Biblical Accounts of Resurrections From the Dead
The concept of resurrection from the dead is a foundational element in biblical thought, appearing in various forms throughout both the Old and New Testaments. It signifies a return to life after death, though the nature and scope of this return can vary [4].
In the Old Testament, the idea of resurrection is present, albeit sometimes in figurative language. The prophet Ezekiel describes a vision of a valley of dry bones being brought back to life, which Matthew Henry interprets as a glorious resurrection, noting that such a concept is "utterly unknown to nature" apart from divine revelation [5]. The book of Hebrews speaks of God's ability to raise from the dead, as seen in Abraham's faith regarding Isaac [1]. Rabbinic tradition also finds the concept of resurrection in the Torah, with Rabbi Yoḥanan deriving it from Numbers 18:28, suggesting that Aaron is destined to live again [9].
The New Testament places significant emphasis on the resurrection, particularly that of Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Christ is considered a "cardinal fact and doctrine of the gospel" and the foundation of New Testament revelation [2]. The apostles' preaching centered on Jesus' resurrection from the dead, which also served as the basis for confidence in His return [3]. Jesus Himself intimated His resurrection in His discourses [2]. The Gospels provide circumstantial accounts of the events surrounding His resurrection [2].
Beyond Christ's resurrection, the New Testament also records instances of others being raised from the dead. These include the daughter of the high priest, the widow's son, and Lazarus, all raised by Christ [11]. At the time of Christ's crucifixion, graves were opened, and many bodies of deceased saints arose, appearing in Jerusalem after Jesus' own resurrection [12].
Theological discussions distinguish between different types of resurrection. Thomas Aquinas defines resurrection as a restoring from death to life, noting that a "true and perfect resurrection" involves not only being rescued from death but also from the necessity or possibility of dying again [4]. Charles Hodge points out that the Bible speaks of both a literal and a spiritual or figurative resurrection, where a sinner "dead in trespasses and sins" is "quickened and raised again in Christ Jesus" [6]. The apostle Paul, in Philippians, expresses a desire to attain "the resurrection from (out of) the dead," which Jamieson, Fausset & Brown interpret as the first resurrection of believers at Christ's coming [8]. Early Christian writers, such as Tertullian, emphasized that "the resurrection of the dead" specifically indicates the rising again of the flesh [7]. Some Jewish groups, like the Sadducees, denied the resurrection of the dead, interpreting biblical passages about it figuratively [10].
Sources
- Hebrews “Hebrews 11:19 (DRC) — Accounting that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Whereupon also he received him for a parable.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Resurrection of Christ — One of the cardinal facts and doctrines of the gospel. If Christ be not risen, our faith is vain (1 Cor. 15:14). The whole of the New Testament revelation rests on this as an historical fact. On the day of Pentecost Peter argued the necessity of Christ's resurrection from the prediction in Ps. 16 (Acts 2:24-28). In his own discourses, also, our Lord clearly intimates his resurrection (Matt. 20:19; Mark 9:9; 14:28; Luke 18:33; John 2:19-22). The evangelists give circumstantial accounts of the facts connected with that event, and the apostles, ”
- 1 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Thessalonians 1:10: 1:10 The resurrection of Jesus from the dead was the core of the apostles’ preaching (4:14; Acts 2:32; 3:15; 10:40; 13:29-30; 1 Cor 15:3-8) and the foundation for confidence in Jesus’ return (see 1 Thes 5:9; 2 Thes 1:6-10).”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of Christ's Resurrection, Art. 3: Article: Whether Christ was the first to rise from the dead? I answer that, Resurrection is a restoring from death to life. Now a man is snatched from death in two ways: first of all, from actual death, so that he begins in any way to live anew after being actually dead: in another way, so that he is not only rescued from death, but from the necessity, nay more, from the possibility of dying again. Such is a true and perfect resurrection, because so long as a man lives, subject to the necessity of dying, dea”
- Ezekiel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ezekiel 37:1: Here is, I. The vision of a resurrection from death to life, and it is a glorious resurrection. This is a thing so utterly unknown to nature, and so contrary to its principles (a privatione ad habitum non datur regressus - from privation to possession there is no return), that we could have no thought of it but by the word of the Lord; and that it is certain by that word that there shall be a general resurrection of the dead some have urged from this vision, "For" (say they) "otherwise it would not properly be made a sign for the confirming of their faith in the ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 91: those of the same class, and even of the same school. This remark, which applies to the whole book, applies with special force to the passage under consideration. 3. The Bible speaks of a spiritual, or figurative, as well as of a literal resurrection. This figure is used both in reference to individuals and in reference to communities. The sinner, dead in trespasses and sins, is said to be quickened and raised again in Christ Jesus. ( Rom. vi. and Eph. ii. ) Whole communities when elevated from a state of depression and misery, are in pro”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP. XVIII.--SCRIPTURE PHRASES AND PASSAGES CLEARLY ASSERT "THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD." THE FORCE OF THIS VERY PHRASE EXPLAINED AS INDICATING THE PROMINENT PLACE OF THE FLESH IN THE GENERAL RESURR (part 3): that which falls--that is, the flesh--so will there be the same application of the word dead, because what is called "the resurrection of the dead" indicates the rising up again of that which is fallen down. We learn this from the case of Abraham, the father of the faithful, a man who enjoyed close intercourse with God. For when he requested of the sons of Heth a”
- Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 3:11: If by any means--not implying uncertainty of the issue, but the earnestness of the struggle of faith (Co1 9:26-27), and the urgent need of jealous self-watchfulness (Co1 10:12). attain unto the resurrection of the dead--The oldest manuscripts read, "the resurrection from (out of) the dead," namely, the first resurrection; that of believers at Christ's coming (Co1 15:23; Th1 4:15; Rev 20:5-6). The Greek word occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. "The power of Christ's resurrection" (Rom 1:4), ensures the believer's attainment of the "resurrec”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 90b.2: § Rabbi Yoḥanan says: From where is the resurrection of the dead derived from the Torah? It is derived from this verse, as it is stated with regard to teruma of the tithe: “And you shall give the teruma of the Lord to Aaron the priest” (Numbers 18:28). And does Aaron exist forever so that one can fulfill the mitzva by giving him the teruma of the tithe? But is it not so that Aaron did not enter Eretz Yisrael, the only place where the people would give him teruma ? Rather, the verse teaches that Aaron is destined to live in the future and the Jewish people wi”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 9: Gospel of Peter, Diatessaron, Origen's Commentaries — 20. DIFFERENT CONCEPTIONS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. (part 1): "At that season Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus and said unto his own servants, This is John the Baptist."(4) In Mark(5) it is the same, and also in Luke.(6) The Jews had different opinions, some false, such as the Sadducees held about the resurrection of the dead, that they do not rise, and in regard to angels that they do not exist, but that those things which were written about them were only to be interpreted figuratively, but had no reality in poin”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. XIII.--IN THE DEAD WHO WERE RAISED BY CHRIST WE POSSESS THE HIGHEST PROOF OF THE RESURRECTION; AND OUR HEARTS ARE SHOWN TO BE CAPABLE OF LIFE ETERNAL, BECAUSE THEY CAN NOW RECEIVE THE SPIRIT OF (part 1): 1. Let our opponents--that is, they who speak against their own salvation--inform us [as to this point]: The deceased daughter of the high priest;(2) the widow's dead son, who was being carded out [to burial] near the gate [of the city];(3) and Lazarus, who had lain four days in the tomb,(4)--in what bod”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 27:52: And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose--These sleeping saints (see on Th1 4:14) were Old Testament believers, who--according to the usual punctuation in our version--were quickened into resurrection life at the moment of their Lord's death, but lay in their graves till His resurrection, when they came forth. But it is far more natural, as we think, and consonant with other Scriptures, to understand that only the graves were opened, probably by the earthquake, at our Lord's death, and this only in preparation for t”