What is Resurrection:
The word resurrection comes from Latin resurrection, which means to rise again, rise again or rise once again. This word designates the action and effect of resurrecting, of returning to life by defeating death.
Belief in resurrection is linked to the ancient interpretation of solar behavior, that each day it is born and dies, only to be born again the next day.
The resurrection is a recurring figure in ancient literature. It is attributed to a mystery of the gods, only achievable by them. Knowledge of the power to resurrect is forbidden to human beings. This idea is common to different systems of thought and faith.
The resurrection in Hellenic culture
In Greek mythology, the resurrection is present through the story of Asclepius or Escupalius (Roman name). Asclepius had learned to master the art of healing the sick to the point of resurrecting the dead. Zeus, concerned about the alteration of the order of things and fearful that he would share his knowledge with humans, struck him down with a thunderbolt.
Traces of belief in the resurrection are also found in the “mysteries of Eleusis”, a city in Ancient Greece.
The resurrection in Persian culture
Zoroastrianism or Mazdeism, a monotheistic religion born in Persia (Iran), contains elements of the belief in the resurrection, from which they apparently reached Jewish thought, as well as the idea of a messiah, the final judgment, paradise and hell.
The resurrection in Jewish culture
In the case of the Jews, the resurrection was not a widespread belief of all believers, but of some groups. It is linked to the desire for the restoration of Israel and was preached by the party of the Pharisees, opposed by their tradition to the high priests or Sadducees.
For the Pharisees, after the end of time the Jewish people would see the glory of God manifest through the restoration of Israel on earth, and would allow the deceased to be resurrected to enjoy this event for a certain time.
In this sense, the Pharisees would, to a certain extent, have a common element on which to argue with Jesus. On the other hand, the Sadducees or high priests not only did not believe in the resurrection, but they also did not believe in eternal life, which is why it was so important for them to enjoy God’s blessing in life.
The resurrection of Jesus
Those who today represent the most widespread faith in the belief in the resurrection are Christians. For believers, Jesus would have risen three days after being crucified and buried. This would be the unequivocal sign of the divinity of Jesus. From faith in his resurrection arises the movement of the apostles and the expansion of Christianity throughout the world.
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