The Book of Life Is More Than a List
I was recently in a bible study on the biblical concept of “a name.” Part of the lesson included Rev 20:15 where most translations read something like, “anyone’s name who was not found in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” I randomly noticed that the word “name” doesn’t actually appear in the verse. It is more literally something like, “and if anyone was not found written in the book of life, they were cast into the lake of fire.” Clearly the “name” is implied there and it makes sense to translate it that way. Several other passages in scripture clearly use the idea of our name being written in the book of life. I’m not arguing or disagreeing with any translation committee here, I’m just noticing a difference that helped me wonder. I think I’ve always thought of the book of life as a sort of registry. A book of lists. Revelation 20 speaks of books plural, and the fact that there is a book of life means that there are other books too. Heavenly records of the stories of people, so to speak. This would fit very well with the Old Testament theme of referring to the actions of kings as written in the annals of the kings, or that scripture diligently seeks to produce an historical record of the people of God.
Given that part of what Jesus is up to in this world is to “purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14), it would make sense that the book of life is a narrative record of the people of God. If this is in fact the case, then being found in the book of life is not about having your name on a heavenly list, it is about being a participant in the story that God is unfolding in reality.
The biblical concept of “a name” is a deeply integrated concept of identity, reputation, and at times a call to action or a reminder of something about who God is. My name is Nathan. In our culture a name is just a label. In the biblical way of thinking, ‘Nathan’ meant “God has given.”* That isn’t to say that all Nathans are God’s gift to humanity, but it isn’t hard to imagine a couple living embedded in a religious community who saw themselves as the people of God giving Him thanks and seeing a new little life as a gift from God. That little baby didn’t need a label; it needed an identity because it was joining a story.
The same is true for us. We are born to join a story. I have a hunch that realizing this makes more sense of the Book of Life. Even when we read Rev 20:15 with the word “name” added for clarity, taking into account the richness of the biblical importance of a name, it is bigger than being part of the “roll up yonder.” Having your name written in the Book of Life is not simply about being part of a cosmic census—it is the record of your participation in what God is doing.
Life is a great adventure, but let’s never lose sight of the fact that it was meant to fit into something bigger and richer, a story recorded in the Book of Life.
*I was named after my second great-grandfather who was dragged to death by his horses. Thanks, mom.