Who Is Written in the Book of Life
The concept of being "written in the Book of Life" is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, particularly in the Old and New Testaments. The Book of Life is first mentioned in Exodus 32:32-33, where Moses asks God to blot out his name if He does not forgive the Israelites [1]. This theme is revisited in various passages, including Psalms 69:28, Daniel 12:1, and Revelation 20:15.
In the biblical context, the Book of Life is understood as a heavenly register containing the names of those destined for eternal life. Revelation 21:27 states that "only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life" will enter the heavenly city [1]. The idea is that one's name being written in this book signifies their salvation and eternal fellowship with God.
The interpretation of the Book of Life varies across Christian traditions. According to Aquinas, the Book of Life is a metaphorical representation of God's predestination [7]. In his Summa Theologica, Aquinas argues that the Book of Life is not a physical book but rather a figurative expression of God's eternal decree [2]. This view is supported by John Gill, who interprets the Book of Life as representing God's predestination of men to eternal life, or His decree of election [5].
In contrast, some early Church Fathers, such as Augustine, caution against understanding the Book of Life too literally. Augustine notes that God's foreknowledge and predestination are not subject to change; thus, one's name cannot be blotted out of the Book of Life in the sense that God's decision is not reversible [9]. However, Aquinas acknowledges that some have interpreted the blotting out of names from the Book of Life as a change in God's knowledge or opinion, rather than a change in the actual status of the individual [2].
The Methodist/Wesleyan tradition, as represented by Adam Clarke, views the Book of Life as a register of those who are citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem. According to Clarke, those whose names are not found in this book are considered outsiders, and their fate is separation from God [3]. This understanding is echoed in John Gill's commentary on Revelation 20:15, where he notes that those not written in the Book of Life are cast into the lake of fire [8].
The biblical basis for the concept of the Book of Life is rooted in various passages, including Psalms 69:28, where the psalmist asks God to blot out the names of the wicked from the Book of Life [6]. Daniel 12:1 mentions Michael standing up for those whose names are written in the book, underscoring the idea of divine protection for the righteous [4].
The historical context of the Book of Life is closely tied to the Jewish understanding of a heavenly register or book. In ancient Jewish thought, the idea of a book containing the names of the righteous was prevalent. The concept is also reflected in other ancient Near Eastern cultures, where records of citizens or members of a community were kept.
The reception history of the concept of the Book of Life is diverse, with different Christian traditions interpreting it in light of their theological perspectives. While the Catholic (Scholastic) tradition views it through the lens of predestination, the Baptist/Reformed tradition sees it as a representation of God's eternal decree of election. The Methodist/Wesleyan tradition emphasizes the idea of citizenship in the heavenly Jerusalem.
The historicity and interpretation of the Book of Life are not without debate. Scholars have discussed the relationship between the Book of Life and other biblical concepts, such as predestination and salvation. The varying interpretations across Christian traditions reflect the complexity and richness of the biblical theme.
Sources
- Revelation of John “Revelation of John 21:27 (BSB) — But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, First Part (Prima Pars), The Book of Life, Art. 3: Article: Whether anyone may be blotted out of the book of life? I answer that, Some have said that none could be blotted out of the book of life as a matter of fact, but only in the opinion of men. For it is customary in the Scriptures to say that something is done when it becomes known. Thus some are said to be written in the book of life, inasmuch as men think they are written therein, on account of the present righteousness they see in them; but when it becomes evident, either in this world or in the next, that th”
- Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 20:15: Written in the book of life - Only those who had continued faithful unto death were taken to heaven. All whose names were not found in the public registers, who either were not citizens, or whose names had been erased from those registers because of crimes against the state, could claim none of those emoluments or privileges which belong to the citizens; so those who either did not belong to the new and spiritual Jerusalem, or who had forfeited their rights and privileges by sin, and had died in that state, were cast into the lake of fire. This is the way in wh”
- Daniel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Daniel 12:1: And at that time Michael shall stand up - Michael the archangel, as has already been observed, was ever reputed the guardian of the Jewish people. Every one that shall be found written in the book - All that truly fear, love, and obey the Lord, On the phrase, "written in the book, the book of life," etc., see the passages in the margin, and the notes on those passages.”
- Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 13:8: And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him,.... The inhabitants of the Roman empire, the idolatrous part of it, the men of the world, earthly minded men; who are as they came into the world, and are of the earth, earthly, and seek only after earthly honours, pleasures, and profits; these are the admirers and adorers of the beast: whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world; by which book is meant God's predestination of men to eternal life, or his decree of election; why this is called the "book of ”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 69:28: Let them be blotted out of the book of life,.... Which some understand of this animal life, or of the catalogue of living saints; of their being not written among the living in Jerusalem, or in the writing of the house of Israel, Isa 4:3. The Targum is, "let them he blotted out of the book of the memory of the living.'' Let their names rot and perish, being buried in everlasting oblivion. Aben Ezra interprets this book of the heavens; where, he says, all things that should come to pass were written, at the time they were created; see Luk 10:20. But this is the bo”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, First Part (Prima Pars), The Book of Life, Art. 1: Article: Whether the book of life is the same as predestination? I answer that, The book of life is in God taken in a metaphorical sense, according to a comparison with human affairs. For it is usual among men that they who are chosen for any office should be inscribed in a book; as, for instance, soldiers, or counsellors, who formerly were called "conscript" fathers. Now it is clear from the preceding (Question [23], Article [4]) that all the predestined are chosen by God to possess eternal life. This conscription,”
- Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 20:15: And whosoever was not found written in the book of life,.... Upon the opening of it, Rev 20:12 as all that worship the beast, and wonder after him, Rev 13:8 and all wicked men, everyone of them: was cast into the lake of fire; where are the devil, beast, and false prophet, Rev 19:20. It is a saying of R. Isaac (m), "woe to the wicked, who are not written "in the book", for they shall perish in hell for ever and ever:'' and in the Targum on Eze 13:9 it is said of the false prophets, "that , "in the writing of eternal life" (or in the book of eternal life),”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM LXIX.[24] (part 26): enter in[14] Thy righteousness." This is a plain thing. 29. "Let them be blotted out from the book of the living" (ver. 29). For had they been some time written therein? Brethren, we must not so take it, as that God writeth any one in 310 the book of life, and blotteth him out. If a man said, "What I have written I have written,"[1] concerning the title where it had been written, "King of the Jews:" doth God write any one, and blot him out? He foreknoweth, He hath predestined all before the foundation of the world that ”