Did Jesus only appear to believers? PROBLEM: Some critics have attempted to cast doubt on the validity of Christ’s resurrection by insisting that He appeared only to believers, but never to unbelievers. Is this so? SOLUTION: It is incorrect to claim that Jesus did not appear to unbelievers. This i... [ Continue Reading ]
Was Paul’s boasting contrary to Scripture? PROBLEM: Paul boasted here when he declared, “I labored more abundantly than they all.” In 2 Corinthians 11:16, Paul even admitted that he was bragging, claiming that none of the other apostles had anything on him (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:11). But Paul himsel... [ Continue Reading ]
Was Jesus the first one ever to be resurrected from the dead? PROBLEM: The Bible seems to claim here that Christ was the first one ever to rise from the dead, calling Him “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” However, there are many other resurrections recorded in the Bible before Jesu... [ Continue Reading ]
Doesn’t advocating baptism for the dead contradict Paul’s teaching that each person must believe individually? PROBLEM: Paul said, “what will they do who are baptized for the dead?” This seems to imply that if a person gets baptized on the account of a dead person, then the deceased will be saved.... [ Continue Reading ]
By quoting a pagan poet as part of Scripture, doesn’t Paul thereby pronounce this pagan writing a part of Scripture? (See comments on Titus 1:12)... [ Continue Reading ]
Is Paul teaching that the resurrection body is a different one from the one that is sown—a kind of reincarnation? PROBLEM: According to this verse, we “do not sow that body that shall be.” Some take this to mean the resurrection body is a different one, a “spiritual” (v. 44) body that is not essent... [ Continue Reading ]
Is the resurrection body material or immaterial? PROBLEM: Paul declares that the resurrection body is a “spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:44), but a spiritual body is an immaterial body. However, elsewhere the Bible says Jesus’ resurrection body was made of “flesh and bones” (Luke 24:39). SOLUTION... [ Continue Reading ]
Was Christ a life-giving spirit after His resurrection, or did He have a physical body? PROBLEM: Paul asserts here that Christ was made a “life-giving spirit” after His resurrection. Some have also used this passage to prove that Jesus had no physical resurrection body. SOLUTION: This does not fol... [ Continue Reading ]
If flesh and blood cannot enter heaven, then how can there be a physical resurrection? PROBLEM: The Bible speaks of the resurrection of the physical body from the grave (John 5:28-29), which is composed of “flesh and bones” (Luke 24:39) and which leaves an empty tomb behind (Matthew 28:6). However,... [ Continue Reading ]