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Post by Josh on Feb 6, 2007 16:53:48 GMT -8
10/05:
Several things here. Perhaps it's needless to say this is one of my FAVORITE passages in Scripture. Here we have a very early Creed of the Church:
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
1 Corinthians was written after only about 20-25 years after the resurrection of Christ, but this paragraph contains a Creed most likely in common usage among Christians for some time. All the essentials of the Resurrection story are intact, at least 10 years before most of the gospels were written.
Note also how Paul stakes everything (his entire faith and life) on the actual reality of Christ's resurrection. If He has not risen, our faith is in vain, we are to be pitied of all men. For Paul to believe that, and then die for his faith, is powerful apologetic.
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Post by Josh on Feb 7, 2007 19:21:13 GMT -8
10/05:
Also, it's important to note that we all look forward to a physical resurrection, according to the traditional Jewish understanding, not some bodiless existence. Although we will have physical bodies that have continuity with our current bodies, they will be as superior to our current ones as a tree is to a seed. That's something to look forward to-- and if Christ's resurrection body could walk through walls and eat and appear at will, that's saying a lot right there. Of course, perhaps the most blessed aspect of our future bodies will be what Paul says in chapter 13: Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. We will known others and others will know us completely-- no more masks, we will wear our real faces (to steal a phrase from Lewis).
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