The Etymology of “Death”

Mavet - the realm and power of death, standing in opposition to the living God

Mavet is nearly personified in the OT - Death opens its mouth wide (Isa 5:14). Sheol is the shadowy underworld. God alone has power over mavet and sheol (Deut 32:39). The psalms cry out from the edge of death.

Thanatos - physical death and spiritual separation from God, both overcome in Christ resurrection

Paul personifies Thanatos as the last enemy to be destroyed (1 Cor 15:26). Romans 5:12-21: death entered through Adam, life through Christ. The sting of death is sin; Christ removes the sting by bearing sin.

Mors - conquered by Christ descent into death and resurrection, freeing captives of the underworld

The Apostles Creed: descended into hell. Patristic theology celebrated Christ harrowing hell - breaking death power and liberating the righteous dead. Death is now not an end but a door.

Death as wages of sin, paid by Christ - believers face biological death but not the second death

Luther: death is the mask behind which God hides. The Christian dies but does not remain in death. Catechisms distinguish first death (biological) from second death (eternal separation) - the latter abolished in Christ.

Death as the final frontier of hope - resurrection faith confronting mortality with defiant joy

Moltmann (The Coming of God) meditates on death in light of the Holocaust. Christian hope is not immortality of the soul but resurrection of the dead - God reclaims even those swallowed by death.