Who Brought Jesus Back from the Dead?

[John Bauer]

Jesus was a mortal human and he died. God, his Father SAVED him from death.

God raised Jesus ... [snip rest]

Who Brought Jesus Back from the Dead?​

The Bible has much to say about the mode of Jesus resurrection. It testifies that the three members of the Trinity were involved in Jesus resurrection.

God the Father raised Jesus​

The Bible says that God the Father brought Jesus back from the dead:

"This Jesus God raised up, and we are all witnesses of it. So then, exalted to the right hand of God and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you both see and hear" (Acts 2:32-33).
​

Paul wrote:

"Therefore, we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life" (Rom 6:4).
​

Paul wrote to the Galatians:

"From Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor by human agency, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead) ..." (Gal 1:1).
​

By raising Jesus from the dead, God the Father reversed the death sentence that was pronounced on him and exalted him to the Lord of glory.

Jesus brought himself back from the dead​

Jesus also arose by his own power:

"So then the Jewish leaders responded, ‘What sign can you show us, since you are doing these things?’ Jesus replied, ‘Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up again’" (John 2:18-19).
​

Speaking of his life, Jesus declared:

"No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will. I have the authority to lay it down and I have the authority to take it back again. This commandment I received from my Father" (John 10:18).
​

The Holy Spirit raised Jesus​

The third person of the Trinity was also involved in the resurrection:

"Moreover, if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his Spirit who lives in you" (Rom 8:11).
​

Peter wrote:

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit" (1 Pet 3:18).
​

God Raised Jesus​

We also have statements that God raised Jesus. Peter said:

"But God raised him up, having released him from the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held in its power" (Acts 2:24).
​

Peter said to Cornelius:

"... but God raised him up on the third day and caused him to be seen, ..." (Acts 10:40).
​

Paul wrote:

"But God raised him from the dead, ..." (Acts 13:30).
​

In these contexts, God could refer to the Father or to the entire Trinity.

Summary​

All three members of the Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—were involved in the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection is individually ascribed to each one of them.

---

Original article located at: Don Stewart, "Who Brought Jesus Back from the Dead?" Blue Letter Bible (n.d.).

 

[TrevorL]

Greetings Dialectic Skeptic,

The Bible has much to say about the mode of Jesus resurrection.

Yes.

It testifies that the three members of the Trinity were involved in Jesus resurrection.

It testifies that God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit were involved, but there is no such thing as a Trinity.

Kind regards
Trevor

 

[prism]

Jesus brought Jesus back from the dead.

John 5:21 NIV
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.

John 14:6 NIV
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 10:18 NIV
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

 

[CherubRam]

Psalm 16:10
because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.

Acts 13:34
God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said, “‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’

 

[Mr GLee]

Who Brought Jesus Back from the Dead?​

The Bible has much to say about the mode of Jesus resurrection. It testifies that the three members of the Trinity were involved in Jesus resurrection.

God the Father raised Jesus​

The Bible says that God the Father brought Jesus back from the dead:

"This Jesus God raised up, and we are all witnesses of it. So then, exalted to the right hand of God and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you both see and hear" (Acts 2:32-33).

Hi, I would offer define the word dead and where does it come from?

Death according to what?

It would seem one of the many words that seem to cause division, isolation. weeping misunderstandings

John 11:35 Jesus wept.

Jesus was wounded for our transgression it pleased the father to bruise the heel of the Son of man Jesus and crush the head of the serpent.

Living sacrifice poured it out on dying flesh .

 

[Eleanor]

Greetings Dialectic Skeptic,
Yes.
It testifies that God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit were involved, but there is no such thing as a Trinity.
Kind regards
Trevor

The Father is God,
The Son is God (Jn 1:1, 14, 18),
The Holy Spirit is God.

Call it what you want, there are three persons in the one God.

 

[prism]

but there is no such thing as a Trinity.

What would you call it then?

 

[John Bauer]

Greetings Dialectic Skeptic,

Hi there.

[The Bible] testifies that God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit were involved, ...

I appreciate this statement for being a closer approximation of the truth. However, to say that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were merely "involved" is transparently imprecise—"involved" is a vague term that sidesteps the weight of the argument and the scriptural evidence. The assertion that "God the Father saved Jesus from death" is incomplete if one does not also recognize that Jesus possessed sovereign authority over his own life and death, including the power to raise himself.

... there is no such thing as a Trinity.

That assertion is wholly unsubstantiated at this stage.

 

[TrevorL]

Greetings Eleanor, prism and Greetings again Dialectic Skeptic,

The Father is God, The Son is God (Jn 1:1, 14, 18), The Holy Spirit is God.
Call it what you want, there are three persons in the one God.

What would you call it then?

That assertion is wholly unsubstantiated at this stage.

My objection to your earlier post, was that as soon as a Trinitarian sees God the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit they immediately equate this with the Trinity.

I was brought up at home and at Sunday School to believe that there is One God, the Father and that our Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit is God's Power. At the age of 19, one of our Youth Leaders expounded the subject that we call "God Manifestation" and this included some aspects of the meaning of the Yahweh Name. That was over 60 years ago, and since then my understanding of this theme and Name has expanded and consolidated. In all this time I have never accepted the Trinity or seen any reason to adopt this. During this period of time I have gradually come to understand some of what I could label the difficult passages that are mainly used by Trinitarians, for example John 8:24,28,56-58 and John 10:30-36 and consider that I properly understand that these teach that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Now I am not trying to turn this thread into a debate between Biblical Unitarianism and Trinitarianism, but I am willing to state my position and also object to the Trinity concept.

I appreciate this statement for being a closer approximation of the truth. However, to say that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were merely "involved" is transparently imprecise—"involved" is a vague term that sidesteps the weight of the argument and the scriptural evidence. The assertion that "God the Father saved Jesus from death" is incomplete if one does not also recognize that Jesus possessed sovereign authority over his own life and death, including the power to raise himself.

Let us deal firstly with the Holy Spirit. I consider the statement that God the Father raised Jesus from the dead as equivalent to saying the Holy Spirit raised Jesus. God used His Power to bring Jesus back to life and make him functional again. When Jesus raised Lazarus after four days it was through the power of the Holy Spirit.

I have difficulty with the latter part of your statement, that Jesus "possessed .. the power to raise himself". I have a number of possible explanations, but I believe that Jesus was a human and during the three days he was a dead human with no consciousness. Concerning these possible explanations, I would need to convince myself which one is correct before I try to persuade others.

Kind regards
Trevor

 

[Eleanor]

Greetings Eleanor, prism and Greetings again Dialectic Skeptic,
My objection to your earlier post, was that as soon as a Trinitarian sees God the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit they immediately equate this with the Trinity.
I was brought up at home and at Sunday School to believe that there is One God, the Father and that our Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and
the Holy Spirit is God's Power.

Nevertheless, the NT presents Father, Son and Holy Spirit (neuter gender) as persons:
1) with personal pronouns (he, him - masculine gender),
2) personal titles (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), and
3) personal functions (intelligence, will, affections),
4) personal actions (speaking, deciding, forbidding, testifying, searching into secrets, showing the future, sending out missionaries, interceding, enabling, leading, generating Christ's body and soul, Mt 1:18).

The Spirit is personified throughout the NT because the Holy Spirit is a person, as are the Father and Son--three persons in one God (Mt 28:19).

At the age of 19, one of our Youth Leaders expounded the subject that we call "God Manifestation" and this included some aspects of the meaning of the Yahweh Name. That was over 60 years ago, and since then my understanding of this theme and Name has expanded and consolidated. In all this time I have never accepted the Trinity or seen any reason to adopt this. During this period of time I have gradually come to understand some of what I could label the difficult passages that are mainly used by Trinitarians, for example John 8:24,28,56-58 and John 10:30-36 and consider that I properly understand that these teach that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Now I am not trying to turn this thread into a debate between Biblical Unitarianism and Trinitarianism, but I am willing to state my position and also object to the Trinity concept.

 

[prism]

I was brought up at home and at Sunday School to believe that there is One God, the Father and that our Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit is God's Power. At the age of 19, one of our Youth Leaders expounded the subject that we call "God Manifestation" and this included some aspects of the meaning of the Yahweh Name. That was over 60 years ago, and since then my understanding of this theme and Name has expanded and consolidated. In all this time I have never accepted the Trinity or seen any reason to adopt this. During this period of time I have gradually come to understand some of what I could label the difficult passages that are mainly used by Trinitarians, for example John 8:24,28,56-58 and John 10:30-36 and consider that I properly understand that these teach that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Now I am not trying to turn this thread into a debate between Biblical Unitarianism and Trinitarianism, but I am willing to state my position and also object to the Trinity concept

You still didn't answer my question, 'what would you call them'? (The Father, Son and Holy Spirit).

 

[TrevorL]

Greetings again Eleanor and prism,

The Spirit is personified throughout the NT because the Holy Spirit is a person, as are the Father and Son--three persons in one God (Mt 28:19)

I read this as saying that they have ONE NAME:
Matthew 28:18–20 (KJV): 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
I understand that the One God, Yahweh, God the Father has revealed this Name as Yahweh or something similar in Hebrew, and the narrative of the NT reveals that this Name is revealed in and through God's Son, the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Name of who God would be/become, "I will be". I find no convincing argument that the Holy Spirit is a Person. I believe that there is One God, the Father.

What would you call it then?

You still didn't answer my question, 'what would you call them'? (The Father, Son and Holy Spirit).

I am glad you have progressed as I considered your earlier question using "it" was inappropriate. I suggest we need to follow what the Bible reveals. We need to call and address God the Father as God the Father, even as Jesus teaches us to pray "Our Father". In my fellowship we often say "Yahweh" when reading the KJV "LORD", and I consider this appropriate, as there are two different words in the OT usually translated LORD and Lord Psalm 110:1. Here "LORD" is the One God. Yahweh, God the Father and "Lord" is our Lord Jesus Christ, David's Lord, the Son of God. We encounter the word "Jesus", for Jesus and we are also taught that Jesus is the "Christ" or Messiah, the Anointed One, the Son of God. He is also our "Lord", so we could use the expression "our Lord Jesus Christ". We encounter the phrase the Holy Spirit and this is appropriate, speaking of God's special power which He uses to accomplish His purpose, for example, in the conception of our Lord Jesus Christ in the womb of Mary Matthew 1:20-21, Luke 1:34-35, thus making Jesus the Son of God, His Father.

Kind regards
Trevor

 

[prism]

I am glad you have progressed as I considered your earlier question using "it" was inappropriate. I suggest we need to follow what the Bible reveals. We need to call and address God the Father as God the Father, even as Jesus teaches us to pray "Our Father". In my fellowship we often say "Yahweh" when reading the KJV "LORD", and I consider this appropriate, as there are two different words in the OT usually translated LORD and Lord Psalm 110:1. Here "LORD" is the One God. Yahweh, God the Father and "Lord" is our Lord Jesus Christ, David's Lord, the Son of God. We encounter the word "Jesus", for Jesus and we are also taught that Jesus is the "Christ" or Messiah, the Anointed One, the Son of God. He is also our "Lord", so we could use the expression "our Lord Jesus Christ". We encounter the phrase the Holy Spirit and this is appropriate, speaking of God's special power which He uses to accomplish His purpose, for example, in the conception of our Lord Jesus Christ in the womb of Mary Matthew 1:20-21, Luke 1:34-35, thus making Jesus the Son of God, His Father.

Instead of the word 'Trinity', what would you use?

 

[Eleanor]

Greetings again Eleanor and prism,

I read this as saying that they have ONE NAME:
Matthew 28:18–20 (KJV): 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

I understand that the One God, Yahweh, God the Father has revealed this Name as Yahweh or something similar in Hebrew, and the narrative of the NT reveals that this Name is revealed in and through God's Son, the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Name of who God would be/become, "I will be".
I find no convincing argument that the Holy Spirit is a Person. I believe that there is One God, the Father.

"He" and "him" are personal pronouns; i,e, pronouns denoting personhood.

The plain grammar of the NT disagrees with you.

I am glad you have progressed as I considered your earlier question using "it" was inappropriate. I suggest we need to follow what the Bible reveals. We need to call and address God the Father as God the Father, even as Jesus teaches us to pray "Our Father". In my fellowship we often say "Yahweh" when reading the KJV "LORD", and I consider this appropriate, as there are two different words in the OT usually translated LORD and Lord Psalm 110:1. Here "LORD" is the One God. Yahweh, God the Father and "Lord" is our Lord Jesus Christ, David's Lord, the Son of God. We encounter the word "Jesus", for Jesus and we are also taught that Jesus is the "Christ" or Messiah, the Anointed One, the Son of God. He is also our "Lord", so we could use the expression "our Lord Jesus Christ". We encounter the phrase the Holy Spirit and this is appropriate, speaking of God's special power which He uses to accomplish His purpose, for example, in the conception of our Lord Jesus Christ in the womb of Mary Matthew 1:20-21, Luke 1:34-35, thus making Jesus the Son of God, His Father.

Kind regards
Trevor

 

[TrevorL]

Greetings again Eleanor and prism,

"He" and "him" are personal pronouns; i,e, pronouns denoting personhood.
The plain grammar of the NT disagrees with you.

I consider that this is a personification based upon the unique characteristics of the Holy Spirit, and Jesus likens the Holy Spirit to a Comforter because of its great influence and effect upon the individual who had received the Holy Spirit. It was if Jesus Himself was with them personally.

Instead of the word 'Trinity', what would you use?

God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is an erroneous doctrine that claims that there are three Persons and yet One God, and somehow this is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, but not three Gods, only One. Why do you demand that I should use the word "Trinity", when this is such a collection of erroneous doctrine?

On the subject of the resurrection, I believe that Jesus' involvement goes as far as the fact that he kept himself Holy, in full fellowship with the Father, and without sin, and according to the love of God and God's righteousness, this necessitated his resurrection. But I believe that it was the One God, Yahweh, God the Father who raised Jesus from the dead:
Psalm 21:1–6 (KJV): 1 The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! 2 Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah. 3 For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head. 4 He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever. 5 His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him. 6 For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.

Kind regards
Trevor

 

[prism]

God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is an erroneous doctrine that claims that there are three Persons and yet One God, and somehow this is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, but not three Gods, only One. Why do you demand that I should use the word "Trinity", when this is such a collection of erroneous doctrine?

You do realize that terms like 'Trinity' is simply a shorthand employed usually after a doctrinal battle, in this case between Arius and Athanasius; otherwise every time we would mean to use the word 'Trinity', we would have to use an elongated sentence. Trinity is easier that's all. Are you familiar with the Athanasius creed? I never demanded you use the word, I only asked.

 

[TrevorL]

Greetings again prism,

You do realize that terms like 'Trinity' is simply a shorthand employed usually after a doctrinal battle, in this case between Arius and Athanasius

I was and still am not sure that the word "Trinity" was first stated or adopted after this conflict. I do not agree with Arius either. I believe that Jesus was a human, born of Mary and God the Father as the father of Jesus' humanity.

Trinity is easier that's all.

Yes, but it is not the Bible teaching.

Are you familiar with the Athanasius creed?

Yes, what an impossible statement. Are you a Catholic or CofE? Where do you draw the line?

I never demanded you use the word, I only asked.

You gave me the impression that when we encounter the words God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, that this is the Trinity. I was rejecting that claim. Such a designation is erroneous.

Kind regards
Trevor

 

[John Bauer]

My objection to your earlier post was that as soon as a trinitarian sees "God the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit," they immediately equate this with the trinity.

And that's precisely why I'm addressing this subject in The Trinity forum.

I was brought up at home and at Sunday School to believe that ... [snip rest]

Thank you sharing those autobiographical details. However, they are irrelevant to the discussion at hand.

The question is not, "What does Trevor believe and why does he believe it?"

The question is, "Who brought Jesus back from the dead?"

And the wrong answer is, "God the Father alone."

Let us deal firstly with the Holy Spirit. ... [snip rest]

No, sir, let us deal first with Jesus Christ. There is wiggle room with the Holy Spirit that doesn't exist with Jesus, so I understand your desire to exploit that. But I propose a different tack: Rather than trying to hedge your view by using weasel words and wiggle room, challenge it instead by tackling the most difficult problem first.

We agree that God raised Jesus, that the Father raised Jesus, and—provided you articulate it carefully enough—that the Holy Spirit raised Jesus. But there is one fact on which we don't agree and where there is no wiggle room, so let's start there—namely, that Jesus raised himself.

I have difficulty with the latter part of your statement, that Jesus "possessed ... the power to raise himself." I have a number of possible explanations, but I believe that Jesus was a human and, during the three days, a dead human with no consciousness.

And here we have more weasel words. Practically every Christian throughout the world believes that "Jesus was a human" and "a dead human" during the three days.

But wait a minute. How can there be agreement between your beliefs (unitarian) and Christian orthodoxy (trinitarian)? Enter weasel words, which hedge your view with a careful and practiced language. You say Jesus was involved in his being brought back from the dead, a statement with which any Christian could agree—which means you were being neither candid nor honest. You say Jesus was a human, another thing that all Christians believe—so, again, neither candid nor honest.

The Christadelphian religion is radically antithetical to the Christian religion. Embrace that fact and speak truthfully, not with a forked tongue. Say instead, "While we both believe that Jesus was a human, my view holds that he was strictly a human. John 10:18 makes sense on a trinitarian view, but it presents a challenge to mine, and here is the answer I found to that challenge" (or admit that you haven't found one yet that can withstand critical scrutiny, which is perfectly understandable).

I believe that it was the one God—Yahweh, God the Father—who raised Jesus from the dead

Again, all Christians everywhere believe that. No more weasel words from this point onward, please. You don't believe as we do, so stop using language that tries to make it sound like you do. Let your language be honest and candid when describing your antithetical view.

Concerning these possible explanations, I would need to convince myself which one is correct before I try to persuade others.

Don't be coy. The forge of debate is a great place to do that. Put the explanations on the table. If they can't even survive this place, you definitely don't want to use them elsewhere.

Jesus likens the Holy Spirit to a Comforter because of its great influence and effect ... [snip rest] [emphasis mine]

Straight away, you contradict scripture and risk the credibility of your view: "Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another [Comforter] to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he resides with you and will be in you" (John 14:16-17).

The Trinity is an erroneous doctrine that claims that there are three persons and yet one God, and somehow this is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—but not three Gods, only one.

We can dispense with any attempt to convince you of the Trinity. Additionally, no error is made obvious by merely describing what trinitarians believe.

The thing you need to deal with is that Jesus said he possessed sovereign authority over his own life and death, including the power to raise himself from the dead, as the Father commanded him.

Why do you demand that I should use the word "Trinity" ...?

I don't believe anyone made such a demand of you. It was merely asked, "What term would you use, then?"—a simple, shorthanded term that refers to your view.

 

[prism]

I was and still am not sure that the word "Trinity" was first stated or adopted after this conflict. I do not agree with Arius either. I believe that Jesus was a human, born of Mary and God the Father as the father of Jesus' humanity.

What do you do with...
John 1:1,14 NASB95
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [14] And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Yes, but it is not the Bible teaching.

A word, like 'trinity' is only shorthand for a certain teaching. (Just as a denomination's name represents the teachings it holds)

Yes, what an impossible statement. Are you a Catholic or CofE? Where do you draw the line?

I think I'm catholic, holding to the early orthodox creeds. What is CofE? What line?

You gave me the impression that when we encounter the words God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, that this is the Trinity. I was rejecting that claim. Such a designation is erroneous.

ok.

 

[John Bauer]

What is CofE? What line?

Church of England (a.k.a. Anglican).