Page 538 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

RESURRECTION

The Different Resurrections 15:20-24). (e) It encourages us to live steadfast
There will not be one general resurrection. There are Christian lives (1 Co. 15:58).
at least four different resurrections spoken of in the The Nature of the Resurrection Body
Bible. (1) The resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Co. 15:20). (1) It is a real, physical body (Lk. 24:36-43). (2) It is
The O.T. feast of first fruits was a picture of Christ’s an incorruptible body (1 Co. 15:42). It is not subject to
resurrection as the first fruit of those who sleep in death decay and infirmity. (3) It is a glorified body (1 Co.
(Le. 23:9-14). (2) The resurrection of N.T. believers at 15:43). This speaks of the kingly glory of the
the Rapture (1 Co. 15:23; 1 Th. 4:13-17). (3) The resurrected Christ in which the believer will share. (4) It
resurrection of Israel and O.T. saints at the coming of is a spiritual body (1 Co. 15:44). This does not mean the
Christ (Da. 12:1-3,13; Re. 20:4-6). (4) The resurrection resurrection body is not physical, which would
of the unsaved dead following the Millennium (Re. contradict the entire testimony of Scripture; it means
20:5-15). The saved shall be raised to eternal glory; the the resurrection body is not natural like man’s present
unsaved to eternal punishment and shame (Jn. body. 1 Co. 15:44 contrasts the natural body with the
5:28,29). [See Hell, Judgment.] spiritual body. Both are real bodies, but they are
The N.T. also teaches a spiritual resurrection. This different types of bodies. In man’s present condition,
happens when a person is born into God’s family by man’s spirit is subject to the body to a large degree; in
faith in Christ’s blood. Such a person is risen spiritually the resurrection, the spirit will control the body. Of the
with Christ and seated with Him at the right hand of cherubim, the Scripture says, “Whithersoever the spirit
God in heaven (Ro. 6; Ep. 2:4-6). was to go, they went” (Eze. 1:20). This will be true for
This spiritual union with Christ is not the fulfillment the resurrected believer. (5) It is an immortal body (1
of future physical resurrection, but the promise and Co. 15:53). This means it is not subject to death.
guarantee of it (Ro. 8:9-10,23-25). As surely as there is The Ending of the Gospel of Mark
a spiritual resurrection for the believer, there is also a Mark 16:9-20 is omitted or separated from the rest of
physical one. At conversion the believer is raised with the Gospel with a footnote questioning its authenticity
Christ, spiritually, positionally. God sees the true believer in most modern versions. This originated with critical
identified with His Son in death, burial, and editions of the Greek text developed in the 19th century
resurrection. He imputes to the believer these things. In and popularized by the Westcott-Hort Text and the
God’s eyes, every believer is dead in Christ to sin. In His English Revised Version of 1881. The ERV separates Mk.
eyes, the believer is raised to new life in Christ. But 16:9-20 from the rest of the text and has a footnote
there also remains a physical resurrection at Christ’s saying, “The two oldest Greek manuscripts, and some
coming. The bodies of the dead saints will be raised. other authorities, omit from v. 9 to the end. Some other
The living saints will be instantly transformed by God’s authorities have a different ending to the Gospel.” The
power, so that all will put on immortal bodies (1 Th. Westcott-Hort Greek Text (New York: The Macmillan
4:13-17; Ro. 8:22-24; 1 Co. 15). Some men teach there Company, 1925) separates these verses from the rest of
is only a spiritual resurrection; some teach only a the text with double brackets. The NIV separates this
physical resurrection. The Bible teaches both. passage from the rest of the text with a line and a blank
Resurrection in the Old Testament space and a note reading, “The two most reliable early
See Job 19:25-27; Ps. 16:10; Is. 26:19; Da. 12:2 ,13. manuscripts do not have Mark 16:9-20.” The fact is that
Christ’s Resurrection this passage is inspired Scripture, and the following
(1) It was prophesied—by O.T. prophets (Ps. 16:8-11; brief study reveals the error of questioning its
authenticity.
Ac. 2:24-31); by Jesus Himself (Mt. 16:21). (2) It was
foreviewed—by Jonah (Mt. 12:40); by Isaac (He. The manuscript evidence witnesses to the authenticity
11:17-19). (3) It was fulfilled bodily (Lk. 24:36-43; 1 of Mark 16:9-20. The following is from The Future of
Co. 15). When the disciples thought the resurrected the Bible by Jakob Van Bruggen: “One of the most
Christ was a spirit, He told them to touch Him, and He discussed passages is Mk. 16:9-20. In the New American
ate food to prove to them that He had risen bodily. Bible (NAB), three possibilities are given successively in
Anyone who denies the bodily resurrection of Jesus the translation: ‘The Longer Ending,’ ‘The Shorter
Christ denies the plain testimony of Scripture. The Ending,’ and ‘The Freer Logion,’ a manuscript from the
Apostle Paul called all such doubters “fools” (1 Co. fourth or fifth century. In this way, the suggestion is
15:35-36). (4) It was significant. (a) It proves that Jesus raised very strongly that Mark 16 originally ended at v.
is the Son of God (Ro. 1:4). (b) It guarantees our 8 or that the original sequel to verse 8 was lost. The
salvation (Ro. 4:25). (c) It illustrates the power of God NAB creates the impression that the majority textual
(Ep. 1:19-20). (d) It promises our resurrection (1 Co. tradition was rather bold to complete the chapter. This
procedure throws doubt on the Majority Text and raises

538 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity