The resurrection of believers is based on that of Christ: τὸν κÏÏιον ἤγειÏεν καὶ ἡμᾶς á¼Î¾ÎµÎ³ÎµÏεῖ διὰ τῆς δυνάμεως αá½Ï„οῦ (1 Cor. 6:14). The power which leads to resurrection is also the power of Christ. The changing of the body of humiliation into a body of glory is a hope grounded in the omnipotence of Christ: κατὰ τὴν á¼Î½ÎÏγειαν τοῦ δÏνασθαι αá½Ï„ὸν καὶ ὑποτάξαι αá½Ï„á¿· Ï„á½° πάντα (Phil. 3:21). The resurrection belongs to the final struggle when hostile forces will be definitively defeated. The Johannine Christ says: κἀγὼ δίδωμι αá½Ï„οῖς ζωὴν αἰώνιον, καὶ οὠμὴ ἀπόλωνται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, καὶ οá½Ï‡ á¼Ïπάσει τις αá½Ï„á½° á¼Îº τῆς χειÏός μου. á½ Ï€Î±Ï„Î®Ï Î¼Î¿Ï… ὃ δÎδωκÎν μοι πάντων μεῖζόν á¼ÏƒÏ„ιν, καὶ οá½Î´Îµá½¶Ï‚ δÏναται á¼Ïπάζειν á¼Îº τῆς χειÏὸς τοῦ πατÏός (Jn. 10:28 f.).107 Paul confesses that he has given up all things τοῦ γνῶναι αá½Ï„ὸν καὶ τὴν δÏναμιν τῆς ἀναστάσεως αá½Ï„οῦ (Phil. 3:10), which creates a new and eternal existence. There can be no eternity for human life except on the basis of the resurrection. Paul and the NT never speak of an immortal soul, or of deification by mysteries or magic, or of myths which reflect the hope of eternal life. They speak rather of the sovereign act of power which intervened in the history of Christ and which brought about His resurrection as the only basis of the new existence of Christians and of the eternal hope grounded in this existence in the power of the resurrection of Jesus.
If this view of the NT concept of power is correct, we can understand why Paul writes to the Corinthians: … γνώσομαι οὠτὸν λόγον τῶν πεφυσιωμÎνων ἀλλὰ τὴν δÏναμιν· Î¿á½ Î³á½°Ï á¼Î½ λόγῳ ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ, ἀλλʼ á¼Î½ δυνάμει (1 Cor. 4:19 f.).108
Theological dictionary of the New Testament. 1964- (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.) (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
On this day...
- Lord Jesus Christ - 2012
- One instance of the Holy Trinity - 2012
- Christ is greater than the one who proclaims Him - 2012
- God, the Infinitely Greatest Being - 2012
- Inductive Reasoning - 2012
- Inductive reasoning - 2012
- Deduction and Induction - 2012
- The Gospel of Christ is threatened when supplemented and burdened by additional requirements - 2012
- The principle of lying is the same - 2012
- Salvation is an event - 2012
January 29, 2012