Only The Saints Were Raised...

Brother Bob · Sep 6, 2007

BB and TC,

Here is the comment from Jamison, Fausset, Brown...

52. And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose—These sleeping saints (see JFB on "1Th 4:14") were Old Testament believers, who—according to the usual punctuation in our version—were quickened into resurrection life at the moment of their Lord’s death, but lay in their graves till His resurrection, when they came forth. But it is far more natural, as we think, and consonant with other Scriptures, to understand that only the graves were opened, probably by the earthquake, at our Lord’s death, and this only in preparation for the subsequent exit of those who slept in them, when the Spirit of life should enter into them from their risen Lord, and along with Him they should come forth, trophies of His victory over the grave. Thus, in the opening of the graves at the moment of the Redeemer’s expiring, there was a glorious symbolical proclamation that the death which had just taken place had "swallowed up death in victory"; and whereas the saints that slept in them were awakened only by their risen Lord, to accompany Him out of the tomb, it was fitting that "the Prince of Life...should be the First that should rise from the dead" (#Ac 26:23 1Co 15:20,23 Col 1:18 Re 1:5).
and went into the holy city—that city where He, in virtue of whose resurrection they were now alive, had been condemned.
and appeared unto many—that there might be undeniable evidence of their own resurrection first, and through it of their Lord’s. Thus, while it was not deemed fitting that He Himself should appear again in Jerusalem, save to the disciples, provision was made that the fact of His resurrection should be left in no doubt. It must be observed, however, that the resurrection of these sleeping saints was not like those of the widow of Nain’s son, of Jairus’ daughter, of Lazarus, and of the man who "revived and stood upon his feet," on his dead body touching the bones of Elisha (#2Ki 13:21)—which were mere temporary recallings of the departed spirit to the mortal body, to be followed by a final departure of it "till the trumpet shall sound." But this was a resurrection once for all, to life everlasting; and so there is no room to doubt that they went to glory with their Lord, as bright trophies of His victory over death.

Just cannot reconcile them being brought to life before the Lord Jesus with Paul's declaration that Jesus is the Firstfruits from the dead. Gotta make it fit with all the rest of Scripture. Since the other synoptics are no help and neither is John, I have to lean toward the versions that translate this way:

MY PARAPHRASE: "When He died, the tombs broke open. Many of the bodies of the saints which slept, arose and came out of the graves after His resurrection."

This is all that fits. And of course there was no punctuation in the originals and no disinction between upper and lower case so as to mark off end and beginning of sentences...
Click to expand...

Bless the Lord, after all these years of study, to read such sweet words from others that is what I have preached for years is so heart warming, I can hardly contain myself. May God Bless you Bro njprince and I will certainly copy this and save with my files that are close to me.

BBob,

Brother Bob · Sep 6, 2007

Our Association starts tomorrow and will last 3 days, so I will be busy but probably will still have a chance to look at the board at night.
God Bless to all and good nite.

BBob

TCGreek · Sep 6, 2007

rjprince said:

BB and TC,

Here is the comment from Jamison, Fausset, Brown...

52. And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose—These sleeping saints (see JFB on "1Th 4:14") were Old Testament believers, who—according to the usual punctuation in our version—were quickened into resurrection life at the moment of their Lord’s death, but lay in their graves till His resurrection, when they came forth. But it is far more natural, as we think, and consonant with other Scriptures, to understand that only the graves were opened, probably by the earthquake, at our Lord’s death, and this only in preparation for the subsequent exit of those who slept in them, when the Spirit of life should enter into them from their risen Lord, and along with Him they should come forth, trophies of His victory over the grave. Thus, in the opening of the graves at the moment of the Redeemer’s expiring, there was a glorious symbolical proclamation that the death which had just taken place had "swallowed up death in victory"; and whereas the saints that slept in them were awakened only by their risen Lord, to accompany Him out of the tomb, it was fitting that "the Prince of Life...should be the First that should rise from the dead" (#Ac 26:23 1Co 15:20,23 Col 1:18 Re 1:5).
and went into the holy city—that city where He, in virtue of whose resurrection they were now alive, had been condemned.
and appeared unto many—that there might be undeniable evidence of their own resurrection first, and through it of their Lord’s. Thus, while it was not deemed fitting that He Himself should appear again in Jerusalem, save to the disciples, provision was made that the fact of His resurrection should be left in no doubt. It must be observed, however, that the resurrection of these sleeping saints was not like those of the widow of Nain’s son, of Jairus’ daughter, of Lazarus, and of the man who "revived and stood upon his feet," on his dead body touching the bones of Elisha (#2Ki 13:21)—which were mere temporary recallings of the departed spirit to the mortal body, to be followed by a final departure of it "till the trumpet shall sound." But this was a resurrection once for all, to life everlasting; and so there is no room to doubt that they went to glory with their Lord, as bright trophies of His victory over death.

Just cannot reconcile them being brought to life before the Lord Jesus with Paul's declaration that Jesus is the Firstfruits from the dead. Gotta make it fit with all the rest of Scripture. Since the other synoptics are no help and neither is John, I have to lean toward this understanding of the passage:

MY PARAPHRASE: "When He died, the tombs broke open. Many of the bodies of the saints which slept, arose and came out of the graves after His resurrection."
Click to expand...

1. Thanks for the quote.

This is all that fits. And of course there was no punctuation in the originals and no disinction between upper and lower case so as to mark off end and beginning of sentences...
Click to expand...

2. You're right on with the original Greek, but here is the issue: each subsequent event is conveyed by the use of kai, "and."

And behold the veil...

And the earth shook...

And the tombs were opened...

And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised

And coming out of the tombs after His resurrection.

3. It seems to be one event after another.

Brother Bob · Sep 6, 2007

And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised

And coming out of the tombs after His resurrection.
Click to expand...

These two conflict with each other, unless the writer was writing of a "one" event from His death to His resurrection.

I like what rjprince posted of the other writers, it is what that scripture says to me.

TCGreek · Sep 6, 2007

1. After consulting some very trusted sources in my library, I'm still torn, but for now I remain tentative about these verses.

2. I'll have to meditate on them some more in light of other texts. Even the old Puritan Matthew Henry agrees with you guys.

rjprince · Sep 6, 2007

TC,

on the kai,

It seems kinda difficult to be to dogmatic about a primary copula that is used 9,251 times in the GNT...

nite, nite

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