until after Christ's resurrection, so the dead (then) did not praise God. ;-) k) John 7 and 14: These are reference to the physical enterance into Heaven which has not yet occured, but that does not necessarily mean that the spirit of man is not with God right now. My counter arguement to you would be: 1) The plain sense of the texts would indicate that 'sleep' is a metaphor for death, not an actual description of death. 2) The verses you listed are primarily poetic in nature, which would support point 1. 3) The story of Lazarus and the rich man is never called a parable in Scripture. This is a major issue. In a parable, it does not matter if the people in the story are real or not. The parable is simply an illustration of truth. However, people are not named in parables either. Lazarus is named. The account is presented as a fact, not as a story or parable. It is only because of the clear theological implicatations concerning 'soul sleep' that is insisted that it must be a parable. 4) Paul speaks of being absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. I am glad that you don't belittle anyone's view. :-) Nor, would I belittle your view. But, for me, it makes far more sense to see 'sleep' as a metaphor for death. I see this all the time as a pastor. People do not like to speak of death. We say that someone has 'gone home', 'passed away', 'fallen asleep', 'departed', rather than to say that someone has died. :-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |