The Greeks were dualists, holding that soul and body were
distinct from each other. They believed the soul was good and immortal, while
the body was evil and mortal. During its duration on earth the soul remained
entrapped in the body. At death the soul escaped it fleshly prison and was set
free. This was the Greek version of salvation.
Some Jews of Jesus’ day, as a result of Hellenization, began
to adopt this Greek concept of life after death. But their belief was not based
on the Hebrew Bible.
Jews for the most part made no distinction between the soul
and body. For them, humans were mortal beings. They had no clear cut doctrine
of life after death, but linked eternal life with an eschatological
resurrection. Hence, Jews emphasized living on earth now and not going to
heaven in the future.
For Jews the kingdom of God was likewise connected to earth.
This is how Jesus and the apostles understood the kingdom as well (“The meek
shall inherit the earth”). Rather than speaking of going to heaven, they spoke mainly
of heaven coming down to earth (Revelation 21-22).
To explore this idea more fully read my book “Heaven on Earth” (Now available online
and in bookstores everywhere).
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