Systematic Theology, by Louis Berkhof - New Leaven

in Isa. 26:19 (a late passage, according to the critics), and in Dan. 12:2, and is probably
implied also in Ezek. 37: 1-14.
2. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. As might be expected, the New Testament has more to
say on the resurrection of the dead than the Old, because it brings the climax of God’s
revelation on this point in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Over against the denial of the
Sadducees, Jesus argues the resurrection of the dead from the Old Testament, Matt.
22:23-33, and parallels, cf. Ex. 3:6. Moreover, He teaches that great truth very clearly in
John 5:25-29; 6:39,40,44,54; 11:24,25; 14:3; 17:24. The classical passage of the New
Testament for the doctrine of the resurrection is I Cor. 15. Other important passages are:
I Thess. 4:13-16; II Cor. 5:1-10; Rev. 20:4-6 (of dubious interpretation), and 20:13.
C. THE NATURE OF THE RESURRECTION.
1. IT IS A WORK OF THE TRIUNE GOD. The resurrection is a work of the triune God. In
some cases we are simply told that God raises the dead, no person being specified, Matt.
22:29; II Cor. 1:9. More particularly, however, the work of the resurrection is ascribed to
the Son, John 5:21,25,28,29; 6:38-40, 44,54; I Thess. 4:16. Indirectly, it is also designated as
a work of the Holy Spirit, Rom. 8:11.
2. IT IS A PHYSICAL OR BODILY RESURRECTION. There were some in the days of Paul
who regarded the resurrection as spiritual, II Tim. 2:18. And there are many in the
present day who believe only in a spiritual resurrection. But the Bible is very explicit in
teaching the resurrection of the body. Christ is called the “firstfruits” of the resurrection,
I Cor. 15:20,23, and “the firstborn of the dead,” Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5. This implies that the
resurrection of the people of God will be like that of their heavenly Lord. His
resurrection was a bodily resurrection, and theirs will be of the same kind. Moreover,
the redemption wrought by Christ is also said to include the body, Rom. 8:23; I Cor.
6:13-20. In Rom. 8:11 we are told explicitly that God through His Spirit will raise up our
mortal bodies. And it is clearly the body that is prominently before the mind of the
apostle in I Cor. 15, cf. especially the verses 35-49. According to Scripture there will be a
resurrection of the body, that is, not an entirely new creation, but a body that will be in a
fundamental sense identical with the present body. God will not create a new body for
every man, but will raise up the very body that was deposited in the earth. This cannot
only be inferred from the term “resurrection,” but is clearly stated in Rom. 8:11, I Cor.
15:53, and is further implied in the figure of the seed sown in the earth, which the
apostle employs in I Cor. 15:36-38. Moreover, Christ, the firstfruits of the resurrection,
conclusively proved the identity of His body to His disciples. At the same time
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