Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono
Standard Podcast
April 17, 2024
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David’s point about Paul’s statement regarding “all creation” awaiting redemption is stronger than you two give it credit for, I think.
On the one hand, Ben is correct that, clearly, the apostle Paul is not speculating about the state of extraterrestrial beings’ salvation (or lack thereof). On the other hand, would Ben similarly dismiss as irrelveant a text such as Colossians 1.15-16: “[Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers–all things have been created through him and for him.” Just because the apostle wasn’t thinking about extraterrestrial life, does that mean they wouldn’t be included in the “all things” these verses say were created for him and hold together in him? The verses remain relevant, even given their ancient literary-historical setting.
I wonder if the Romans 8 text could mean “all creation waits” in the sense that the totality of creation, including other worlds with sentient, ensouled beings (if any), cannot be redeemed apart from us sinful humans here on Earth? There may be unfallen beings elsewhere (as C.S. Lewis speculated in the Space Trilogy, of course); but until God’s salvation of humanity on Earth is fully realized, “all creation” is not redeemed. What do you think?