What of Those Who Died Before Christ?

In January of 2019, Dr. Craig was invited to sit down with Erik Thoennes of Grace Evangelical Free Church in La Mirada, California for a casual conversation. This candid interview is full of stories, insights, and commentary, including an engaging question and answer session at the end. In this short clip, Dr. Craig answers a very popular question concerning the fate of those who died before Christ or with no access to hearing of him.

For the entirety of the discussion and Q&A time watch here:

We welcome your comments in the Reasonable Faith forums:

[kojilopez]

"In any case, everyone must live up to what truth they have obtained"
-Phillipians 3:16
The Father Son and Holy Spirit have perfect knowledge of what anyone and everyone has done in their particular circumstance. It's fair to say they are a perfect judge of what you do with what you're given.

[mathewlanier]

A good explanation of the verse “we are saved by grace THROUGH faith” awesome :)

[draytonblackgrove]

Dr Craig, whoever is doing your marketing is doing a great job. I love the new intro and the music. Great stuff!

[jesuschristbiblebiblestudy]

A valid, Bible-based response.

No scientist ever begins his work de novo; while he works with the methodological questioning of what he has already known he builds on knowledge already achieved and engages in a movement of advance.

But it is one of the worst characteristics of theological study, whether in biblical interpretation or in dogmatic formulation - that every scholar nowadays thinks he must start all over again, and too many give the impression that no one ever understood this or that until they came along.

Amen.

[marcusmuse]

“For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does” (1 Peter 4:6).

[albertito]

All the examples he gave were of the righteous Old Testament saints. What about the 100-200, 000 years of human life? That's a lot of people who never knew Jesus or God's revelation to Israel.

[MLeoM]

Wow!!! What a great explanation! Makes sense all the way!

[filmfan]

“Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. So he went and preached to the spirits in prison— those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3:18-20‬

[ahmadarnaoute]

He didn t even answer the question lol
He talked about the people that lived at the time of abraham but the question was about the people who never heard any revelation



Gg christianity

[lauterunvollkommenheit]

I wonder what the source is of Dr. Craig's assertion.

[jrod]

JOHN 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth shall draw all men unto myself.

[Rayceunit]

This is where Jerry Wall's optimal grace theory comes in, I encourage Christians in the comments to look it up and keep an open mind, I think it fits perfectly with God's character

[correctchristian]

No one can die "before Christ." He is God their Creator "in the beginning."

[ApologeticMinds]

Great topic! I've heard different views but WLC does a great job explaining.

[АлексАнгелов-еэ]

l didn't really understand this if humans have burth sin and whiteout Christ they cannot be saved what happened to the humans before him

[williammunny]

*_Revelation 13.13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666._*

*_Matthew 11.28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."_*

*_Luke 19.10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”_*

_Only Jesus Christ saves. Repent and be saved. Jesus Christ loves you. God bless you, and peace be upon you and your family in the name of Jesus Christ..._

[cue_khb]

But Abraham, David, Moses did not believe ON JESUS. That's the important distinction. Were they saved by believing God's other promises but not specifically on the atonement of Christ?
I believe the just shall live by His faithfulness (Habakkuk 2.5). I believe in righteousness by faithfulness. God's faithfulness. So, then, God's people are saved because of His commitment to us, His unwavering faithfulness. It is only revealed in our faith.

[eggydelight]

What about say the indigenous people in the Amazon that (were dated to have lived there for 30, 000+ years) lived way before Christianity? Or what say never even heard of Christ? Most people lived and died before Christianity was even around. Do they get sent to hell automatically because they lost the lottery on when/where they were born?

[ItenOdnail]

David Platt answer this question very good Biblically. Just check his video on youtube.
What happen to people who never hear the gospel.

[snoopycharlie]

Would it be possible to say that since all mankind has a common origin in Adam, those coming from and after Adam would have been informed about God from the beginning of humanity? So, in a sense, all of mankind would have had an awareness/ handed down knowledge of God, but drifted from Him.