Resurrection Vs. Resuscitation

Q

Do you make a distinction between someone who is merely brought back to life (and will die later) versus someone raised incorruptibly as in Jesus’ case and those who “put on immortality” as Paul said? Or were the others raised; in the Old Testament, during the apostles’ ministries, and when Christ rose, all of an immortal nature? And what would indicate that?

A

Those who are resurrected will never die again, because they have eternal bodies. Those who are brought back to life and die again are merely resuscitated. There are 8 accounts in the Bible of people who were resuscitated. They are the widow of Zarapeth’s son, raised by Elijah in 1 Kings 17:7-24, Jairus’s daughter in Matthew 9:18-26, the widow of Nain’s son in Luke 7:11-17, Lazarus in John 11:38-44, all by Jesus, Tabitha in Acts 9:40 by Peter, and Eutychus by Paul in Acts 20:7-12. In addition, although the Bible doesn’t specifically confirm this, I believe both Jonah and and Paul were brought back from death by God. Each one was meant as a demonstration of the Lord’s power, and all of them subsequently died again.

To date, only Jesus and the people who came out of their graves after His resurrection (Matt. 27:50-53) have been given eternal bodies.