resurrect

Bodily Resurrection

One topic in particular in Corinthians is of great importance. It would seem that some of the Corinthians doubted whether there was any possisibility of the bodily resurrection after death. St. Paul not only gives his views on this point at some length, but also gives us, in addition, our earliest evidence of the Church's belief in the Resurrection of Jesus, based on what the apostle claims to have been told when he became a Christian. Paul points out the Old Testament witness foreshadowed(Isa 53), Christ died for our sins. Also in fulfillment of prophecy he rose from the dead (Ps 16:10; Hos 6:2), and subsequently appeared to Peter (Luke 24:34), to the twelve (Luke 24:36), to the crowd of five hundred, to James the Lord's brother, who was thereby changed from 'unbelief to become leader of the Jerusalem church, and then to all the apostles. Paul himself confesses that he also saw the Risen Christ in 1 Cor 15:1-11) (1)

Websters New World Dictionary:

Resurrection: a rising from the dead, the rising of Christ from the dead

Some make the claim that Jesus only rose as a spirit body. This body was a manifestation similar to the way angels manifested themselves in the O.T.(2)

The problem with their view is that the angels were not incarnated. Jesus became a man by birth, therefore, He had a real, physical body, a permanent body. In fact, right now, Jesus is in heaven in the form of a man. He still has two natures, God and man, and will eternally be that.

For scriptural proof of Jesus being raised in the same body He died in, consider the following verses.

Luke 24:39 -- a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.

Jesus said that He had "flesh and bones" not "flesh and blood." This is important because flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 15:50). The blood of Jesus was the sacrifice for sin (Rom.5:9). It is the blood that cleanses us of our sin (Heb. 9:22).

John 20:27 -- (to Thomas) "reach your finger...and put it into My side..."

If Jesus were not raised from the dead, then why did He have a physical body?

Some will reply that it was a temporary body materialized so the apostles would believe that He was raised. Yet,...

In John 2:19-22 before the crucifixion Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up...He was speaking of the temple of His body." Since Jesus said He would raise the same body He died in, then it must be true. Would you agree with Christ?

This last verse is worth focusing on. Remember, Jesus said He would be the one to raise His body. So, it must be true.(3)

Q: Is there anything in the context of these verses which would change the context from a bodily death to a spiritual death? A bodily burial to a spiritual? A bodily resurrection to a spiritual resurrection?(4)

BACK

(1) Neil, William. William Neil's One Volume Bible Commentary. Hodder and Stoughton (p460-461)

(2) Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry J. Slick, B.A., M. Div. welcomes your comments via E-mail at mslick@connectnet.com

(3) ibid.

(4) 1997 Natalie Pappas