On Easter: The Death of Death in the Resurrection of Christ

The Death of Death in the Death of Christ is one of the most intriguing titles in the history of theology.

The 17th century Puritan theologian and writer John Owen wrote the essay by this name. He wrote it to defend the doctrine of limited atonement against universalism. Limited atonement is that distinctive Calvinist doctrine which insists that Christ’s death on the cross was only effective in its scope (and even in its intended scope) for those who have already been predestined by God to receive it.

It’s a horrific doctrine, in my opinion, and makes God out to be someone that many of us would prefer not to worship, obey, or even believe in.

Nonetheless, the title is great. But it would be a better title for a book that critiques limited atonement and the favors unlimited atonement–or even ultimate universal reconciliation in God. It would be a better book to defend a more holistic theology of the atonement, than one (Owen’s) defending the typical conservative emphasis on penal substitution.

It might be even better, though less pithy, to alter it to say, The Death of Death in the Resurrection of Christ.

In the resurrection, Christ overcomes death, undoes its power, shows that hope transcends the boundaries that death sets for us.

Evangelical Christians often say that the meaning of Easter is that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and in the resurrection Christ overcomes death so that those who are saved from their sins can live in heaven with God.

I’d rather switch it up to say that Jesus died on the cross for (or because of) our death, and in the resurrection Christ overcomes death and undoes its power over us.

For it’s death that gives rise to sin, in the first place.

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