Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  9000 Last things  »  9010 Death  »  9020 death  »  9021 death, natural

The end of life in the present world.

Death is natural to humanity as part of the created world

Ecclesiastes 12:7 See also Psalm 39:5; Psalm 104:29; Ecclesiastes 3:18-21; 2 Peter 1:13-14

Death is a result of Adam's sin

Romans 5:12 There is a tension between this text and those which suggest that death is a natural aspect of being human. Some suggest that the death referred to here is spiritual rather than physical. See also Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3:19; Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22

Death is universal

None can escape death

Psalm 89:48 See also Genesis 6:3; Joshua 23:14; 2 Samuel 14:14; Job 30:23

Death comes to all kinds of people

Job 21:23-26 See also 2 Samuel 12:15-18; 2 Kings 4:20; Psalm 37:35-36; Psalm 49:10; Ecclesiastes 3:19; Luke 16:22

Only two people did not die

Genesis 5:24; 2 Kings 2:11 Enoch and Elijah died in the sense that their bodies were transformed from being suited to earthly life to life in heaven. They anticipated the death of Jesus Christ, whose body was not corrupted but transformed, and the transition to the new world of those who are alive when Jesus Christ comes again.

Death is irreversible

Hebrews 9:27 The idea of reincarnation, that after death people repeatedly return to this life in a lower or higher form, is incompatible with death being once for all and an entrance into heaven or hell after the judgment. See also Job 16:22; Psalm 115:17

Death is an aspect of human frailty

Psalm 146:3-4 See also Isaiah 51:12; 1 Peter 1:24; Isaiah 40:6-8

Death occurs when God determines it

Job 14:5 See also Deuteronomy 32:39; Job 38:17; Luke 12:20; Revelation 1:18

The means of death

Through old age

Genesis 25:8; Genesis 35:29; Judges 8:32; 1 Kings 2:10

Through disease and accident

2 Kings 1:2,16-17; Kings 20:1 pp 2 Chronicles 32:24; Mark 5:23; Acts 20:9

Through violence

Judges 9:5,52-54; 2 Samuel 13:28-29; 1 Kings 15:28; 2 Kings 8:14-15; Matthew 2:16; Matthew 14:8-11

As a judgment by God

Leviticus 10:1-2; Numbers 16:31-32; Numbers 20:23-24; 1 Samuel 25:38; 2 Samuel 6:7; Samuel 24:15; 2 Chronicles 13:20; Acts 5:5,10; Acts 12:21-23; 1 Corinthians 11:29-30

Through a legal penalty

Exodus 21:12-17; Luke 23:32,40-41

The prospect of death affects human attitudes and values

Life is short

James 4:14 See also Job 7:6; Job 8:9; Job 9:25; Psalm 39:5; Psalm 89:47; Psalm 90:10; Psalm 102:11; Ecclesiastes 6:12; Isaiah 38:12; Isaiah 40:6-8

People fear death

Psalm 18:4-6; Psalm 116:3; Hebrews 2:15

People should prepare for death

2 Kings 20:1 pp Isaiah 38:1 See also Psalm 39:4; Psalm 90:12; Amos 4:12

The expectation of death is an incentive to serve God

Ecclesiastes 9:10 See also Isaiah 38:18-19; John 9:4

The expectation of death is an incentive to hold material blessings lightly

1 Timothy 6:7 See also Job 1:21; Luke 12:13-21; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Death is sometimes desired to escape problems

Numbers 11:11-15; 1 Kings 19:4; Job 3:11; Job 7:15; Jeremiah 8:3; Jonah 4:3; Acts 16:27; Revelation 9:6

Death was defeated by Jesus Christ

2 Timothy 1:10 See also Isaiah 25:8; Hosea 13:14; 1 Corinthians 15:24-26; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 20:14

There is no death in heaven

Revelation 21:4 See also Luke 20:35-36; 2 Corinthians 5:1-2

See also

2530  Christ, death of
4015  life
5067  suicide
5281  crucifixion
5297  disease
5725  old age
5795  bereavement
6020  sin
6203  mortality
7346  death penalty
8357  weakness
9040  grave, the