What does “dead” mean?

 What does “dead” mean?

By Richard P. Joseph

2/28/2025

I once asked Ed Stevens a question about debates and he said there is an old adage that goes something like this;  “ He who defines the terms, wins the debate”.    In the religious world, and especially in the preterist world, there are debates.  Debates are good in that a person's perspective is challenged and if they fail to defend their position then that gives them an opportunity to reconsider their position or to bolster their position with more evidence.  I heard another preacher say that what he believes today (as far as doctrinal issues are concerned), he may not believe tomorrow.  In other words, he is willing to reconsider his views in light of new biblical evidence that he previously had missed.  Dogma is usually so entrenched in religious circles that when a different view is presented, people go apoplectic.  The only thing that is absolutely true is scripture itself but depending on one's knowledge of proper hermeneutics, scripture can easily be misconstrued.  While scripture is solid and unmovable, our knowledge and perspective is fluid until it can be cemented with certainty.  Therefore, I really don’t have all of the answers.  The challenge is in the pursuit. 

One challenge that I will attempt to shed light on is the word dead in the bible.  It sounds simple, if something is dead, it stops living, right.  Well, that is usually correct but in some cases the word dead could also mean spiritually dead.  Or it could also mean, philosophically dead. 

 

John 12:24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much [a]grain.

In this parable Jesus is asking us to die of what we are in order to become something greater.  Or he could also be referring to Judaism dying in order to become something greater but either way, the seed doesn’t actually physically die, it just dies to what it was.  However, the most contentious argument comes when the resurrection of the dead is brought up.  

One argument says that the physically dead are resurrected (or at least their soul is) and enters the heavenly realm.  The other view is that the spiritually dead are resurrected out of their condemned position and brought into the light of Christ.  Another position similar to the second one is that Israel will be resurrected into a new elevated position.  I am tempted to say that perhaps all of those views have some truth to them but I will also attempt to show you that the first view of our souls, once given a new heavenly body, will enter into heaven with God forever.  

In Acts 23 we find Paul being arrested and set before the Sanhedrin facing the death penalty.  Thinking quickly, he used this very doctrine of the resurrection to divide the counsel.  

Acts 23       6 But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”

7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. 8 For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. 9 Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; [a]but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”

As is explained here, and also in the writings of the historian Josephus, the Pharisees believe in a resurrection of souls while the Sadducees do not.  In other words, if Paul and the Pharisees believed that the resurrection was some sort of rising from sin to a better life, or Israel being reborn into a better or elevated state of being then there would have been no argument at all.  In fact, there wouldn’t even be two sects.

To drive this point home, let’s take a look at Acts 24:15

15 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection [e]of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. 

In the above verse, Paul says that he has a hope in the resurrection of the dead.  He then describes the dead as being made up of the just and the unjust.  So, if the resurrection is about someone entering a more elevated spiritual position then why do the just have to do that?  They are already there.  This is just one of the many verses that point to a resurrection of the physically dead people being raised from the dead into God’s eternal glory.  We could go on and on but it is up to you to read and study the bible in context and pray for wisdom.  Never simply take someone’s word for it, do your own research.  Read your bible every day.  Become familiar with it.  Look for things.  Look for patterns.  Look to glorify Jesus Christ.  

So in the end, dead, means several different things but it certainly also includes the physically dead.