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The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

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    XV. Canadian Commentator Short-Not “Inherently Immortal”

    Brief reference must be made to another Canadian scholar —Congregationalist JOHN SHORT, 8383) JOHN SHORT, Scottish Congregationalist, trained at the University of Edinburgh and Scottish Theological College. He also has a teacher’s certificate. His pastoral mini” try has included Bath gate, Hamstead (London), Bournemouth, and since 1951, 5t. George’s United church, Toronto. He also served as a chaplain under the YMCA in World War II, and was chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, 1949-1950. He is author of three works and was a contributor to the Interpreter’s Bible (1953). Of the United Church of Canada. In his “Exposition,” in “The First Epistle to the Corinthians,” he affirms categorically that man is not, according to the New Testament, innately immortal. Note it in setting:CFF2 862.4

    “Christian doctrine is not one of immortality but of resurrection. We shall do well to get this point clear. As expounded by the apostle Paul, whom we believe to have entered more deeply into the mind and spirit of his Lord than any other, man’s hope of survival depends not on the inherent immortality of his soul, but an the act of God. His immortality is involved in his resurrection, not his resurrection in his immortality. There is nothing in Paul’s writings nor in the N.T. to suggest that the soul is inherently immortal.” 8484) John Short, “The First Epistle to the Corinthians,” vol. 10 of The Interpreter’s Bible (Abingdon Press), p. 253. (Italics suppled.)CFF2 862.5

    Dr. Short then adds that immortality is the gift of God, and is dependent upon the activity and grace of God:
    “Everything, so far as life hereafter is concerned, depends on the activity of God as that activity is made available for man through man’s faith. This is precisely what is meant when we emphasize the fact that life hereafter is a specifically religious interest. Immortality is the gift of God’s grace in response to man’s faith. Everything depends on the nature and purpose of God.” 8585) Ibid. (Italics supplied.)
    CFF2 863.1

    Beyond question, emphasis on this basic principle knows no national or denominational boundaries.CFF2 863.2

    MAJOR 20TH CENTURY WITNESSES TO CONDITIONALISM—SECTION A
    No. Page Name Date Place Religion Position Nature of Man Intermediate State Punishment of Wicked
    1 749 Temple, William 1931 Britain Anglican Archbp. Canterbury Immort. cond. gift Resurrection sole hope No eternal torment
    2 757 Beck, Vilhelm Denmark Lutheran Pastor Sleeps till resurrection
    3 758 Teisen, N. Denmark Lutheran Professor Not indestructible No endless torment
    4 759 Ekman, E. J. 1910 Sweden Lutheran Pastor—ed. Not indestructible Consumed, cease to be
    5 760 Bennett, F. S. M. 1929 Britain Anglican Dean (Chester) Immortable Sleeps Complete destr.
    6 763 Dodd, Charles H. 1929 Britain Congregation. Prof. (Cambridge) Not innately immortal Awaits resurrection
    7 763 Matthews, Walt. 1930 Britain Anglican Dean (St. Paul’s) Immort. conditional Sin brings destr.
    8 765 Moffatt, James 1930 Britain Ch. of Scotland Prof.—Bible trans. Immort. conditional No eternal torment
    9 767 Personne, John 1910 Sweden Lutheran Bishop (Lindkoping) No innate immort. No eternal suffering
    10 772 Billot, Ludovico 1920 Fr.—Italy Rom. Catholic Cardinal Sleeps until awakening Fate fixed at death
    11 782 Nygren, Anders 1938-39 Sweden Lutheran Bishop (Lund) Immortality not inher. Resurrection sole hope
    12 788 Findlay, James A. 1933 Britain Methodist Prof. (Bristol) Immort. conditional Utter extinction
    13 789 Knudson, Albert C. 1933 America Methodist Prof. (Boston) Punish. not eter.
    14 789 Andrae, Tor J. 1934 Sweden Lutheran Bishop (Lindkoping) No innate immort. Resurrection sole hope Destr. of conscious.
    15 791 Baillie, John 1934 Scotland Ch. of Scotland Prof.—moderator Immort. conditional No discarnate souls Complete destr.
    16 792 Stewart, James S. 1935 Scotland Ch. of Scotland Prof. (Edinburgh) Immort. at resur. No disembodied spirits Ceases to be
    17 795 Forbes, Avary H. 1936 Dublin Interdenom. Prof. Bible College Denies innate immort. Sleep in Jesus Rejects eter. tor.
    18 797 Bowman, W. H. 1937 America Adv. Christian Evangelist Immort. conditional No surviving souls Wicked destroyed
    19 800 Quick, Oliver C. 1938 Britain Anglican Prof. (Oxford) Rejects innate immort. No conscious survival
    20 802 Cullberg, John 1940 Sweden Lutheran Bishop (Vasteras) Soul mortal as body Immort. through res.
    21 803 Guillebaud, Har. E. 1940 Eng.—Afr. Anglican Archdeacon—trans. Soul not immortal Ultiomate extinction
    22 814 Micklem, Nath. 1943 Britain Anglican Principal (Mansfield) Soul not immortal Sole hope in res.
    23 815 Anglican Com. (50) 1945 Britain Anglican Appt. by Assembly No univ., innate immort. Abolition of evil
    24 819 Kahnlund, Sten 1945 Sweden Lutheran Rector Immort. through res. Sole hope in res.
    25 821 Cundy, H. M. 1945 England Anglican Master (Pub. Sch.) No independ. life No bodiless survival Death extinguishes
    26 822 Snaith, Norman H. 1949 England Methodist Pastor—prof. No. immortal soul surv. Resurrection sole hope Destroyed at last
    27 823 Major, H. D. A. 1946 England Anglican Canon (Birmingham) Not indestr. by nature Utterly consumed
    28 825 Leeuw, G.. van der 1947 Netherlands Dutch Reformed Prof. (Groningen) Innate immort. pagan Nonexistent in death
    29 827 Taylor, Alfred E. 1947 Scotland Anglican Prof. (Edingurgh) No survival of soul Immort. through res. Excl. from eter. life
    30 828 Beasley-Murray 1947 Britain Baptist Prof. (Spurgeon’s Col.) No disc. immortal souls Res. of whole man
    31 829 North, Chris. R. 1947 Wales Methodist Prof. (Univ. of Wales) No disc. immortal souls Resurrection sole hope
    32 830 Vine, Aubrey R. 1948 Britain Congregation. Secy. Fr. Ch. Fed. Coun. No natural immort. Reconstucted through res. End of human unit
    33 833 Aulen, G. E. H. 1948 Sweden Lutheran Bishop Immort. gift of God
    34 836 Heinecken, M. J. 1949 America Lutheran Prof. (Luth. Sem.) No inher. immort. Unconscious of pass. time Final end
    35 839 Niebuhr, Reinhold 1949 America Evang. Ref. Porf. (Union Theo.) Immort. solely from God No eternal element surv.
    36 840 Sperry, Willard L. 1949 America Congregation. Dean (Harvard Divin.) Vanishes
    37 842 Simcox, C. E. 1950 America Episcopalian Rector—editor Soul not immortal No disemb. part persists
    38 845 Ramsey, R. Paul 1950 America Methodist Prof. (Princeton) Not inher. immortal.
    39 846 Vidler, Alec R. 1950 Britain Anglican Dean—editor Not inher. immortal. No disembodied spirits
    40 848 Caird, G. B. 1950 Canada Anglican Prof. (McGill) No innate immort. Whole personalty. res.
    41 849 Robinson, J. A. T. 1958 Britain Anglican Bishop (Form. pof.) No immortal part Whole man raised
    42 851 Wahlstrom, Eric H. 1950 America Lutheran Dean (Augustana) No innate immort. Resurrection only hope
    43 851 Spinka, Matthew 1950 America Congregation. Prof.—editor Soul not indestruct. No eternal torment
    44 852 Pike, James A. 1951 America Episcopalian Bishop—author Soul not indestruct. Res. of whole personality
    45 852 Pittenger, W. N. 1951 America Episcopalian Prof. (Gen. Theol.) Soul not indestruct. Res. of whole personality
    46 854 Taylor, F. John 1951 Britain Anglican Principal (Wycliffe) No deathless souls Immort. at res.
    47 855 Davies, David R. 1952 England Anglican Rector No inherent immort. Immort. at res. Final destr. of soul
    48 859 Manson, William 1952 Scotland Presbyterian Prof.—administr. Man is mortal Immort at Advent
    49 860 Bolander, Nils F. 1952 Sweden Lutheran Bishop of Lund No innate immort. Immort. at res.
    50 860 Manson, Thos. W. 1953 Britain Presbyterian Prof. (Manchester) Sleeps till res.
    51 862 Heim, Karl 1953 Germany Lutheran Prof. (Tübingen) No disembodied state Life at res.
    52 862 Short, John 1953 Br.—U.S. Congregation. Minister—author Not innately immortal
    EVIDENCE DISCLOSED BY CHART A-FOR FIRST HALF OF 20TH CENTURY

    1. The impetus of the nineteenth century Conditionalist expansion continues unabated in the twentieth, but with increased geographical and numerical spread, out to the ends of the earth. As a consequence, for space reasons we must divide the tabulation of the 137 witnesses of the first six decades
    into three sectional charts-designated A, B, and C. 2. The list tabulated in Chart A contains numerous nationally and internationally known names in religious circles, none being surpassed in eminence in their respective fields. The roster begins in Britain, with the highest prelate of the Anglican faith-Dr. William Temple, the Archbishop of Canterbury. His is an impressive lead-off presentation. There is also the testimony of the deans of St. Paul’s and of Chester, and the canon of Birmingham. Similarly a prominent Bible translator, and a number of university professors (Cambridge, Oxford, Edinburgh, Manchester, and Wales), and the principals of two colleges (Mansfield and Wycliffe). There is also a remarkable group statement from an Anglican Commission of fifty. The secretary of the Free Churches Federal Council of Britain is likewise a declared Conditionalist. 3. Scandinavian Lutheran clerics in the northland are similarly outspoken-five bishops (two of Lund, and of Linkoping, Vasteras, and Strangnas)- also pastors, rectors, and professors who broke with the traditional position, which announcement was attended by much publicity. 4. Nor is America one whit behind, with professors in Harvard, Princeton, Boston, Augustana, Union Theological, General Theological, and Lutheran Seminary. There are also deans, editors, and a bishop, and Canadian professors in Queen’s and Trinity. Then there are two German professors (at Gronigan and Tubingen) and a French Eastern Orthodox leader. 5. As to the three basic principles of Conditionalism-the nature of man, the intermediate state, and the punishment of the wicked-48 of the 52 declare, in one form or another, that man is not innately immortal. But he is “immortable,” with immortality a gift bestowed by God. It is conditional, not inherent. It is contingent, not natural, received at the resurrection. Man is subject to death, and is not indestructible. There are no conscious, disembodied souls or spirits that survive. The notion of Innatism comes from pagan, not Biblical, sources. The soul is not indestructible and deathless. That is the composite view. 6. As to the intermediate state, 37 of the 52 hold that man sleeps during the interim of death. He awaits the resurrection, which is his sole hope. They hold that in death there is no consciousness of the passing of time; that in death man is not in Heaven or Hell, but in gravedom; and that the whole man will be raised through the resurrection at the Second Advent. That is the central thought. 7. As to the punishment of the wicked, 24 of the 52 go on record as holding that the incorrigibly wicked will be wholly consumed, become extinct, be eliminated, the life ended, abolished, vanished into nothingness-and thus that there is no Eternal Torment, endless misery, or indefeasible persistence in an ever-agonizing, conscious, everlasting Hell. 8. Conditionalism is thus definitely on the gain among clerics and educators of learning, prominence, and influence. It is not confined to the obscure, the Biblically illiterate, the unknown. Just the reverse. These witnesses are the peers of any of their contemporaries. Conditionalist advocates move in high circles. And when one leaves a written record of his Conditionalist views, in book or periodical, numerous others, though they leave no published record, declare themselves orally. There are, of course, many witnesses of lesser fame. 9. A remarkable increase in Conditionalist literature has marked the years, right up to today. To mention but one organization, and only as to publishing activities, Seventh-day Adventists operate 43 publishing houses and issue 282 periodicals, with book and periodical sales totalling approximately $29,000,000 annually. And all statements in these books and periodicals, bearing on the nature and destiny of man present, without exception, the Conditionalist position. And there are many Conditionalist publishers now found on every continent. 10. In denominational spread there are 17 Anglican, 10 Lutheran, 8 Congregationalist, 4 Methodist, 2 Church of Scotland, as well as Dutch Reformed, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, and Eastern Orthodox champions of Conditionalism covered in Chart A. And nationally, they include British, Scottish, Welsh, Danish, Swedish, German, Swiss, Dutch, French, African, and American and Canadian advocates. Such is the eloquent testimony of the first half of the 20th century.
    CFF2 865.1

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