Tuesday Contradictions–Matthew 25:46 – Is Death Final? What the Bible Says About Death and Resurrection

Episode 311 examines a question raised by the Skeptic’s Annotated Bible: Is death final? Lance Smith explores the apparent tension between biblical passages that describe death as the end of earthly life and passages that promise resurrection, judgment, and eternal life.

From Job, Ecclesiastes, and the Psalms to Isaiah, Daniel, and Ezekiel, this episode traces the Bible’s developing picture of death, Sheol, and resurrection. Jesus and Paul then make the answer even clearer: death truly ends this earthly life, but it is not the final destination. The biblical hope is resurrection, followed by final judgment and eternal life.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com

Skeptic’s Annotated Bible – “Is death final?” https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/mt/outline.html

T. Desmond Alexander, “The Old Testament View of Life After Death,” Themelios 11.2. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/article/the-old-testament-view-of-life-after-death/

Daniel M. Danciu, “A Philosophical, Theological, and Biblical Defense of the Hebrew Concept of Resurrection” (PhD diss., Liberty University, 2025). https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7524&context=doctoral

Mitchell Chase, “Does the Old Testament Teach Resurrection Hope?” The Gospel Coalition. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/old-testament-teach-resurrection-hope/

Matthew Y. Emerson, “What Is Sheol?” Desiring God, July 13, 2020. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-is-sheol