Bible Study/Theology

Mortis Dulcia Nomina, “The Sweet Names of Death”

Posted on by Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller

Tucked away in a few footnotes in volume three of Pieper’s Dogmatics is this gem of comfort, both for pastors and die-ers: the sweet names of death.

 

Beautiful stuff. Pieper says in the text, “Every Christian, and especially every teacher in the Church, ought to know [the mortis dulcia nomia] well and use them” (Piepers Dogmatics III.511).

Here, then, is our comforting and lovely list of the “Sweet Names of Death”:

  • “Gathered to one’s people” (Genesis 25:8, 17).
  • “Departure in peace” (Luke 2:29).
  • “Depart and be with Christ” (Philippians 1:23).
  • “Taken from evil” (Isaiah 57:1).
  • “Sleep” (Matthew 9:24; John 11:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13; Daniel 12:2).
  • “Rest” (Revelation 14:13; Hebrews 4:11).
  • “Passing from death to life” (John 5:24).
  • “Deliverance from evil” (2 Timothy 4:18).
  • “Gain” (Philippians 1:21).

May God grant us joy in His victory over death.

PrBW

 

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Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller
Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor of St Paul and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Churches in Austin, TX, author of "A Martyr's Faith for a Faithless World", "Has American Christianity Failed?", co-host of Table Talk Radio, teacher of Grappling with the Text, and theological adventure traveler.

3 Comments

  1. Really comforting in the hard times of life for those facing death and those grieving the loss of a dear one. Thank you for the encouragement.

  3. Says Luther: “We must all go into death and die, but a Christian does not taste or see death; that is, he does not sense it, he is not terrified of it, and goes into it calmly and quietly, as if he were falling asleep, and yet he does not die. ”

    AE 76:412

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