Dictionary of Biblical Words:
The resurrection of Christ is one of the cardinal truths of the Gospel (1 Cor. 15), for it demonstrates the acceptance by God of the work of Christ on our behalf, He being raised from the dead by “the glory of the Father” (Rom. 6:4). The idea of a general resurrection is a Jewish one (Acts 24:15; John 11:24), but the clearer light of the New Testament teaches us this will be divided into the resurrection of the just (of which 1 Cor. 15 speaks), and of the unjust (see Rev. 20), separated by an interval of more than 1,000 years. The first resurrection is of all the dead in Christ, and may take place at any moment when Christ comes, and will be instantaneous (1 Thess. 4) It will also include some Jewish saints, who will be slain by Antichrist after the Christians have all been taken to heaven (Rev. 20:4-6). The second resurrection or second death (John 5:29) takes place after the millennium, and is exclusively to damnation, all being condemned who then rise. Christians now are risen with Christ, being alive in a new life, by a spiritual resurrection, (Col. 3:1) in the power of which they are to live daily. Hence the expression, “resurrection ground,” meaning the position of being risen with Christ—no longer dead in trespasses and sins.
Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(rising again). The rising again from the dead (Psa. 16:10-11; Matt. 16:21; 20:19; Acts 2:31).
Concise Bible Dictionary:
This may be said to be the fundamental principle of God’s dealings with man in grace, seeing that man is through sin under the judgment of death. The expression, The general resurrection is found in works on theology, and is explained as meaning that the dead will all be raised at the same time; but this idea is not found in scripture. The Lord speaks of a resurrection unto life. “The dead in Christ” will be raised at the coming of the Lord Jesus (1 Thess. 4:16); and John speaks of the first resurrection, and adds that “the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished” (Rev. 20:5-6). The term “first” designates rather the character than the time of the resurrection, it will evidently include only the saved; “the rest” being simply raised for judgment.
It will be seen in Romans 8:11, that the resurrection of believers is of a wholly different order from that of the wicked: the saints will be quickened by, or on account of, God’s Spirit that dwells in them, which certainly could not be said of the unconverted. The resurrection of the saints is also distinguished from that of the wicked in being, like that of the Lord and of Lazarus, “out from among (έκ) the dead” (Mark 12:25). It was the earnest desire of Paul to attain this (Phil. 3:11—see Greek).
The resurrection condition is in the strongest contrast to that after the flesh. That which springs from the seed sown in the ground appears very different in form from the seed sown, though absorbing the substance of the seed. 1 Corinthians 15 refers only to the resurrection of the saints, as may be seen in 1 Corinthians 15:23-24. There were those at Corinth who said that there was no resurrection (1 Cor. 15:12); and on the other hand it appears from 2 Timothy 2:18, some held that the resurrection had already past, that they had in fact reached a final condition
Few distinct intimations of the resurrection are found in the Old Testament, though the idea of it underlies all the teaching. Job may perhaps have learned it (Job 19:25-27), and when the Lord rebuked the Sadducees He taught that resurrection could be gathered inferentially from God speaking of Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob long after they were dead. He is God of the living, not of the dead (Mark 12:26-27). Martha spoke of the resurrection as a matter of common orthodox belief (John 11:24); which is also implied in its being said that the Sadducees did not believe in it.
Isaiah 26:19; Ezekiel 37:1-14; and Daniel 12:2, are often quoted as testimony to resurrection; but these passages are figurative and refer to Israel being raised up as from their national decease—the consequence of their departure from the Lord (Isa. 1:1-4), when God will again bless them on the earth. It is an important fact, however, that the figure of resurrection is used.
Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:
Transliteration:
anastasis
Meaning:
from 450; a standing up again, i.e. (literally) a resurrection from death (individual, genitive case or by implication, (its author)), or (figuratively) a (moral) recovery (of spiritual truth)
KJV Usage:
raised to life again, resurrection, rise from the dead, that should rise, rising again