The Recent Evangelical Debate On The Bodily Resurrection Of Jesus: A Review Article -- By: Gary R. Habermas

Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 33:3 (Sep 1990)
Article: The Recent Evangelical Debate On The Bodily Resurrection Of Jesus: A Review Article
Author: Gary R. Habermas


The Recent Evangelical Debate On The Bodily Resurrection Of Jesus: A Review Article

Gary R. Habermas*

A controversy has arisen in certain circles of evangelicalism over the issue of the nature of Jesus’ resurrection body. It has chiefly centered around differences between Norman L. Geisler and Murray J. Harris. Occasioned partially by Harris’ volume Raised Immortal (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985) and discussions within the context of the Evangelical Free Church, the controversy has continued to the present.

The purpose of this review essay is threefold. After a brief survey of Geisler’s volume The Battle for the Resurrection (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1989), I will attempt to address what appear to be some of the central issues of the controversy prior to Harris’ publication of From Grave to Glory (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1990). It should be noted that because this latter volume was not made available to me I will only be able to address developments that appeared in print prior to that time. Lastly, I will attempt to draw a conclusion that I think is relevant to the wider field of contemporary resurrection research.

After a terse foreword by Robert Culver, Geisler’s volume includes a brief introduction, followed by two chapters that describe some of the key issues to be discussed as well as their importance. Chapters 3–4 treat, respectively, numerous citings from the NT and Church history that teach a physical resurrection body. Geisler then addresses challenges to this teaching in the form of naturalistic and cultic objections (chap. 5) as well as recent theologians who express doubts concerning whether Jesus was raised in the same physical body in which he died (chap. 6).

Chapters 7–8 chiefly view the gospels and Paul in an effort to build a further case for the volume’s central thesis. Chapter 9 contains suggestions on insuring doctrinal orthodoxy for Christian organizations, while chap. 10 returns to the subject of the overall importance of this topic. The volume closes with seven brief appendices on a number of related topics.

While a review essay might concentrate on any of these facets, I will attempt in the remainder of this article to address my comments largely to the debate between Geisler and Harris. It is my sincere hope that such will provide more light than heat.

*Gary Habermas is professor of apologetics and philosophy at Liberty Baptist College and Seminary in Lynchburg, Virginia.

While much has perhaps transpired within the Evangelical Free Church, a surprisingly small amount of Geisler’s book is specifically devoted to Harris’ work. In fact only...

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