Were the saints in Matthew 27:52 (KJV) resurrected with a spiritual body or awakened from sleep like Lazarus?
Matthew 27:52
ESV - 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.
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Asked August 25 2024
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Charles Crabtree
Supporter
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Tim Maas
Supporter
Although it is not (to my knowledge) specified in the Bible, multiple commentators (such as those noted at https://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/27-53.htm) have taken the position that these saints were revived after Christ's resurrection (marking His distinction as the firstborn from the dead); subsequently left their tombs with glorified resurrection bodies (not merely a resuscitated version of their mortal earthly bodies); and then accompanied Christ when He ascended to heaven forty days after His resurrection.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
This question is challenging, Charles! I've always believed that these saints were only temporarily brought back to life and would eventually die and await the final resurrection—like Lazarus, among many others (John 11) -- as you suggested in your question. But Dr. Charles Ryrie in his Ryrie Study Bible offers both this and another possibility. And that is, this was their final resurrection and they later went to heaven with Jesus. That would mean they were resurrected with glorified bodies. --https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/resurrected-saints-weirdest-passage-matthew/ (Greg Lanier)
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