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A reference to defending the Bible's account of origins

Was Jesus the first to rise from the dead?

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"Was Jesus the first to rise from the dead?" (Alleged Contradiction #E9398)
That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

Acts 26:23

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

I Corinthians 15:20

However, we read of others who rose from the dead before Jesus: I Samuel 28:11, 14; I Kings 17:22; II Kings 4:32-35; II Kings 13:21; Matthew 9:23-25; 27:52-53; Luke 7:12-15; 9:30; and John 11:43.

Response

The word “first” in Acts 26:23 doesn’t necessarily mean first in time; it can also mean first in position. For instance, we say statements such as, “He earned first place in the contest,” “We are first in quality”. Likewise, Christ is “first” in the resurrection. This is because Christ is the only One Who has power over his own life:

No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

John 10:18

Furthermore, the saints who rose from the dead before Christ did not rise in the same way. Christ had a glorified body when He rose from the dead–a body which would never die again. The other saints did not have this experience, because they died again. They rose from the dead with their corruptible body still, whereas Christ rose with an incorruptible body. Christ was the first in this regard; Christians throughout all ages will rise in this manner in the future:

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: it is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

I Corinthians 15:42-44


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