Thank you for your question regarding the afterlife, “Why does Paul always say we are asleep in the afterlife?”
The Apostle Paul does not state that when a person or believer dies that they are asleep in the afterlife.
I. I cite three text that implies that believers are not asleep in the afterlife for one’s consideration:
A, In John 3, Jesus states that the person who believes in him has eternal life, not that he has eternal sleep.
The text says this, “14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (NIV). Citations are from the NIV.
The adjective and noun of eternal life doesn’t infer an eternal sleep. Depending on how one defines “asleep as an eternal sleep, a temporary sleep until God wakes that person up, or physical death but alive in Christ Jesus. The promise of eternal life means continuous living, not a state of non-consciousness.
B. In Luke 23, Jesus said to the dying thief that he will be with him in Paradise.
The text says this, “But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Jesus did promise the believing thief that he will be asleep until Jesus comes into his kingdom. Jesus said to him that today he will be with him in Paradise. The thief died on the cross. His place is with Jesus in Paradise, not a place of non-consciousness.
C. In Acts 7:58–8:2 Stephen asked Jesus to receive his spirit. The spirit of the person upon death leaves the physical body at death and comes into the presence of Jesus. That person is awake, not asleep.
The text says this, “At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul approved of their killing him. 8:1 On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.
As one reads the context, the word, sleep, is associated with death. Saul approved of his death. Godly men buried and mourned for Stephen. Stephen didn’t fake his death If Stephen was “asleep” in the afterlife, there would be no reason for Stephen to ask Jesus to receive his spirit.
The euphemism of sleep, in my opinion, refers to the cessation of life in the physical body, but also implies waiting for the resurrection of the body from the grave. In that sense, one can use it as the body as being asleep but the common understanding is that the body is dead. Stephen has to wait for his body to be resurrected at Jesus’ coming to earth. There is the reunion of spirit and body of every person.
II. Paul’s usage of the word, sleep/asleep in I Corinthians 15.
A. In I Corinthians 15, the Apostle Paul uses the term, sleep, four times referring to the death of believers
1. The first citing in chapter 15 is In verses 3–8. Paul says this, “For what I received I passed onto you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
In this context, the Apostle Paul contrasting the living witnesses of Jesus. He cites the disciples of Jesus having seen the resurrected Jesus including 500 brothers and sister of whom most are still alive. Paul argues that the Corinthians believers can hear the witnesses of the brothers and sisters who are still living,. He, however, notes that not all of them are alive, but some have fallen asleep or have died.
The Apostle Paul is not stating anything about their eternal state except that some of the living believers have died due to old age, illness or even persecution. Paul is also a witness of the resurrected Lord for he heard and met Jesus on the Road to Damascus.
2. The second citing in this passage is in verse 16–18 referring to those who are asleep in Christ Jesus.
The text says this, “For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”
The Apostle Paul is addressing the futuristic resurrection of the dead believers in Christ. Jesus who died is now alive. He is living. Paul argument is that if there is no resurrection, then the dead believers are not resurrected either. There is no “sleeping” of the believers for their spirit is non-existent. the grave is the end of the line. However, Paul states that Jesus is alive and because he lives the believers in him are alive. Alive, not in the sense of non-consciousness, but alive in spirit. They are consciously aware that they are in the presence of God.
3. The third usage in this chapter is in verse 20 that Jesus is the first fruit of those who have fallen asleep.
The text says this, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”
Jesus Christ is the first of its kind to overcome death permanently. His resurrection assures that there will be a future resurrection of those who died in Christ Jesus. The dead will be made alive. The Apostle Paul doesn’t state that all will be asleep. He assures the believers that the dead will come to life again.
4. The fourth usage in this chapter is in verse 50–53 that there will be living believers who will not face death at all.
The text says this, “I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.”
Paul states categorically that the physical human body can’t inherit the kingdom of God. There needs to be a new spiritual body that is similar to the physical body. The contrast of not all sleep, but we will all be changed, expresses the hope of the new spiritual body that God will give to believers. It is this new body that will be able to enter the kingdom of God. This new body is not subject to decay or death.
This verse explains the nature of the spiritual body the believer will receive at the return of Jesus Christ. It is not that the believers are sleep until the return of Jesus Christ. I believe it is stating that believers in heaven are waiting for their new body that is promised to them.
Thus, one can conclude that the word, asleep, is referring to the dead in Christ. The implication from I Corinthians 15 is not non-consciousness of the dead believers in Christ, but rather their conscious awareness of being in and with Christ. Believers are not sleeping waiting for the return of Jesus in the grave or in heaven. Believers have eternal life which means that they are alive, not asleep.
B. Natural Sleep.
In Acts 20:7–12, Paul had a lot to say to the believers in Troas. Luke records this, “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
In reading this context, Paul spoke to midnight when Eutychius fell asleep and fell to the ground. He was dead. Paul resurrected/revived him. They went back upstairs and Paul broke bread and ate. Paul didn’t stop talking until daylight. He spoke at least 10–12 hours. Eutychus was physically sound asleep when he fell off.
Summary: The word, asleep or sleep, may be used as physical sleep or a euphemism or metaphor for being dead. Looking at the context will help the person to observe and interpret the meaning of a word in its context.
-Kingston