BOOK OF LIFE. In Phil. iv. 3 Paul speaks of Clement and other of his fellow-labourers, whose names are written in the book of life.' On this Heinrichs (Annotat. in Ep. ad Philipp.) ob serves that as the future life is represented under the image of a roXtreima (citizenship, community, political society) just before (iii. 2o), it is in agree ment with this to suppose (as usual) a catalogue of the citizens' names, both natural and adopted (Luke X. 20 ; Rev. ,or. 15 ; xxi. 27), and from which the unworthy are erased (Rev. iii. 5). Thus the names of the good are often represented as registered in heaven (Luke x. zo). But this by no means implies a certainty of salvation (nor, as Doddridge remarks, does it appear that Paul in this passage had any particular revelation), but only that at that time the persons were on the list, from which (as in Rev. iii. 5) the names of unworthy members might be erased. This explanation is sufficient and satisfactory for the other important passage in Rev. iii. 5, where the glorified Christ promises to him that overcometh,' that he will not blot his name out of the book of life. Here, how
ever, the illustration has been sought rather in military than in civil life, and the passage has been supposed to contain an allusion to the custom according to which the names of those who were cashiered for misconduct were erased from the muster-roll.
When God threatened to destroy the Israelites altogether, and make of Moses a great nation— the legislator implored forgiveness for them, and added—' if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou halt written' (Exod. xxxii. 32). By this he meant nothing so foolish or absurd as to offer to forfeit eternal life in the world to come —but only that he, and not they, should be cut off from the world, and brought to an untimely end. This has been regarded as an allusion to the re cords kept in the courts of justice, where the deeds of criminals are registered, and hence would signify no more than the purpose of God, with reference to future events ; so that to be cut off by an untimely death is to be blotted out of this book.