Is the Resurrection of Jesus a literal historical event or merely a metaphor?
The Catholic Church firmly teaches that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ was a real, historical, and bodily event, verified by tangible signs such as the empty tomb and physical encounters with eyewitnesses. The Apostles touched His wounds, heard His voice, and ate meals with Him after He rose from the dead. At the same time, Christ's resurrection transcends ordinary history: His risen body was not merely resuscitated to die again like Lazarus, but was transfigured into a glorified, immortal state entering into the fullness of divine life.
Sources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 639-646
- Luke 24:36-43
Awaiting review by the chaplaincy. Written in our own words; the Church's own texts are the authority.