Being Risen or Being Raised (a Biblical and Patristic Study)

Abstract

The main focus of this article is the correct understanding of several grammatical forms of the verb ἐγειρω, which is the most frequently used verb to describe our Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament. First, this paper demonstrates that the morphologically passive forms of the verb, such as ἠγερθη, are intransitive and possess an active meaning. After establishing this, the paper explores the theological implications of this finding. The arguments are grounded in the theological heritage of Byzantine Patristics and the Bulgarian Orthodox tradition. The primary aim of this paper is to challenge and refute various interpretations that claim that, after His incarnation, our Lord Jesus Christ was unable to resurrect Himself due to having relinquished His divinity.