Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Religious Studies – Anthology
160(4) The resurrec tion happened in the human sphere and time, as an ac tual event in
the world with an objective content. He appeared to his disciples. There is no proof
that this history took place.
Problem: the event is unique, but it is an event. It is the t elos of Christ and the
beginning of the c ommunity.
What happened? The awakening of the faith of the disc iples in the living
presenc e of Jesus Christ, and the formation of the c ommunity. At least, the
presupposition of a story beginning with Pentec ost. So it was the laying of a
foundation, by a series of appearanc es, whic h fashioned an objec t of faith.
(5) These two ac ts (c ruc ifixion and resurrec tion) are one ac t of one God, one Jesus
Christ , and one goal of rec onc iliat ion. Grac e and mercy were the goal of Golgotha.
But it is a unity of sequenc e, irreversible. There is no way to go bac k behind Easter
morning. There is a unity of the two in Jesus Christ.
He is the One Word of God that we must hear, that we must trust and obey,
bot h in life and in death. (346) [c f. Heidelberg, Barmen] The Christian c ommunity
hears and proc laims t he divine will and ac t for rec onc iliat ion. It is God’s Y es t o man
and the world.
Question: How c an we arrive at the perc eption that Jesus Christ belongs to us
and we to him? If in Christ’s death we were delivered up to death, what more is
there?
(5) The c ruc ified and risen Christ is God’s YES to man. Death is swallowed up in
vic tory. (349)
(4) On the concrete objectivity of the Easter event depends Christ’s concrete
otherness. If he is not risen, our preac hing and faith are futile. (351)
(3) The Christian c ommunity shows the fac t that even after Easter God still has
time for humanity. (353)
(2) In so far as this divine verdict has been passed, Jesus Christ lives and acts and
speaks for all ages and in et ernit y. It is t he ont ic and noet ic basis of our being.
(354)
(1) The resurrec tion was a free ac t of the grac e of God. It is of this ac t that when
we say “Jesus lives” and c an c ontinue “and I with him.” (355).