Paul says that Jesus is the first resurected why were Moses and Elijah on the mount of transfiguration?

Answer 1

Moses and Elijah were present as spirit entities only. The Resurrection involves the literal joining of a spirit to a physical body of flesh and bone (without blood). Jesus showed this to the Apostles when he had them touch his body and even ate food with them to show them that the Resurrection is physical.

Answer 2

Paul says that Jesus is the first resurected. OK, I'll buy that.

Why were Moses and Elijah on the mount of transfiguration?

Malachi 4:4-6; "Remember ye the law of Moses My servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. [4] Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:" [5] And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." [6]

Answer 3

Sure - you could also bring up Lazurus who Jesus litterally raised from the dead (as opposed to just brought down from heaven)... and I'm sure you'll remember that Elijah didn't actually die.
It's hard to understand with our modernist western concept of time. To someone in the first century they wouldn't have had any problem getting the fact that the power of the cross and Jesus' resurection goes backwards throughout history not just forwards.

The book of Revelation even says that Jesus was the lamb that was slain before the begining of the world.

The book of Hebrews says Moses trusted in Jesus (although he probably didn't know of him as we know him - more that he trusted that God would have some way of making things work out that was better than what he saw). The Gospel writers are very careful to suggest that Jesus was more important than Moses and Elijah even though he came after them (remember first century culture almost worshipped their ancestors).

Answer 4

Moses and Elijah were alive (Elijah never died) but were not yet resurrected to perfection, uncorruptable. They were spirits.

There were others "resurrected" as well (i.e. Lazarus) but still eventually died.

But Jesus was the first and so far only one to receive the perfect resurrected body that some day all the saints will have.

1 Thes. 4:16-17 (NLT)
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. [17] Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever.

Answer 5

The transfiguration itself become an awe inspiring adventure for the disciples. to work out their Lord in His glory. It ought to were a daunting journey for them because each and every time someone has considered glory it makes them provide way and develop into fearful. Moses and Elijah represent the regulation and the prophets respectively, both one among which had fortold Christ's lack of existence, and that is what Luke says the three of them were discussing (Luke 9:31) the three tabernacles is a connection with the cubicles that were used to have a good time the night meal of Tabernacles, at the same time as the Israelites dwelt in cubicles for 7days (Lev. 23:34-40 2). Peter become expressing a want to stay in that position. listen Him! Peter erred in putting Moses and Elijah on an same aspect as Christ. Christ become the very one to whom Elijah and Moses had pointed. The voice of the daddy interrupted at the same time as Peter "become nonetheless speaking." The words were an same as those spoken from heaven at Christ's baptism. I examine my account from Matthew so it would want to variety somewhat.

Answer 6

As everyone else has said, Elijah and Moses were there as spiritual entities.

But, before the question comes up, I'll be a little proactive... what about Lazarus?

Here's the key: The resurrection refers to the defeat of death. Lazarus was raised from the dead... but he did die again. Jesus was the first to be raised, defeating death, and never to die again.

Answer 7

At those time, Paul have said the words, Jesus is already home in Heaven, while Moses and Elijah still argues about the leadership of their heavenly existence which holds them in Purgatory,

Answer 8

Elijah was translated directly to heaven... he never left his body on earth to be resurrected. As for Moses, we can only surmiss that the same happened to him - that he was assumed bodily into heaven when he "died."

Answer 9

Resurrection is not just tranfiguation.
Moses and Elijah both were granted enternal spirits, and granted into the kingdom of heaven.
Thanks to the resurrection of Christ.

Answer 10

The old testament souls were in paradise, like the thief on the cross "Today you will be with Me in paradise."

Jesus Christ was the first to enter Heaven, as the accepted member of the human race without sin.

Hope that helps.