In John 2:19–21, Jesus says: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jewish leaders understood Him to mean the literal temple in Jerusalem, but the passage notes that He was speaking of “the temple of His body.” How is this understood in Christian theology? Was Jesus explicitly referring to His physical body as the “temple,” and if so, what is the significance of this metaphor?

In John 21:9-14, after His resurrection, Jesus prepares a meal of fish and bread for His disciples by the Sea of Galilee. This moment is both intimate and practical, showing Jesus serving His followers with a simple act of hospitality. Does this scene offer any theological or moral encouragement for Christians today to develop practical life skills like cooking and serving others, especially within the context of ministry, hospitality, or daily Christian living? How have different Christian traditions interpreted this act?

I was listening to a preacher and he made this claim that a woman was the first witness to the risen Christ because traditionally our societies hold the testimony of women to be more credible than that of men. I thought Mary became the first witness because of co-incidence but he suggests otherwise, is he correct that Mary Magdalene being the first witness to the risen Christ was part of God's plan because the testimony of women is more credible?

Where were the two 'thieves' that were crucified at the same time as Jesus, laid to rest? as Jesus was in the tomb, where were their bodies put? Thank you

What does teaching morality result in?

Considering the language of 1 John 1, this passage is clearly not addressed to believers, yet is widely mistaught in Christendom. 1 John 1:9 KJV >If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Was Pentecost 50 days after the feast of unleavened bread? Christ was crucified on the beginning of the feast of unleavened bread, and I was told that it was 50 days either after his resurrection or after his crucifixion.

It seems that Christian apologetics very much rests on the historical veracity of the resurrection. That is, if we can verify the resurrection, then we have an objective rationale to believe in the Christian faith. Let's assume for a moment that William Craig is correct that there is good evidence for the resurrection. Even so, does this conclude that Jesus was in fact who he said he was, i.e. the son of God? Deuteronomy 13:1-4 reads as follows: >If there appears among you a prophet or a dream-diviner and he gives you a sign or a portent, saying, “Let us follow and worship another god”—whom you have not known—even if the sign or portent that he named to you comes true, do not heed the words of that prophet or that dream-diviner. For the LORD your God is testing you to see whether you really love the LORD your God with all your heart and soul. Follow none but the LORD your God, and revere none but Him; observe His commandments alone, and heed only His orders; worship none but Him, and hold fast to Him. And the resurrection served as a sign: >Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:38-40) As far as a Pharisee Jew is concerned, Jesus is certainly a god "whom you have not known"; Jesus and the Trinity were completely unknown to the Jews. Thus his sign should be disregarded. Now you might be tempted to respond that Jesus is indeed the same God that they knew, but he just didn't come out of the closet as Jesus until later. The question would then be: how are we to know that Jesus is, in fact, the same god? For that Christian apologetics has turned to the resurrection as evidence. But the verse clearly states: "_even if the sign or portent that he named to you comes true, do not heed the words_" thus excluding supernatural signs as evidence! (In fact, in Exodus 7:11 even Pharoah's sorcerers were capable of performing supernatural feats.) So we are back to square one; first, we need evidence that Jesus was indeed the son of God. Then and only then, does the historicity of the resurrection have any relevance to affirming Jesus. Without prior evidence, it seems justifiable to write Jesus off as a false prophet. Now many are quick to point out that Jesus claimed to be that very same god of the OT and even admonished Israel for not revering the god of the OT. Nonetheless, this doesn't prove that he is that very same god. Where are we to look for that verification? The resurrection? But that may just be another "sign" or "portent". It seems that the only acceptable form of validation must come from the Old Testament itself i.e fulfilled messianic prophecies. That is, the historicity of a supernatural feat has no place in the debate between Christians and Jews. Please note what I'm **not** saying: 1. Christianity therefore _must_ be false 2. Deuteronomy 13 by definition _must_ exclude Jesus 3. The purpose of the resurrection was to serve as "proof" What I **am** saying: The Resurrection _in and of itself_ can be evaded on supernaturalistic grounds.

Before Jesus died on the cross, his body functioned like any other human being — he was breathing to stay alive, and then, after taking his last breath, he died. Then, he rose from the dead, and his body could appear anywhere (at any given time). Assuming Jesus rose with the same body as was crucified, was it subject to natural laws of requiring oxygen to survive? Notably, some evidence leading to the conclusion of a body with some physical limitations like requiring oxygen include eating fish with his disciples, and the fact that holes punched in his feet and hands by the Roman leaders were still visible. Given that Jesus is seated at the right hand of The Most High, does his body require oxygen to stay alive, or does the power of God sustain it?

The Scriptures record that there was three hours of darkness during the crucifixion of Jesus. This is a pretty significant meteorological event. Furthermore, the morning of Jesus' resurrection, the Scriptures indicate that there was an earthquake. Additionally, when Jesus died, the curtain of the Temple was apparently torn in two. > Now **from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour**. Matthew 27:45 ESV > > And behold, **the curtain of the temple was torn in two**, from top to bottom. And **the earth shook, and the rocks were split**. Matthew 27:51 ESV I don't know if there are historical records of any earthquakes, eclipses, or such things in any of antiquity. Yet, I am indeed curious to know if there are, and, if so, if there are any secular historical records that could match up to these events that surrounded the death of resurrection of Christ.

How do Catholics understand Jesus to have died for three days and night and yet be killed on Friday and be raised Saturday, before daylight?

Paul wrote that 500 people saw Jesus at once (1 Cor 15:6). If his recounting is true, it's obvious they saw *something*, but it's not clear to me why that thing couldn't have been a vague figure misinterpreted as Jesus. Here are some similar events: - 108 people saw the Virgin Mary appear at a waterfall and then to the adults of the group at Mass. Link Among the observers were doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, engineers, and lawyers. - A second example comes from Cairo, Egypt in 1986, at a Coptic church. Mary had appeared a number of times between 1983 and 1986. Once she appeared on the roof, four Coptic bishops arrived to authenticate the vision. They did indeed see her. At other times she was seen by (non-Christian, obviously) Muslims. Link - During the supposed Miracle of Fatima, many people claimed to see the sun exhibit strange behavior, whirling toward the earth. Link - Betty Parris (age 9) and her cousin Abigail Williams (age 11), the daughter and the niece, respectively, of Reverend Samuel Parris, began to have fits described as "beyond the power of epileptic fits or natural disease to effect" by John Hale, the minister of the nearby town of Beverly. Link - Sixty-two pupils at the Ariel School aged between six and twelve said that they saw one or more silver craft descend from the sky and land on a field near their school. Some of the children claimed that one or more creatures dressed all in black then approached and telepathically communicated to them a message with an environmental theme, frightening them and causing them to cry. Several of them have maintained their account into adulthood. Link

Without going into the specifics of three days and three nights or some configuration, where and what did Jesus go and do between the time of His death/burial and His resurrection, if anything? We know that Apostles Creed says "[He] descended into hell" (or [*sheol*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheol), [Abraham's bosom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosom_of_Abraham), [*hades*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hades)), although see here . So, what happened? I'm looking for any of the following denominational points of view: Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, other Protestants.

Jesus is "fully God" & "fully man". Jesus (the man) is made up of body+spirit(+soul). Jesus (God) is a spirit. Which of these "natures" died for us, considering that: 1. Jesus (divine/God) does not die. So (divine) Jesus did not die. 2. The Soul+spirit of Jesus ("fully man") did not die. Our spirits do not "die" with our bodies & Jesus (man) was sinless (his soul was fine) 3. The body of Jesus ("fully man") is just a vessel/container without life of its own (when the "immortal" spirit is taken out). NOTES/EDITS: My question goes beyond just the issue of whether Jesus as a human can die and still be God. I "consider" the "two persons/natures" ("fully God" and "fully man") to understand not whether God can die, but even in what sense Jesus (fully man") died; given that his spirit and soul never died, and his physical (human) body never had a life of its own separate from the human spirit.

Below are the passages describing Resurrection Sunday from each of the Gospels. Matthew 28:1-9: "Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.' So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, 'Greetings!' And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.'" Mark 16:1-8: "When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, 'Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?' And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, 'Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid" Luke 24:1-7: "But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, 'Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.'" But John describes Jesus himself appearing to Mary, following a footrace between John and Peter: John 20:11-18: "But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?' Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, 'Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.' Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, 'Rabboni!' (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, 'Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, "I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."' Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, 'I have seen the Lord'—and that he had said these things to he." So, to summarize, the Synoptics describe the Resurection as: Mary Magdalene and possibly His mother visit the grave. They see the stone rolled away, and an angel waiting for them. The angel asks her/them why she/they were looking for "the living among the dead". He then tells them to share the good news. In John's story: John and Peter look inside the grave and believe that Jesus was alive, then hide from the Jews in their house. Mary cried outside the grave, but when looking inside sees *two* angels, who ask her who shes looking for and why she's crying. SHe turns around, and sees who she assumes to be the gardener and ask if he has taken the body. Jesus then opens her eyes and reveals Himself directly to her, causing her to rejoice and *then* share the good news. What causes the discrepancy? Did John have a literary reason, did he talk to different witnesses or is there some other reason?

Is anyone aware of any special symbolic significance of Jesus eating *specifically* fish and honeycomb while showing his disciples he was not "a spirit" when he appeared to them (and somewhat scared them) after his resurrection in [Luke 24:42-43](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A42-43&version=KJV) ?

The following is pulled from an answer to this question: According to Jehovah's Witnesses, In What Way is Jesus Human . > It would appear, then, that the Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus had his own distinctive body and personality, and that Michael had his own distinctive body and personality. What was common to them both was the impersonal life force that Jehovah had transferred between them. And since it was this impersonal life force, and not the individual body and personality, which had made either of these persons the Son of God, the body and personality of the man Christ Jesus was the only one among the whole human race which had no hope of the resurrection, because his life force had been vouchsafed unto the Archangel Michael. And this is confirmed by their saying that "Jesus was dead, forever dead" (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 5, 1899, p. 454). The Witnesses appear to believe, then, that the man Jesus of Nazareth was human, fully human, in both body and personality, except that he alone among all of the human race had no hope of the resurrection, because he could not be resurrected as the Son of God, whose impersonal life force had been transferred once more unto the recreated body and personality of Michael the Archangel. The body of the answer describes the creation of the essence or life force of the Son of God as Michael the Archangel and then the passing of that essence to Jesus and then back to Michael. The supposition made within the answer (if I read it correctly) is that, since the humanity of Jesus died when he died and what resurrected and returned to the Father was only a "borrowed" essence, Jesus the man never actually had any hope of resurrection. Is this, indeed, what Jehovah's Witnesses mean by the statement, "Jesus was dead, forever dead" (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 5, 1899, p. 454)?

In order to have a well-rounded understanding of the arguments for and against a historical resurrection of Jesus, what would be a comprehensive list of must-read scholarly books defending its historicity and scholarly books denying it? To get us started, here are some books I'm aware of: For: - The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus ([link](https://www.amazon.com/Case-Christ-Journalists-Personal-Investigation/dp/0310339308)) - The Fate of the Apostles: Examining the Martyrdom Accounts of the Closest Followers of Jesus ([link](https://www.amazon.com/Fate-Apostles-Examining-Martyrdom-Followers/dp/1472465202)) - Evidence for the Resurrection ([link](https://www.amazon.com/Evidence-Resurrection-Josh-McDowell/dp/0830751378/)) - The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus ([link](https://www.amazon.com/Case-Resurrection-Jesus-Gary-Habermas/dp/0825427886/)) Against: - On the Historicity of Jesus: Why We Might Have Reason for Doubt ([link](https://www.amazon.com/Historicity-Jesus-Might-Reason-Doubt/dp/1909697494/)) - Jesus Before the Gospels: How the Earliest Christians Remembered, Changed, and Invented Their Stories of the Savior ([link](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Z71VJJS/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i5)) Both for and against: - Resurrection: Faith or Fact?: A Scholars' Debate Between a Skeptic and a Christian ([link](https://www.amazon.com/Resurrection-Scholars-Between-Skeptic-Christian/dp/1634311744)) Are there other relevant books worth keeping in mind?

Thomas said, "O Κύριός μου καὶ ὁ Θεός μου" (koine Greek), "My Lord and my God" (English). What would he have said in Aramaic (Hebrew?) in John 20:28? Would it relate to Adonai and Yahweh?

I once met one guy on Youtube who says he believes that Jesus was so moraly perfect (secular language to say sinless) that He got attention of the Supreme Being (i.e. God) and that this Supreme Being adopted Jesus as His own Son on baptism and filled Him with supernatural power, explaining Jesus's miracles. He also thinks God did raised Jesus from the dead, but this was simply the reward for Jesus's perfectness and Christ's ascension to heaven was simply reward for Jesus to be ascended to the spiritual realm where God resides. That's all he believes. He doesn't think Original Sin is true, he doesn't think Exodus happened (the way it is described in the Bible), he doesn't believe in pre-existence of Christ, not in virgin birth, Atonement of Christ or Second Coming. He thinks that Jesus was mistaken about promises of Second Coming because He confused God with Yahweh He worshipped as a Jew and thought Kingdom will be set with Him as the Messiah. After Resurrection, Christ knew that Yahweh and the Father are not the same God (according to this Christian deist). This deist also considers Gospel of Mark as ONLY reliable, he rejects other three Gospels. He doesn't worship Jesus or pray to Him, he isn't part of any denomination, he is very liberal, he is okay with homosexuality and etc. I wonder, are there any other deists who think Christ historically rose from the dead?