Mitchell Chase. Resurrection Hope and the Death of Death. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, October 25th 2022. 163 pp.
4 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster | Amazon
What does the Bible from the Old Testament to the New Testment has to teach us about the resurrection and also life after death? This book is a survey of that, giving us a biblical theology of God’s power over death and also the fuller doctrine developed in God’s revelation of a physical resurrection of all humans after death, either to judgment or salvation. The author Mitchell Chase is a professor of biblical studies at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and his doctoral work at Southern Seminary was on the topic of resurrection hope. So it is fitting he authored this book on this topic for the Short Studies in Biblical Theology series which is published by Crossway. Coming in at 163 pages it is a helpful survey of what does the Bible have to say about the resurrection that begins in seed form in the Old Testament but gets more developed as more of God’s Word is revealed in redemptive history.
Besides the introduction and conclusion there are six chapters which makes the main body of the book. The first three chapters are on the Resurrection and the Old Testament and the final four chapters are on the New Testament’s teaching of the Resurrection. The three chapters on the Old Testament is organized by the Hebrew division of the Scriptures, with chapter one on the Law, chapter two on the Prophets and chapter three is on the Writings. Covering the New Testament chapter four is on the Gospels, chapter five is on Acts and the next is on the Epistles and the final chapter is on Revelation.
Studying on the Resurrection we must keep in mind the character of Scripture with progressive revelation. This is where the beginning of Redemptive history any given theological doctrine might not be as fully developed and clear compared to later revelation. Yet it is important to know how the doctrine begins since they lay the foundation of what comes later. I admit there were times the author in the first three chapters seem to really try to argue for resurrection as power over bad things happening that seems a stretch for foundation for the resurrection. Still there were verses that the author explored that did not stick out to me before as teaching the resurrection in the Old Testament. I always thought the strongest verse from the Old Testament for the resurrection and life after death was Daniel 12:1-2. As a result of reading this my list also include other verses on the resurrection such as Ezekiel 37:10-13, and how death ends according to Isaiah 25:7-8 and Isaiah 26:19. I really enjoyed the author’s exploration of various passages from Hosea that has implications about life after death and the resurrection; specifically Hosea 6:1-2 and Hosea 13:14 stood out.
Much of the verses in the New Testament was more straight forward than the passages in the New Testament. Still I found the Old Testament chapters to be the most fascinating and insightful. This was a helpful resource and it helped equip me to have a stronger biblical theology of the Resurrection and God’s power over death.
NOTE: This book was provided to me free by Crossway without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
The Domain for Truth 
Thanks for the great review. I am amazed, considering your schedule, how you make time to do this. Much appreciated!
Shalom!
[…] Review: Resurrection Hope and the Death of Death — The Domain for Truth […]
Thanks for this review of what appears to be a helpful book. I was always kind of puzzled that the Sadducees did not believe in resurrection, but of course we benefit from New Testament Scripture.
Yeah it’s strange how the Sadducees had the non-immortality view. I suppose we can err in so many different ways but for them whom many are leaders in second temple Judaism that seems bizarre especially considering most every day Jews did believe In life after death and in a general resurrection. I suppose today many mainline apostate liberal denomination pastors and leaders are like that too…ouch! How is your Tuesday going so far dear Tom???
I just finished reading Hosea and can guess what verses the book referred to, including the ones quoted by Paul. It’s always great to see proleptic passages in the OT. Thankful for your insightful review brother!
Amen: “ It’s always great to see proleptic passages in the OT.” The OT is so awesome with how there’s nuggets of insights and shadows of things to come. So encouraging to hear reading Hosea!!!
While the redemption of Hosea’s wife after her unfaithfulness stands as a picture of the redemption available to God’s redeemed — somehow, I see a bit of Gomer in the “prosperity gospel” that gets preached today.
Wow good point! Have you blogged about that before as a post?? That would be a good one
Thank you.
You are welcome thanks for dropping by with a comment on this book review post!! Have a blessed Tuesday!!!
Thank you Jim for sharing. As believers, we grow in our faith and understanding from discussions such as this.
Thanks so much for reading this review. May we all grow more in His Word!!!
This sounds like a reference book I would like to have. Thank you, Jim.
Wow thanks for reading this review G.W.! I think its a nice book as reference and its reasonable length too in my opinion
Do you enjoy other books in this series?
Yes I totally enjoyed other books in the series. The one on irony, the city of God and marriage stood out to me. I’ve reviewed those and others on this blog too!!!
Thank you. I see Amazon recommend it to me but I haven’t read any of them yet.
I’ll have to check it out.
Awesome!! How many book is your total as of this morning did you finish another book? I’m slightly joking but I think you probably did finish another!
Wow this book just got published
When I was studying Revelation a month or so ago, I read how sin and death went into the lake of fire. I stopped for a long while to ponder that. Not just no longer a part of our reality, but banished where they will no longer be a problem.
Wow thanks for sharing that; I can’t wait for that day. There’s so much evil sometimes and then there’s the sin within us. What a reminder of the Blessed Hope! I imagine where you live it, it is almost New Year? Staying up to bring in the New Year?
I am up later than usual, but I expect to be asleep before midnight.