Biblical Figures Who Raised People From The Dead
The Bible records several instances where biblical figures raised people from the dead. Elijah raised the son of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:17-24) [10], and Elisha raised the Shunammite's son (2 Kings 4:18-37). Jesus Christ raised three individuals: the daughter of Jairus (Mark 5:22; Luke 8:41-56) [4], the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17) [3], and Lazarus (John 11:38-44) [5]. The apostles also performed resurrections: Peter raised Tabitha (Acts 9:36-42), and Paul raised Eutychus (Acts 20:9-12) [1].
These resurrections demonstrate God's power over death and serve as signs of the messianic identity of Jesus. The early Church Fathers saw these events as evidence of Jesus' divinity and the reality of the resurrection [5, 8]. According to Tertullian, Jesus' miracles, including raising the dead, were seen as proof of his divine nature [5]. Augustine preached on the significance of the three individuals Jesus raised, highlighting their different circumstances and the varying responses to Jesus' actions [11].
The biblical accounts of resurrection also foreshadow the ultimate resurrection of believers. The writer of Hebrews notes that Abraham's faith was demonstrated by his trust in God's ability to raise the dead, as seen in the sacrifice of Isaac (Hebrews 11:19) [2]. The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of Christian hope, as it demonstrates God's power to raise the dead and gives believers confidence in their own future resurrection [6].
The significance of these resurrections is not limited to the individuals involved but extends to the broader theological implications. They demonstrate God's power and authority over life and death, and they serve as a precursor to the final resurrection of all believers. As Charles Hodge notes, the Bible speaks of both literal and spiritual resurrection, with the latter referring to the believer's new life in Christ [7].
The early Christian tradition understood these resurrections as a demonstration of Jesus' power and a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. The raising of Lazarus, in particular, is seen as a significant event that drew people to Jesus, although their motivations were not always pure [12]. The biblical accounts of resurrection continue to be a cornerstone of Christian theology, highlighting God's power and authority over life and death.
The patristic writers often referenced these resurrections as evidence of Jesus' divinity and the reality of the Christian hope. The resurrection of Jesus and the resurrections performed by biblical figures are inextricably linked, demonstrating God's power to raise the dead and giving believers confidence in their own future resurrection [8, 9].
Sources
- Acts “But God raised him from the dead, -- Acts 13:30”
- Hebrews “concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead. -- Hebrews 11:19”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Nain — (from Heb. nain, "green pastures," "lovely"), the name of a town near the gate of which Jesus raised to life a widow's son (Luke 7:11-17). It is identified with the village called Nein, standing on the north-western slope of Jebel ed-Duhy (=the "hill Moreh" = "Little hermon"), about 4 miles from Tabor and 25 southwest of Capernaum. At the foot of the slope on which it stands is the great plain of Esdraelon. This was the first miracle of raising the dead our Lord had wrought, and it excited great awe and astonishment among the people.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Jairus — A ruler of the synagogue at Capernaum, whose only daughter Jesus restored to life (Mark 5:22; Luke 8:41). Entering into the chamber of death, accompanied by Peter and James and John and the father and mother of the maiden, he went forward to the bed whereon the corpse lay, and said, Talitha cumi, i.e., "Maid, arise," and immediately the spirit of the maiden came to her again, and she arose straightway; and "at once to strengthen that life which had come back to her, and to prove that she was indeed no ghost, but had returned to the realities of a mortal exis”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 4: Tertullian IV, Minucius Felix, Commodian, Origen — CHAP. XLVIII. (part 1): Celsus, moreover, unable to resist the miracles which Jesus is recorded to have performed, has already on several occasions spoken of them slanderously as works of sorcery; and we also on several occasions have, to the best of our ability, replied to his statements. And now he represents us as saying that "we deemed Jesus to be the Son of God, because he healed the lame and the blind." And he adds: "Moreover, as you assert, he raised the dead." That He healed the lame and the blind, and that therefore we hold”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 4:24: 4:24 raised . . . from the dead: Abraham experienced the life-giving power of God in the birth of his son Isaac. Christians witness it in the resurrection of Jesus. Throughout history, salvation has been available only through faith in God, who makes and keeps his promises.”
- 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 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”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 8: Twelve Patriarchs, Excerpts, Epistles, Apocrypha, Decretals — ON FAITH.[10] (part 2): that go astray; the asylum of the afflicted; the bridegroom of the Church; the charioteer of the cherubim; the captain of the angels; God who is from God; the Son who is from the Father; Jesus Christ the King for evermore. Amen. V.[1] This is He who took a bodily form in the Virgin, and was hanged upon the tree, and was buried within the earth, and suffered not dissolution; He who rose from the place of the dead, and raised up men from the earth--from the grave below to the height of heaven. This i”
- 1 Kings (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Kings 17:21: And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah,.... In prayer, and answered it: and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived; this is the first instance of anyone being raised from the dead; this Satan has imitated; hence the many fabulous stories with the Heathens of persons being raised to life after death (k). (k) Vid. Huet. Alnetan. Quaest. l. 2. c. 12. sect. 30.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — ON THE WORDS OF THE GOSPEL, LUKE VII. 2, ETC.; ON THE THREE DEAD PERSONS WHOM THE LORD RAISED. (part 4): Lord "came nigh to the city; and behold there was a dead man being carried out" already beyond the gate. Moved with compassion, for that the mother, a widow and bereaved of her only son, was weeping, He did what ye have heard, saying, "Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. He that was dead arose, and began to speak, and He restored him to his mother."(5) He awakened Lazarus likewise from the tomb. And in that case when the disciples with whom ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — CHAPTER XI. 55-57; XII. (part 10): for a few days: now it possesses Him by faith, without 283 seeing Him with the eyes. In whichever way, then, it was said, "But me ye will not have always," it can no longer, I suppose, after this twofold solution, remain as a subject of doubt. 14. Let us listen to the other few points that remain: "Much people of the Jews therefore knew that He was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead." They were drawn by curiosity, not by charity: they came”