Resurrection means bodily life after 'life after death,' or, if you prefer, bodily life after the state of 'death'

Resurrection means bodily life after 'life after death,' or, if you prefer, bodily life after the state of 'death'

N.T. Wright, a prominent theologian and scholar, has written extensively on the topic of resurrection and its significance in Christian theology. In his work, Wright emphasizes the importance of understanding resurrection as bodily life after death, rather than simply a spiritual existence in the afterlife. He argues that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just a symbolic event, but a historical reality that has profound implications for the future resurrection of all believers.

Wright's view of resurrection is rooted in his interpretation of the New Testament texts, particularly the writings of the apostle Paul. He argues that Paul's understanding of resurrection is not about escaping the physical world and ascending to a disembodied existence in heaven, but about the transformation and renewal of the physical body in a new creation. This view is in contrast to the popular notion of the afterlife as a purely spiritual realm, where the soul is separated from the body and lives on in a non-physical state.

According to Wright, the resurrection of Jesus is the central event in Christian theology because it demonstrates God's power to overcome death and bring new life to all creation. Jesus' resurrection is not just a one-time event, but a foretaste of the future resurrection of all believers at the end of time. This future resurrection will involve the transformation of the physical body into a glorified state, where it will be free from sin, suffering, and death.

Wright's emphasis on bodily resurrection has important implications for how Christians understand the meaning of life, death, and the afterlife. It challenges the dualistic view of the body and soul that has dominated Western thought for centuries, and affirms the goodness of the physical world as part of God's creation. Resurrection, for Wright, is not just about life after death, but about the restoration and renewal of all things in a new heaven and earth where God's kingdom will be fully realized.