Les Feldick Bible Study

Were Lazarus and the widow's son resurrected from the dead?

No, Lazarus and the widow's son were not resurrected. They were merely brought back to life and later died again. Resurrection speaks only of Christ's rising from the dead into the eternal, never to die again; He was the first to be resurrected.

Les teaches that the term resurrection is often misused. He explains that anyone raised from the dead miraculously in Scripture, such as the widow's son under Elijah and Lazarus, was not resurrected. They were merely brought back to life and died again. Resurrection speaks of that which only Christ began: He arose from the dead into the eternal, never to die again. Les emphasizes that when we experience resurrection, it will be final; we will not again have to die and be brought back to life. He notes that resurrection only began when Christ arose, and He was the first to be resurrected. He warns against speaking of Lazarus as being resurrected, because Lazarus was brought back to life but was not resurrected, since he died again at some later date.