1.1 What do we mean by resurrection?

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4 clear points to give you the jist

1. The resurrection is physical

This is why Jews place their bones in ossuaries (bone boxes). Jews placed the bones of their deceased relative about a year after their death and put them into one of these tombs. There are thousands of these in/on the hillsides of Jerusalem. They’re all waiting for the resurrection at the end of the world.

2. Resurrection is not resuscitation

A resuscitated person can still die, glorified resurrected bodies do not die. So the Christian view of resurrection is when God brings an end to the world; he raises up all those who have died and; He will reconstitute them with glorified physical bodies and Jesus was the first fruits of this, the first to go through this process.

3. Jesus

We know the historical Jesus claimed he rose from the dead, as attested by Paul, the gospels and many early non-biblical sources. If Jesus did rise from the dead, Christianity is true and There is some supernatural divine being personally acting in our world. We call that God. It is the test by which Jesus puts before his people. If he did not rise, then we should be pitied at most as expressed by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians.

“If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied”.

1 Corinthians 15:19


4. Anástasis

The Ancient Greek anástasis is defined as a recovery from a debilitating condition, especially irritation of human tissue. The word is used 42 times in the New Testament. For the English see phrases like “resurrection” (used 39 times); “rising again” (used once); “that should rise” (used once); “raised to life again” (used once) all come from the Greek anástasis. Jesus’ resurrection always is and has been referred to as a physical, biological return of the dead, the mending of human tissue and restoration of no longer working organs back to full health.

1 Corinthians 15: 12-19 simple breakdown

“But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied”.

1 Corinthians 15: 12-19

“But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” 

Paul is clear, and it is known, many testify and share the truth that Jesus has been raised from the dead.

“If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised”. 

Paul here, further reinforces the point that ‘resurrection of the dead’ and Christ are associated events.

“If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith”. 

So if a dead Jesus is not raised, evangelism is useless as is the the ‘faith’ in whatever form. So when someone says ‘Jesus spiritually rose in your heart’ Pauls saying that’s silly also. Paul associates the risen Christ with faith.

“More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God”Physical resurrection impresses a necessary condition to be a witness about God.

“we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead”. 

Claiming to be an eyewitness in a source less than 25 years from the cross.

“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile;” 

Paul’s just making it obvious; physical resurrection equals faith, you can’t have it without a risen Jesus

“who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost”. 

‘Asleep’ referring to those who have bodily died here. Christians have wasted their time if Christ has not been raised.

References

  • Book — The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus, Gary Habermas; Mike Licona 
  • The Great Commision — Matthew 28:19–20 
  • Authority to forgive sins — Matthew 19:1–8 
  • Eternal life — John 3:16 
  • Deity, Death, Resurrection — 1 Corinthians 15 
  • Inheritance — 1 Peter 
  • Sign of Jesus’ resurrection — Matthew 12:38-42 
  • Qurans words — Sura 2:23; cf. Sara’s 10:37–38; 17:88 
  • Mormon words — Moroni 10:4–5

Sources for ‘What do we mean by resurrection?’


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