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Some Thoughts on Hyper-Preterism
by Pastor Richard Barcellos

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Introduction

Three critiques of Hyper-preterism have been very helpful to me: Dr. Ken Gentry's, Pastor Jim West's, and Pastor Fred Zaspel's. All three are available on the web. Jim West's came because of dealing with Hyper-preterism on a pastoral level and is most helpful for pastors. In addition, I hear Ken Gentry is working on a book-length critique and Canon Press is soon to release one as well. Jim Jordan recently did a conference on it and informed me (via an email and upon my asking) that he considers it heresy and a growing evil.

I will offer reasons from 1 Corinthians 15 why I agree with this assessment of Hyper-preterism. I view it as neo-Hymenaenism (2 Tm. 2:16-18), a damning heresy, idle babbling, a cancer which must be cut out immediately!

1 Corinthians 15 and Hyper-preterism

Paul's logic in 1 Corinthians 15 is very clear and emphatic:

1. Christ rose from the dead bodily and physically, within space and time on the earth (1 Cor. 15:1-5).

2. After the pattern of Christ, the first fruits, all who are His, that is, all Christians shall rise from the dead bodily and physically, within space and time on the earth (1 Cor. 15:20, 23).

3. This resurrection of all who are His occurs at His coming (1 Cor. 15:23, 24).

4. Denying that all Christians shall rise from the dead bodily and physically, within space and time on the earth, precludes the veracity of Christ rising from the dead bodily and physically, within space and time on the earth (1 Cor. 15:12-19). This is clearly Paul's logic.

5. Hyper-preterism denies the latter (a bodily and physical resurrection of all Christians, within space and time on the earth), therefore, it cannot have the former. An explicit denial of the future bodily resurrection of the saints is an implicit denial of a past resurrection of Christ, in the logic of Paul, which is God's. Hear Paul on the matter: "But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen." (1 Cor. 15:13) The "resurrection of the dead" throughout the context is a resurrection patterned after the first fruits, Christ (1 Cor. 15:20, 23). Since Christ's resurrection was bodily and physical, within space and time on the earth, then so will be that of all Christians. According to Paul, if it is true that all Christians do not rise from the dead bodily and physically, within space and time on the earth, then Christ Himself did not rise from the dead bodily and physically, within space and time on the earth, and our faith is futile and we are still in our sins (1 Cor. 15:13-19). Denying the bodily and physical resurrection of the saints ends up being a denial of the resurrection of Christ! The veracity of one depends upon the veracity of the other.

Conclusion

Denying, or not being able to affirm without qualification, a future bodily and physical resurrection of the saints precludes a past bodily resurrection of Christ according to the logic of Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:13. Moreover, no resurrection of Christ means our faith is in vain, we are still in our sins, and the gospel is destroyed. Hyper-preterism ends up denying an essential, core element of the gospel. Recall what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:1: "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel …" First Corinthians 15 is an explication of Paul's gospel! Hyper-preterism denies one of the major tenets of the Pauline gospel. Hence, Hyper-preterism is heresy of the worst kind! It ends up denying the gospel itself! If one affirms Hyper-preterism, one denies the gospel. If one is with Hyper-preterism, one is without the gospel. If one is for Hyper-preterism, one is against the gospel.

In my thinking, this damning heresy is an evidence of the proneness toward novelty that many are driven to today. I believe the words of Calvin apply here when he said, "For there are always superstitious little fellows who dream up something new to win admiration for themselves." Let us rise to the occasion, stand for the old paths, speak the truth in love and boldness, and stop the mouths of idle talkers and deceivers who subvert households.

May the Lord purge His church of this new cancer which is, in actuality, a very old cancer. "But shun profane and idle babbling, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some (2 Timothy 2:16-18).