Based on Roman Wisdome
- Death in inevitable.
- Death is the fate of all – rich and poor alike.
- The person’s memory will live on
- Death releases one from the evils of life.
- The funeral and tomb are a great honor to the deceased.
- Death is either nonexistence or leads to a happier state.
Paul’s Response to Roman Wisdom
Paul takes prevailing Roman wisdom about death and turns it on its head—not because he’s developing a new perspective on death, but because the Resurrection changes everything.
See the table below for contrasts between Roman wisdom and Paul’s response to it.
| Roman Wisdom | Paul’s Response |
| Death is inevitable | But so is the resurrection of the believer |
| Death is the fate of all | But fate is trumped by the saving will of God |
| The person’s honor will live on | But people can live again if they are buried with Christ |
| Death releases one from the evils of life | But both good and evil will be reckoned within the afterlife |
| The funeral and tomb are great honor to the deceased | But there is no greater honor than symbolic burial with Jesus in baptism |
| Death is non-existent, or it doesn’t matter to the dead | But it does matter to the dead; they will either be glorified in Christ or condemned to a deeper death in eternal isolation from him |