By Otis Q. Sellers

Book Review by Robert Guenther
An exposition on Luke 16:19 – 31, which has been used by many to prove the nature and destiny of man, and to contradict what the Old Testament teaches about soul and death.

Mr. Sellers contends that the teaching of the Old Testament concerning death and the soul are not contradicted in the New Testament. His own study of each occurrence of the word ‘soul’ proves that man is a soul - not that he has a soul. Further study concludes death is the end of life, not the immediate beginning of a different life and another place.

Mr. Sellers begins by quoting the record of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16. He suggests that this story is not an actual historical account of two men who died and are able to live on in order to reveal the conditions that exist beyond death. The Lord's real purpose and using this satirical story was to rebuke and expose the Pharisee’s teaching concerning mans present state and future destiny.

Many books have been written on this Luke 16 passage in an attempt to prove “... man has a soul, the soul is immortal, that death is another form of life, that death is simply life in another place, that death is the continuation of life, and that at the moment of death a man is ushered into ineffable bliss or frightful woe, that punishment begins the moment a wicked man dies, that the punishment is by means of literal fire, and the lost are tormented by fire eternally... to prove that the dead are not dead at all, but alive and fully conscious. There is no single passage in all the Word of God that is used to support as many different doctrines and ideas as the story of the rich man and Lazarus.”

It has been suggested that we search the entire context - Luke 14:25 – 17:10, to see whom the Lord was addressing, and what He was attempting to teach them. He is still speaking to the Pharisees by Chapter 16. This portion of Scripture is not a true historical event, nor a parable. It is a suppositional satire which was spoken to the Pharisees to show their false teachings. The result of searching out the truth will set us free from the traditions of men.

This booklet illustrates Mr. Sellers methods of considering the context along with the comparing Scripture with Scripture to determine the truth. We believe that a conscious effort to use these methods and a careful consideration of the step-by-step process will help the child of God to understand the truth and these passages as well as in others.