Isn’t the bodily resurrection of Jesus scientifically impossible?

The Resurrection Conundrum: Science and the Supernatural in Christian Belief

> The concept of bodily resurrection sits at the heart of Christian doctrine, encapsulating the belief in life after death and the ultimate triumph over the grave. Yet, in a world governed by scientific understanding, the idea of a dead body returning to life appears to defy the very laws of biology and physics.

This article delves into how evangelicals reconcile the belief in resurrection with the scientific view of the world.

The Divine Act of Resurrection

For evangelicals, the resurrection is not an event that can be evaluated by scientific methods or understood within the natural order as we know it. It is, instead, a divine act that is intrinsically beyond the scope of empirical science. Evangelicals hold that God, the creator of the laws of nature, is not bound by these laws and can therefore intervene in miraculous ways. The resurrection is seen as the paramount example of such an intervention—a unique event in history that heralds a new creation and a future hope for believers.

Scriptural Insights into the Resurrection

The apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians provides one of the most comprehensive biblical treatments of the resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, Paul describes the resurrection body using the metaphor of a seed transforming into a plant: “So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, 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.” For evangelicals, this passage underscores the belief that the resurrection body is not simply a reanimated corpse but a transformed and glorified new creation, something that transcends our current understanding of physical existence.

N.T. Wright on the Centrality of the Resurrection

Theologian N.T. Wright emphasizes the centrality of the resurrection in Christian proclamation and theology. His assertion that “to preach Christianity meant (to the Apostles) primarily to preach the Resurrection” highlights the foundational role that this belief plays in the faith. For the early Christians, the resurrection was not an abstract concept but a historical event that had implications for the entire world. It validated Jesus’ divinity and mission and promised a future transformation for all of creation.

“The Resurrection of the Son of God” by N.T. Wright

Those seeking a thorough scholarly examination of the resurrection from a historical and theological perspective can turn to N.T. Wright’s “The Resurrection of the Son of God.” In this work, Wright engages with historical, philosophical, and theological arguments to defend the plausibility of the resurrection. He navigates through the maze of historical criticism and theological interpretation to argue for the historical validity of the resurrection accounts and their significance for Christian belief.

Conclusion

The evangelical belief in the bodily resurrection as a divine act transcends the purview of science, which by its nature is limited to studying repeatable phenomena within the natural world. While the resurrection may seem scientifically impossible, within the context of faith, it represents the power of God to inaugurate a new creation. By grounding their understanding in scriptural accounts, engaging with the insights of theologians like N.T. Wright, and recognizing the limitations of scientific inquiry when it comes to supernatural events, evangelicals maintain a coherent and hopeful belief in the resurrection. This belief is not a dismissal of science but an affirmation of a reality that lies beyond its scope—a reality where divine action transforms the impossible into a living hope.

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