This we've been waiting for: the Resurrection: what is it? what does it mean? How are we to think about it. There is room here for variety in the Christian faith. If one can only see in terms of matter, the Resurrection is a material event; for others it may be a spiritual event.
When you say literal, paraphrasing Bill Clinton we may ask in what sense? One may be literally true while it may or may not be materially, factually, historically true.
Like David did, I go to 1 Cor for insight on the thing:
"15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
15:43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body."
Did Jesus arise a natural body? or a spiritual body? Plenty of room for disagreement here-- in love! For me it has to be an open question-- like Jonah in the belly of the whale.
Actually it is not central to my faith; the central thing is the appearance of Christ in the world, particularly in my heart.
5 comments:
It is interesting to me that in Corrinthians this is described in terms of dualism - defining what resurrection is in terms of opposites: corruption/incorruption, dishonour/glory, weakness/power, natural body/spiritual body...
I love your suggestion that we keep this an open question, as Rilke would suggest - living the questions.
And when you write, "Actually it is not central to my faith; the central thing is the appearance of Christ in the world, particularly in my heart," I read this appearance as pure resurrection. Let's keep this very alive in our hearts, dear friend.
Did Jesus arise a natural body? or a spiritual body?
Let's hope in a new world where the two are not mutually exclusive.
Amen to that, David.
Hi Larry. You said ... Did Jesus arise a natural body? or a spiritual body? ...
Felix Just writes ... # Christians believe in the "Resurrection of the Body," not merely the "Immortality of the (disembodied) Soul"!
* even if our mortal bodies are buried or cremated, we will receive some type of "resurrected body";
* what that new body will be like is unknown, but it will be totally different from our present bodies;
* thus, "resurrection" involves the reunification of the spirit or soul with a new and immortal body.
... But who knows? :-)
Thanks, Crystal; I'm right on with you on that.
Post a Comment