Hylemorphism, rigid designators, and the disembodied 'Jesus': a call for clarification. Issue 2 (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: TURNER, JAMES T.
• Is Part Of: Religious studies. Volume 57:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 193
• Page End: 208
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Religion -- Periodicals; Theology -- Periodicals; 200
• DOI: 10.1017/S0034412519000040
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0034-4125

Abstract

Abstract: Many in the Christian tradition affirm two things: (1) that Jesus Christ descended to Hades/ Limbus Patrum on Holy Saturday and (2) that the human nature of Jesus is a hylemorphic compound, the unity of a human soul and prime matter. I argue that (1) and (2) are incompatible; for the name 'Jesus', 'Christ', and 'Jesus Christ' rigidly designates a human being. But, given a certain view of hylemorphism, the human being, Jesus, ceased to exist in the time between his death and resurrection. So, Jesus did not descend to Hades/ Limbus Patrum, even if God the Son did.