The Resurrection: Explained Away by False Teachers
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The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as a cornerstone of Christian faith, affirming the victory over sin and death and promising eternal life to believers. However, throughout history, this foundational doctrine has been challenged and explained away by false teachers, who seek to undermine its significance and truth.

Biblical Warnings Against False Teachings

Scripture provides numerous warnings about false teachers who distort the truth of the resurrection. The Apostle Paul, in his letters, frequently addresses the issue of false teachings. In 1 Corinthians 15:12-14 (BSB), Paul confronts those who deny the resurrection: "But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith."

Paul emphasizes that the resurrection is not merely a peripheral doctrine but central to the Christian message. Without it, the entire faith collapses, rendering preaching and belief futile.

Historical Context of False Teachings

In the early church, various heretical movements sought to explain away the resurrection. The Gnostics, for example, denied the physical resurrection of Jesus, promoting a spiritualized interpretation that contradicted apostolic teaching. They claimed that the material world was inherently evil, and thus, a physical resurrection was implausible.

Similarly, the Sadducees, a Jewish sect during Jesus' time, denied the resurrection altogether. In Matthew 22:23-33 (BSB), Jesus addresses their skepticism, affirming the reality of the resurrection by referencing God's declaration, "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (v. 32), indicating that God is the God of the living, not the dead.

Modern Denials and Rationalizations

In contemporary times, some theologians and scholars continue to challenge the resurrection, often attempting to rationalize it through naturalistic explanations. These include theories that Jesus did not truly die on the cross, but merely swooned, or that the disciples experienced hallucinations rather than witnessing a risen Christ.

Such explanations are at odds with the biblical narrative and the testimony of the early church. The Gospels and epistles provide consistent accounts of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, witnessed by numerous individuals. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (BSB), Paul recounts the appearances of the risen Christ to Cephas, the twelve, over five hundred brethren, James, all the apostles, and finally to Paul himself, underscoring the widespread and varied witness to the resurrection.

Theological Implications of Denying the Resurrection

Denying the resurrection has profound theological implications. It undermines the doctrine of salvation, as Paul asserts in Romans 4:25 (BSB), "He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification." The resurrection is integral to the believer's justification and the assurance of eternal life.

Moreover, the resurrection is a testament to Christ's divinity and the fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus' own predictions of His death and resurrection, as recorded in passages like Matthew 16:21 (BSB), affirm His authority and the divine plan of redemption.

Conclusion

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a non-negotiable tenet of the Christian faith, attested by Scripture and the early church. False teachers who seek to explain it away do so at the peril of distorting the gospel message and leading believers astray. The resurrection remains a powerful testament to God's redemptive work and the hope of eternal life for all who believe.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
2 Timothy 2:18
Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Preface.
... over even the Incarnation, the Resurrection, and Ascension ... may be glossed
over,"explained away,"ignored,"set ... authority, and to explain away its statements ...
//christianbookshelf.org/burgon/inspiration and interpretation/preface.htm

Easter Wednesday Also Suited to Easter Tuesday.
... of the apostles' time understood and explained the words ... toward that end, striving
ever to turn away from all ... died, he is not risen; the resurrection of Christ ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/easter wednesday also suited to.htm

Paul Before his Conversion.
... Philo idealized and explained away the Old Testament by allegorical ... at the time of
the crucifixion and resurrection. ... like his teachers, as a false Messiah, a ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 30 paul before his.htm

Our First Proposition Was, that There is Satisfactory Evidence ...
... When our Lord's resurrection was first reported to the ... In assigning false perceptions
as the origin to which ... can by no possibility be explained away in this ...
/.../paley/evidences of christianity/chapter i our first proposition.htm

The Old and New Testaments have Many Things in Common -- Far More ...
... as earth, the "sacrifices" will be taken away, and in ... the "great signs and wonders"
is explained, at least ... reach their climax in his own resurrection from the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/the old and new testaments.htm

The Case of all the Protestant or Reformed Churches, With
... to it, and which cannot be made or explained except by ... with which it is worshipped;
or by taking away or by ... to the faith of Christ, and the resurrection to be ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 22 the case of.htm

The Epistles of Paul.
... and be united with him in his death and resurrection. ... But it may be explained partly
from the peculiar theme ... are general, for he is summoning him away from his ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxx the epistles of.htm

Of the Five Sacraments, Falsely So Called. Their Spuriousness ...
... THEIR SPURIOUSNESS PROVED, AND THEIR TRUE CHARACTER EXPLAINED. ... that we may also be
partners of his resurrection? ... of the devil, which draws us away from the ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 19 of the five.htm

The Third Day in Passion-Week - the Last Controversies and ...
... but no ingenuity can explain away the facts as ... the inner germ of the glorious
Resurrection-body ... The Jewish view of these commands has been previously explained. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iv the third day.htm

The Second Epistle of St. Peter
... council of Jerusalem that Symeon has explained how it ... the second Advent rather than
the resurrection; 17 there ... individual, but it was when carried away by the ...
/.../moffat/the general epistles james peter and judas/the second epistle of st.htm

Resources
Why is the truth of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ so important? | GotQuestions.org

Why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ important? | GotQuestions.org

When will the Resurrection take place? | GotQuestions.org

Resurrection: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Resurrection

Resurrection of Christ

Resurrection of Regeneration

Resurrection of the Dead

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Resurrection: Symbolical

Resurrection: Typified: Isaac

Resurrection: Typified: Jonah

Select Readings: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

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The Resurrection is not Incredible

The Resurrection of Christ is an Emblem of the New Birth

The Resurrection of Christ was Attested by Angels

The Resurrection of Christ was Attested by Apostles

The Resurrection of Christ was Attested by His Enemies

The Resurrection of Christ was Necessary to Forgiveness of Sins

The Resurrection of Christ was Necessary to Hope

The Resurrection of Christ was Necessary to Justification

The Resurrection of Christ was Necessary to The Efficacy of Faith

The Resurrection of Christ was Necessary to The Efficacy of Preaching

The Resurrection of Christ was Necessary to The Fulfilment of Scripture

The Resurrection of Christ: A Proof of his Being the Son of God

The Resurrection of Christ: An Assurance of the Judgment

The Resurrection of Christ: Asserted and Preached by the Apostles

The Resurrection of Christ: Effected by His own Power

The Resurrection of Christ: Effected by The Power of God

The Resurrection of Christ: Effected by The Power of the Holy Spirit

The Resurrection of Christ: Followed by his Exaltation

The Resurrection of Christ: Foretold by Himself

The Resurrection of Christ: Foretold by the Prophets

The Resurrection of Christ: Fraud Impossible In

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to About Five Hundred Brethren

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to all the Apostles

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to Apostles at the Sea of Tiberias

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to Apostles in Galilee

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to Apostles, Except Thomas

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to Apostles, Thomas Being Present

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to James

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to Mary Magdalene

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to Paul

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to Simon Peter

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to The Women

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to Two Disciples

The Resurrection of Christ: He Gave Many Infallible Proofs of

The Resurrection of Christ: On the First Day of the Week

The Resurrection of Christ: On the Third Day After his Death

The Resurrection of Christ: Saints: Begotten to a Lively Hope

The Resurrection of Christ: Saints: Desire to Know the Power of

The Resurrection of Christ: Saints: Shall Rise in the Likeness of

The Resurrection of Christ: Saints: should Keep, in Remembrance

The Resurrection of Christ: The Apostles: At First did not Understand the Predictions Respecting

The Resurrection of Christ: The Apostles: Reproved for Their Unbelief of

The Resurrection of Christ: The Apostles: Very Slow to Believe

The Resurrection of Christ: The First-Fruits of Our Resurrection

The Resurrection of Christ: The Truth of the Gospel Involved In

The Resurrection of Christ: Typified: Isaac

The Resurrection of Christ: Typified: Jonah

The Resurrection of Saints Shall be Followed by the Change of Those Then Alive

The Resurrection of the Wicked, Shall be to Damnation

The Resurrection of the Wicked, Shall be to Shame and Everlasting Contempt

The Resurrection: A Doctrine of the Old Testament

The Resurrection: A First Principle of the Gospel

The Resurrection: Assumed and Proved by Our Lord

The Resurrection: Blessedness of Those Who Have Part in the First

The Resurrection: Called in Question by some in the Church

The Resurrection: Certainty of, Proved by the Resurrection of Christ

The Resurrection: Credibility of, Shown by the Resurrection of Individuals

The Resurrection: Denied by the Sadducees

The Resurrection: Effected by the Power of Christ

The Resurrection: Effected by the Power of God

The Resurrection: Effected by the Power of The Holy Spirit

The Resurrection: Expected by the Jews

The Resurrection: Explained Away by False Teachers

The Resurrection: Illustrated

The Resurrection: Illustrative of the New Birth

The Resurrection: Preached by the Apostles

The Resurrection: Saints In, Shall: Be As the Angels

The Resurrection: Saints In, Shall: Be Glorified With Christ

The Resurrection: Saints In, Shall: Be Recompensed

The Resurrection: Saints In, Shall: Have Bodies Like Christ's

The Resurrection: Saints In, Shall: Have Glorious Bodies

The Resurrection: Saints In, Shall: Have Incorruptible Bodies

The Resurrection: Saints In, Shall: Have Powerful Bodies

The Resurrection: Saints In, Shall: Have Spiritual Bodies

The Resurrection: Saints In, Shall: Rise First

The Resurrection: Saints In, Shall: Rise Through Christ

The Resurrection: Saints In, Shall: Rise to Eternal Life

The Resurrection: Saints should Look Forward To

The Resurrection: Shall be of all the Dead

The Resurrection: The Preaching of, Caused: Mocking

The Resurrection: The Preaching of, Caused: Persecution

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The Resurrection: Expected by the Jews
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