Resurrection of Christ: Literal fact or spiritual reality?

[Dawnofhope]

Did Jesus physically rise from the dead or this an allegorical story?

Perhaps its both and maybe neither?

What is the best way of understanding this core Christian belief?

 

[Cephus]

How about complete myth?

 

[Dawnofhope]

How about complete myth?

Do you think the myth may have any meaning?

 

[allfoak]

Did Jesus physically rise from the dead or this an allegorical story?

Perhaps its both and maybe neither?

What is the best way of understanding this core Christian belief?

It's both.
He really did resurrect but not after he physically died.
And it is an allegory showing that the human condition is not hopeless.
We all have a savior within.

 

[pearl]

Since His body was reported as unrecognizable, and only appeared to those of faith, I would think spiritual. His risen body was no longer a body as we know bodies, bound by the dimensions of space and time. Paul's description of risen bodies, spiritual, not natural or physical, he even implies that these bodies are no longer flesh and blood. For Paul it is a mystery. When all is said and done I am satisfied that the D/R and giving of the Spirit was an eschatological event for which there is no language beyond analogy to describe the interaction of the eschatological and the historical.

 

[Dawnofhope]

He really did resurrect but not after he physically died.

Do you mean three days after?

And it is an allegory showing that the human condition is not hopeless.
We all have a savior within.

Like Christ lives within for the Christians? Do people of other faiths have a saviour within them, if you are saying we all have a saviour within?

 

[Dawnofhope]

Since His body was reported as unrecognizable, and only appeared to those of faith, I would think spiritual. His risen body was no longer a body as we know bodies, bound by the dimensions of space and time. Paul's description of risen bodies, spiritual, not natural or physical, he even implies that these bodies are no longer flesh and blood. For Paul it is a mystery. When all is said and done I am satisfied that the D/R and giving of the Spirit was an eschatological event for which there is no language beyond analogy to describe the interaction of the eschatological and the historical.

Thank you. I agree with all you have said.

Any thoughts on Matthew 12:38-40 given Jesus was in all likelihood referring to His Resurrection.

"Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

 

[allfoak]

Do you mean three days after?

no

Like Christ lives within for the Christians? Do people of other faiths have a saviour within them, if you are saying we all have a saviour within?

yes, yes and yes

 

[Dawnofhope]

Thank you for keeping a sense of mystery and not giving too much away!

no

I'm interested to hear how He resurrected from your perspective.

yes, yes and yes

So is the saviour within 'Christ' for other faiths, or someone else?

 

[allfoak]

Did Jesus physically rise from the dead or this an allegorical story?

Perhaps its both and maybe neither?

What is the best way of understanding this core Christian belief?

If you recall the story of Jesus praying and sweating out drops of blood, then you will understand what happened to him.
He died within and became one with the Father.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Did Jesus physically rise from the dead or this an allegorical story?

Perhaps its both and maybe neither?

What is the best way of understanding this core Christian belief?

In my opinion, christianity teaches christ literally rose from the dead. If christ only rose symbolically, what does that say of christians who believe they will go to heaven? Is their belief symbolic? I'd say literal.

 

[allfoak]

So is the saviour within 'Christ' for other faiths, or someone else?

Christ means messiah, so yes.
It is the Logos, the Son Of God

 

[allfoak]

In my opinion, christianity teaches christ literally rose from the dead. If christ only rose symbolically, what does that say of christians who believe they will go to heaven? Is their belief symbolic? I'd say literal.

It means they only know the story behind the reality and not the reality itself.

 

[Dawnofhope]

In my opinion, christianity teaches christ literally rose from the dead.

That is generally true although one Christian has posted a view on this thread to the contrary.

If christ only rose symbolically, what does that say of christians who believe they will go to heaven?

That it might be time for those Christians to reflect on why they believe what they do.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

It means they only know the story behind the reality and not the reality itself.

That's not what christianity teaches. It teaches that christ is reality itself and the resurrection is literal (in flesh and in spirit he rose). So, the reality in their view is if christ rose symbolically, is their belief symbolic?

 

[Dawnofhope]

It is the Logos, the Son Of God

You mean John 1? I'm not a Christian or particularly theologically minded. Please explain it to me.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

That is generally true although one Christian has posted a view on this thread to the contrary.



That it might be time for those Christians to reflect on why they believe what they do.

Well, Christians are a dime or dizen with thousands of perspectives on jesus resurrection, death, and life. Objectively, and coming from the outside referring to the source rather than christians, I'd say he (in scripture) rose literally flesh and spirit. It shows that christians (his apostles and believers at the time) will rise just the same if they believe in christ's father as christ did.

It's a literal example of dying in the flesh and rising in the flesh but showing that the flesh can rise to be with god if his or her spirit is in union with christ thereby the father.

 

[allfoak]

That's not what christianity teaches. It teaches that christ is reality itself and the resurrection is literal (in flesh and in spirit he rose). So, the reality in their view is if christ rose symbolically, is their belief symbolic?

No, it is an allegorical representation of an inward process.
Somehow Christians think if it was not all literal then there is no savior but their savior is within them.

 

[allfoak]

You mean John 1? I'm not a Christian or particularly theologically minded. Please explain it to me.

The messiah, is the Logos, which is the Son of God, which is within us.

 

[Dawnofhope]

Well, Christians are a dime or dizen with thousands of perspectives on jesus resurrection, death, and life. Objectively, and coming from the outside referring to the source rather than christians, I'd say he (in scripture) rose literally flesh and spirit. It shows that christians (his apostles and believers at the time) will rise just the same if they believe in christ's father as christ did.

It's a literal example of dying in the flesh and rising in the flesh but showing that the flesh can rise to be with god if his or her spirit is in union with christ thereby the father.

Are you aware that many early Christians did not believe in a physical resurrection at all?

Another aspect is that the Christian world view included a physical hell below the earth and heaven up in the sky. The earth was the centre of the universe. That creates problems if we still have this belief because we know a lot more about what's up there in space now than we used to.

If we see heaven and hell as being in the invisible spiritual realm then it creates difficulties with Jesus literally rising into heaven if that means the sky.