The Bible has a lot to say about the resurrection of the dead. Here is an overview of some of the key Bible verses that discuss resurrection:
Old Testament Verses About Resurrection
While the Old Testament does not contain extensive teaching about the resurrection, there are a few key passages that point ahead to this future hope:
- Job 19:25-27 – “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.” This passage in Job expresses hope that after death, Job would see God with his own eyes in a restored body.
- Isaiah 26:19 – “Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.” Isaiah prophesies the bodily resurrection of the dead.
- Daniel 12:2 – “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel promises a future resurrection to either eternal life or judgment.
- Ezekiel 37:1-14 – Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones coming back to life is a vivid picture of God promising to open the graves of Israel and bring His people back to their homeland. This restores national “resurrection” after exile, and also symbolically points forward to final resurrection.
While these Old Testament passages do not provide extensive detail, they plant seeds of hope in the resurrection.
New Testament Verses About Resurrection
The New Testament contains much more robust teaching on the resurrection of the dead, especially connecting it to the resurrection of Christ:
Jesus’ Teachings on Resurrection
Jesus taught that He had authority to raise and judge the dead:
- John 5:25, 28-29 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live… Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”
- John 11:25 – “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.”
Jesus promised that those who believe in Him will be raised up on the last day:
- John 6:39-40, 44, 54 – “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day… No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day… Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Jesus’ Resurrection as Proof and Promise
The New Testament declares Jesus’ resurrection from the dead as the proof and promise of the future resurrection of believers:
- 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 – “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:14 – “He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.”
- 1 Peter 1:3 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
The Resurrection Body
The New Testament describes what the resurrection body will be like:
- 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 – “So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.”
- Philippians 3:20-21 – “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
The resurrection body will be imperishable, glorious, powerful, and spiritual.
The Order of Resurrection
The New Testament describes an order in which the resurrection will take place:
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16 – “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.”
- 1 Corinthians 15:23 – “But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.”
- Revelation 20:4-6 – “They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.” This describes the first resurrection of believers before the millennium, with unbelievers resurrected after.
Believers in Christ will be resurrected first, followed by unbelievers later. Christ’s own resurrection was first as the “firstfruits.”
The Resurrection Brings Judgment
The resurrection of the lost brings them before God’s judgment:
- John 5:28-29 – “An hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”
- Acts 24:15 – “Having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.”
- Revelation 20:11-15 – “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done… And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Unbelievers will be resurrected to face God’s judgment for their sins.
Practical Effects of Resurrection Hope
The resurrection transforms how believers live:
- 1 Corinthians 15:58 – “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” The resurrection motivates Kingdom service.
- Philippians 3:10-11 – “That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” The resurrection motivates sanctification.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope… Therefore encourage one another with these words.” The resurrection brings hope and comfort amidst grief.
Knowing we will be resurrected to new life motivates believers to serve joyfully, pursue holiness, and have hope and comfort when loved ones die in Christ.
The Resurrection is a Key Christian Doctrine
In summary, the bodily resurrection of the dead is a central teaching of Scripture. Old Testament prophets looked ahead to resurrection hope. Jesus taught about resurrection and His own resurrection proves He has power over death. Those who believe in Christ will be resurrected when He returns, receiving imperishable resurrection bodies. The resurrection brings either eternal life or judgment. This hope transforms how believers live today. The resurrection is a foundational doctrine and precious promise for all Christians.