The Resurrection of the Son of God

Name: The Resurrection of the Son of God
Rating: 4.8 (486 reviews)

The Easter story in the light of contemporary beliefs.

Created byN.T. Wright, David P. Seemuth, Jennifer Loop

Last updated 5/2021

English

What you'll learn

Students will be able to articulate the ideas of the afterlife and the resurrection from many different perspectives.
Students will grasp an understanding of the resurrection and the afterlife through examining ancient Jewish and pagan literature.
Students will be able to explain how the apostle Paul viewed the resurrection of Jesus and the afterlife.
Students will understand what the writers of the four New Testament Gospels report regarding Jesus' bodily resurrection.
Students will recognise the practices of the earliest followers of Jesus as they embraced the radical concept that Jesus was raised from the dead in bodily form

Course content

5 sections • 60 lectures • 4h 55m total length

Welcome to the Course with Prof. N.T. Wright2:03
Prof. N.T. Wright gives a brief introduction to the scope of the study of the bodily resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth including an examination of relevant background literature of the ancient world.
1 Corinthians 15:1-19 Reading by Prof. N.T. Wright2:23
Prof. Wright reads 1 Cor 15:1-19 from the Kingdom New Testament.
1 Corinthians 15:1-19 KNT Text1:52
Session One: 1 Corinthians 15:1-19 with Prof. N.T. Wright15:33
Prof. Wright explains one of the key texts that summarizes what constituted the message of the early church as seen in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians.
Comprehension Assessment on Session One: 1 Cor 15:1-19
Welcome from Dr. David Seemuth, Your Co-Instructor and Course Facilitator1:00
Surprised by Hope Reading Assignment #10:25
Practice Exercises #1: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions0:42
Practical Suggestions for Embracing the Ideas In This Course
In this article, suggestions are made of how to make this section, and, indeed, this course, more practical by using probing questions. Because this is an academic course, we are looking at understanding ideas and then bringing the principles behind those ideas into the present in practice.

Wisdom of Solomon 2:1-5 Reading with Prof. N.T. Wright1:03
Prof. Wright reads from the Wisdom of Solomon 2:1-5.
Wisdom of Solomon 2:1-5 Text1:04
The text of the Wisdom of Solomon 2:1-5 is provided for the student. We suggest you print this out for reference.
Session Two: Wisdom of Solomon 2:1-5 with Prof. N.T. Wright17:38
Prof. Wright gives a survey of the ancient world's perspectives on what happened to people after death. This provides the student with immense understanding of the breadth of ideas existing in the world into which Jesus of Nazareth lived.
Comprehension Assessment on Session Two: Wisdom of Solomon 2:1-5
Psalm 16 Reading with Prof. N.T. Wright1:16
Prof. Wright reads Psalm 16 in preparation for the Session Three.
Psalm 16:1-11 Text0:54
Here is the written text of Psalm 16.
Session Three: Psalm 16 with Prof. N.T. Wright18:34
Prof. Wright examines Psalm 16 as an example of the perspective on death and the afterlife added by OT writers and thinkers.
Comprehension Assessment on Session Three: Psalm 16
Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 Reading with Prof. N.T. Wright1:10
Prof. Wright reads from the Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9.
Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 Text1:07
Session Four: Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 with Prof. N.T. Wright19:45
Prof. Wright examines the prevailing and powerful ideas about immortality held by Jews during the time of Jesus.
Comprehension Assessment on Session Four: Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9
Surprised by Hope Reading Assignment #20:26
Practice Exercises #2: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions- Background Issues0:35

First Thessalonians 4:13-18 Reading with Prof. N.T. Wright0:42
Prof. Wright reads 1 Thessalonians 4:13-19 from the Kingdom New Testament.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 KNT Text0:52
Session Five: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 with Prof. N.T. Wright15:51
Prof. Wright examines 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 to elucidate the expectation of believers, not of a heaven that is detached from earth, but an expectation of resurrection at the last day.
Comprehension Assessment on Session Five: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
1 Corinthians 15:20-28 Reading with Prof. N.T. Wright1:24
1 Corinthians 15:20-28 KNT1:03
Session Six: 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 with Prof. N.T. Wright13:35
The apostle Paul encountered some believers who did not understand the reality of bodily resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 you will find explanation of the importance of this key element of faith and the reasons why bodily resurrection matters to the believers in Corinth and for people in the present day.
Comprehension Assessment on Session Six: 1 Corinthians 15:20-28
1 Corinthians 15:29-34 Reading with Prof. N.T. Wright0:51
1 Corinthians 15:29-34 KNT Text0:40
Session Seven: 1 Corinthians 15:29-34 with Prof. N.T. Wright17:59
Prof. Wright explains the consequences of not embracing the ramifications of the fact of Jesus' bodily resurrection. All of life is affected if Jesus is not raised from the dead.
Comprehension Assessment on Session Seven: 1 Corinthians 15:29-34
Surprised by Hope Reading Assignment #30:18
2 Corinthians 5:1-10 Reading with Prof. N.T. Wright1:26
2 Corinthians 5:1-10 KNT Text1:07
Session Eight: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 with Prof. N.T. Wright14:48
Prof. Wright summarizes the first part of Second Corinthians in order to set up a more thorough explanation of 2 Corinthians 5:1-10. This formative text examines the confident expectation Paul had regarding his future state of being securely held by the Lord Jesus.
Comprehension Assessment on Session Eight: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10
Romans 1:1-7 Reading with Prof. N.T. Wright1:03
Romans 1:1-7 KNT Text0:42
Session Nine: Romans 1:1-7 with Prof. N.T. Wright18:32
Prof. Wright examines eight 'mutations' of the idea of resurrection within the Jewish world. This is in dramatic contrast with what the early Jewish and Gentile believers in King Jesus were proclaiming, as Romans 1:1-7 indicates.
Surprised by Hope Reading Assignment #40:19
Comprehension Assessment on Session Nine: Romans 1:1-7

John 20:1-10 Reading with Prof. N.T. Wright1:17
John 20:1-10 KNT Text1:00
Session Ten: John 20:1-10 with Prof. N.T. Wright18:10
In order to understand the unique circumstances surrounding Jesus Christ’s resurrection, which may have been considered a highly bizarre event by traditional ancient Jewish standards, one must examine the Christian perspective carefully. The Christian Church regarded Christ’s resurrection as a central, natural and a fundamental event within the new world. It is important to inspect and examine the New Testament scriptures thoughtfully concerning this event. To this end we now look at one of the most important texts concerning the Jesus' resurrection, John 20:1-10.
Comprehension Assessment on Session Ten: John 20:1-10
Practice Exercises #3: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions- The Apostle Paul0:36
Mark 16:1-8 Reading with Prof. N.T. Wright1:16
Mark 16:1-8 KNT Text0:54
Session Eleven: Mark 16:1-8 with Prof. N.T. Wright11:46
The Gospel of Mark represents perhaps the earliest of the New Testament Gospels authored between 65 A.D. and 80 A.D. This Gospel presents the audience with an immediate surprise upon reading the account of the resurrection of Jesus Christ because of its brevity and the remarkable abrupt ending to the Gospel of Mark.
Comprehension Assessment on Session Eleven: Mark 16:1-8
Surprised by Hope Reading Assignment #50:19
Matthew 28:1-10 Reading with Prof. N.T. Wright1:29
Matthew 28:1-10 KNT Text1:07
Session Twelve: Matthew 28:1-10 with Prof. N.T. Wright12:55
The Gospel of Matthew in Chapter 28 begins the resurrection account with dramatic pictorial language that differs than from Gospel of Mark yet follows a similar story line with different conclusion. The opening scene describes a powerful earthquake that introduces an angel who roles away the massive grave stone which covers its opening. The angel then sits at the entrance to the tomb. We examine this narrative for additional evidence surrounding pointing to the reality of the bodily resurrection of Jesus.
Comprehension Assessment on Session Twelve: Matthew 28:1-10
Luke 24:13-35 Reading with Prof. N.T. Wright2:50
Luke 24:13-35 KNT Text2:15
Session Thirteen: Luke 24:13-35 with Prof. N.T. Wright16:34
There exists an ancient and venerable tradition that Luke, the writer of the Gospel of Luke, was a superb artist as well as an excellent physician. Luke adroitly described the post resurrection conversations and interactions of two disciples with Jesus on the Road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35.
Comprehension Assessment on Session Thirteen: Luke 24:13-35
John 20:24-31 Reading with Prof. N.T. Wright1:23
Prof. Wright reads John 20:24-31 from the Kingdom New Testament.
John 20:24-31 KNT Text0:59
Session Fourteen: John 20:24-31 with Prof. N.T. Wright18:17
The Gospel of John’s account of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, death, and resurrection was written by the Apostle John with imagery that parallels the creation story found in the Book of Genesis. John 20 speaks of the 'First Day' of the New Creation week. Jesus Christ is the first born, the start of the 'New Creation' whose resurrection body represent the first part of the old world man transformed into the 'new incorruptible Adam'.
Comprehension Assessment on Session Fourteen: John 20:24-31
Surprised by Hope Reading Assignment #60:19
Practice Exercises #4: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions- The Gospels0:35

Acts 1:1-8 Reading with Prof. N.T. Wright1:44
Prof. Wright reads Acts 1:1-8 in preparation for Session Fifteen.
Acts 1:1-8 KNT Text1:03
Session Fifteen: Acts 1:1-8 with Prof. N.T. Wright18:47
The resurrection of Jesus argues for a clear explanation to understand why the Christian Church suddenly deviated from traditional Jewish and cultural views concerning the afterlife to adopt radical claims concerning Jesus. We examine the essential roles played by the accounts of the empty tomb and the post-resurrection appearances in the early Christian Church.
Comprehension Assessment on Session Fifteen: Acts 1:1-8
Surprised by Hope Reading Assignment #70:19
Practice Exercises #5: Processing Ideas and Probing Questions- Final Summary0:36
Bonus Lecture0:36

Requirements

Students should have a desire to examine the idea of resurrection and the afterlife.
Students should be ready to engage in a comprehensive study of ancient literature with implications for today.
Students should be curious and inquisitive!
Students should acquire the book Surprised by Hope by Prof. N.T. Wright

Description

How do we know that Jesus was actually raised from the dead in bodily form? This course with Prof. N.T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God, examines the extraordinary claim that Jesus of Nazareth was raised from the dead in a bodily fashion to appear in person to people after his cruel death, crucifixion, and entombment. This journey will look at the ancient world's understanding of the afterlife from Jewish and Greek perspectives along with the implications of their understandings as it relates to the early Christian claim of the bodily resurrection of Jesus. New Testament documents will then be examined for broader understanding of resurrection generally as well as for specific information as it relates to the claim that Jesus was raised from the dead in bodily form.

The student is urged to read the book Surprised by Hope by Prof. N.T. Wright (ISBN: 0061551821) published by HarperOne. This book is a powerful partner to have while working through this course. If you would like a very thorough scholarly work on the subject by Prof. Wright, you may wish to consult the book The Resurrection of the Son of God (ISBN:0800626796) published by Fortress Press.

The course The Resurrection of the Son of God takes advantage of the thorough scholarship of Professor N.T. Wright as he methodically works through the relevant material.

Who this course is for:

People who have an interest in the study of the afterlife and the idea of resurrection.
This course does not presume any Christian faith, though those who come from a Christian background will be enriched as well.
Christians who wish to have a deeper understanding of a foundational aspect of their own faith.

The Resurrection of the Son of God

What you'll learn

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Course content

Welcome to the Course: Resurrection of the Son of God with Prof. N.T. Wright7 lectures • 24min

Background Issues: Ancient Jewish and Pagan Understanding of the Afterlife11 lectures • 1hr 4min

The Apostle Paul's Understanding of Resurrection and the Afterlife17 lectures • 1hr 31min

The Writers of the Gospels Add Their Perspectives on Jesus' Bodily Resurrection19 lectures • 1hr 34min