Conditional Immortality is a tenet held by a theological school which denies the inherent immortality of the soul, and the consequent doctrines both of eternal misery and of Universalism (q.v.), as contrary to the teachings both of nature and revelation. Its advocates maintain that the Bible sets immortality before men as something to be sought after (Rom. ii. 7), as a divine gift offered on certain conditions (Rom. vi. 23; John, iii. 15, 16), and as a matter of hope and promise in the present life (Titus, i. 2); that this immortality is not a present possession (Mark, x. 30), and is to be realised by the assumption of a spiritual body at the resurrection of regenerate men from the dead (Luke, xx. 35, 36), an event synchronous with the second coming of Christ (1 Cor. xv. 51, 52). Divine testimony, no less than experience, they say, declares unequivocally that man has the same natural life as all other animals (Eccles. iii. 19), and only those who by faith and obedience are united to Christ have the promise of immortality. The Calvinistic doctrine of eternal misery is untenable, the punishment of sin being death or everlasting destruction, to be inflicted subsequent to a judgment after the Lord returns (2 Thess. i. 9, 10). The dogma of Universalism, the only alternative to endless torment if the soul must live for ever, is also, they maintain, unfounded, since the punishment of sin (death) is said to be everlasting, like the life which is the reward of the righteous (Matt. xxv. 46). It is claimed that a succession of eminent and pious men have upheld this doctrine from apostolic times, among whom may be mentioned Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandria, Irenæus, &c.
Conditional immortality has received considerable impulse in recent years from many able and zealous advocates, notably the late William Leask, D.D., editor of the Rainbow, and Rev. Edward White. The Conditional Immortality Mission started in Britain in 1878 has done much, by means of lectures, publications, and annual conferences held in various cities, to disseminate this view. It has an organ, The Bible Standard, published monthly by the secretary. Many churches have been organised in Great Britain and its colonies, as well as in America, having conditional immortality as part of their doctrinal basis. The best modern works on the subject are Life in Christ, by Edward White; The Life Everlasting and The Unspeakable Gift, by J. H. Pettingell; Hades, by Henry Constable; Duration and Nature of Future Punishment, by the same author.