2 maccabees 7:14 - And being come near to death he said thus: It is good to die at the hands of men and look for the hopes which are given by God, that we shall be raised up again by him; for as for you, you shall have no resurrection to life.
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What does "2 maccabees 7:14" mean?
This verse is spoken by one of the brothers being tortured and killed for refusing to violate Jewish law. Let's break down the meaning:
"And being come near to death he said thus:" This sets the scene. He's moments from dying due to the torture he's enduring.
"It is good to die at the hands of men and look for the hopes which are given by God, that we shall be raised up again by him;" This is the core of his belief. He acknowledges that his death is caused by human cruelty ("at the hands of men"). However, he believes that dying for his faith is worthwhile because he has a hope in God. This hope is resurrection - that God will raise him up again to life after death. He sees this future resurrection as a reward for his faithfulness.
"for as for you, you shall have no resurrection to life." This is addressed to his tormentors (likely Syrian-Greek officials who were trying to force Jews to abandon their religion). He is declaring that because they are persecuting God's people and rejecting God's law, they will not share in the promised resurrection. He is contrasting his fate with theirs. He believes he's dying for a righteous cause and will be rewarded, while they are acting unjustly and will face ultimate judgment.
In essence, the verse expresses:
Faith in resurrection: A belief in life after death, specifically a physical resurrection brought about by God.
Martyrdom for faith: The idea that dying for one's religious beliefs is a noble act that will be rewarded by God.
Judgment: The belief that those who persecute the righteous will face divine judgment and will not share in the blessings of the faithful, including resurrection.
This verse is important because it demonstrates the development of the doctrine of resurrection within Judaism during the Second Temple period. It also highlights the strength and conviction of those who were willing to die for their faith.
2 maccabees 7:14 - And being come near to death he said thus: It is good to die at the hands of men and look for the hopes which are given by God, that we shall be raised up again by him; for as for you, you shall have no resurrection to life.
What does "2 maccabees 7:14" mean?
This verse is spoken by one of the brothers being tortured and killed for refusing to violate Jewish law. Let's break down the meaning:
"And being come near to death he said thus:" This sets the scene. He's moments from dying due to the torture he's enduring.
"It is good to die at the hands of men and look for the hopes which are given by God, that we shall be raised up again by him;" This is the core of his belief. He acknowledges that his death is caused by human cruelty ("at the hands of men"). However, he believes that dying for his faith is worthwhile because he has a hope in God. This hope is resurrection - that God will raise him up again to life after death. He sees this future resurrection as a reward for his faithfulness.
"for as for you, you shall have no resurrection to life." This is addressed to his tormentors (likely Syrian-Greek officials who were trying to force Jews to abandon their religion). He is declaring that because they are persecuting God's people and rejecting God's law, they will not share in the promised resurrection. He is contrasting his fate with theirs. He believes he's dying for a righteous cause and will be rewarded, while they are acting unjustly and will face ultimate judgment.
In essence, the verse expresses:
Faith in resurrection: A belief in life after death, specifically a physical resurrection brought about by God.
Martyrdom for faith: The idea that dying for one's religious beliefs is a noble act that will be rewarded by God.
Judgment: The belief that those who persecute the righteous will face divine judgment and will not share in the blessings of the faithful, including resurrection.
This verse is important because it demonstrates the development of the doctrine of resurrection within Judaism during the Second Temple period. It also highlights the strength and conviction of those who were willing to die for their faith.