Chuck Smith's View of the Resurrection
This page contrasts the Biblical teachings on the resurrection with Chuck Smith's teachings.
Chuck Smith teaches that the body is not raised but replaced with a different body. Smith also denies the physicality of the resurrection body. The following sections will show from Chuck Smith's own words that he consciously rejects the historical and Biblical doctrine of the resurrection.
What is the resurrection?
The resurrection is the raising of the body of the dead and the reuniting of the body with the spirit of the person. This is what the church has always meant by the word "resurrection". Resurrection is not a replacement body. Resurrection is of a physical body as well.
What happens at death according to the Bible?
When a person dies their spirit goes to be with God and their body gets buried in the ground. In the resurrection the body is raised from the dead. At the last day all people will be raised from the dead. Their souls will be reunited with their bodies. The bodies will no longer be corrupted, but will be transformed from corruptible to incorruptible. Transformation is different than replacement.
Books with good theology on the resurrection
To get an idea of what is right and what is wrong on the resurrection, here are some suggestions:
How could the destruction of death have been manifested at all, had not the Lord's body been raised?
Now for some really bad theology
Chuck Smith, Sr. has an unorthodox teaching on the resurrection of the believers. Here are some tapes where Smith denies the historical view of the resurrection:
Links to each of Chuck Smith's "problem teachings" are here
Tape |
Teaching |
Start Time |
End Time |
5263 |
Spiritual resurrection body, not physical. |
1:01:38.0 |
1:02:05 |
5263 |
Denial of physical resurrection. |
1:04:30 |
1:05:31 |
5263 |
Resurrection happens at death. |
0:29:37 |
0:30:30 |
5266 |
Smith's Refutation of Orthodox View of the Resurrection |
00:10:00 |
00:15:00 |
8156 |
2 Cor 5 - "Mystic connection" to resurrection body |
xx:xx:xx |
xx:xx:xx |
8166 |
Jesus had a new body |
xx:xx:xx |
xx:xx:xx |
8166 |
Real me - Gnostic heresy |
xx:xx:xx |
xx:xx:xx |
8166 |
Replacement body |
xx:xx:xx |
xx:xx:xx |
8166 |
Smith mocks resurrection and audience laughs |
xx:xx:xx |
xx:xx:xx |
TEMAA |
Resurrection denied |
xx:xx:xx |
xx:xx:xx |
TEMAA |
Jesus "seemed" to be same body |
xx:xx:xx |
xx:xx:xx |
TEMAA |
Literal sense hermeneutic not used in this case. |
xx:xx:xx |
xx:xx:xx |
Here's Smith's commentary on 2 Cor 5 where he states that we will receive a different body. If the body is different it is not resurrection.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/chuck_smith_c2000/2Cr/2Cr005.html
What are the issues?
- Smith teaches a spiritual resurrection not bodily
- Smith has problems with material continuity
- Smith essentially denies the future resurrection of believers
- Smith's has a major time fallacy
- Is Smith just Ignorant of the Orthodox View of the Resurrection?
- So What's Wrong With Smith's View of the Resurrection of the Believer?
- What Books Are There On This Subject?
- What Does It Matter Anyway?
- Why is there no response to these heresies from others?
- Where can I hear these quotes?
- Instructions to hear only the extracted portions
- Historical Views of the Resurrection
The Bible says God does redeem the body.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Hear Chuck Smith (9-22-98) deny that God redeems the body.
Chuck Smith is bringing another gospel.
What tapes does CC have on this?
The following information can be found on the following The Word For Today tapes (by Chuck Smith):
5266
Tape # |
Description of Tape |
4743 |
John 6:41-47 Smith again mocks the orthodox view (near end 1st side, start 2nd side). Very long quote attempting to explain why Jesus did not mean what he said. |
5263 |
1 Cor 15-16 Several minutes of statements |
5266 |
2 Cor 5 About 5 minutes of direct statements |
5702 |
Acts 20 The Resurrection From the Dead (Not many details on this one) |
8150 |
1 Cor 15 May 19, 1997 Sunday Evening Service |
8156 |
July 6, 1997 2 Cor 5 |
8661 |
May 19, 1997 1 Cor 15:35 How are the dead raised? |
8667 |
July 13, 1997 2 Cor 5:1 The Building of God |
Not only does Smith have a deviant view of the resurrection, but also he defends his own view against the orthodox view of the resurrection. We let people know where to find the quotes, but no one actually went and checked them out. This is your chance to be a Berean and not have to work too hard. You can now hear the tape for yourself if you have Real-audio installed.
There are four aspects to Smith's teaching that are aberrant. Hear Chuck Smith teach it. These include:
Spiritual Resurrection Not Bodily
The first problem is the nature of the resurrection body. The resurrection body is a real physical body. It can be handled and touched. It is not a spirit body. Smith said on the tape #5263:
But flesh and blood, can't inherit the kingdom of heaven, so I've got to have a new body. A new body that will be fashioned like to the body of Jesus Christ; His spiritual, heavenly body. That's what my new body will be like. Hear Chuck Smith teach it.
Flesh and Blood Exegetical Errors
Smith's statement betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of the phrase "flesh and blood" in 1 Cor. Paul is not denying that the resurrection body is flesh. After all the resurrection body of Jesus was flesh per Luke:
Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Paul is using "flesh and blood" as a synonym for corruption. The parallel is illustrated as follows:
Verse |
Is |
Will Be |
1 Cor 15:42 |
sown in corruption |
raised in incorruption |
1 Cor 15:43a |
sown in dishonour |
raised in glory |
1 Cor 15:43b |
sown in weakness |
raised in power |
1 Cor 15:44 |
sown a natural body |
raised a spiritual body |
1 Cor 15:47 |
of the earth |
from heaven |
1 Cor 15:49 |
image of the earthy |
image of the heavenly |
1 Cor 15:50a |
flesh and blood |
kingdom of God |
1 Cor 15:50b |
corruption |
incorruption |
1 Cor 15:51 |
sleep |
changed |
1 Cor 15:52 |
dead |
incorruptible |
1 Cor 15:53a |
corruptible |
incorruption |
1 Cor 15:53b |
mortal |
immortality |
1 Cor 15:54a |
corruptible |
incorruption |
1 Cor 15:54b |
mortal |
immortality |
Thus the phrase "flesh and blood" is a synonym for the corruptible body before the resurrection, not a denial that the resurrection body will be flesh. All of the descriptions in the "will be" column are adjectives which describe the characteristics of the resurrection body.
The phrase "put on" that is used in verses 53 and 54 make an interesting point:
1 Cor 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality,
The phrase "put on" is defined in Strongs as "746. enduo, en-doo'-o; from G1722 and G1416 (in the sense of sinking into a garment); to invest with clothing (lit. or fig.):--array, clothe (with), endue, have (put) on.". This illustrates that point that the resurrection body is put on to the current body as added attributes of immortality and incorruption. It typically describes clothing that is put onto the body. Our bodies that are raised have incorruption put on them.
Material Continuity Problems
Smith teaches that the resurrection body of a believer does not have a material continuity to his body when alive. At death the believer receives a new body (not the future resurrection). Thus, in Smith's view, the resurrection body does not have continuity with the pre-resurrection body.
Smith said:
For there is a natural body, it will be planted in the ground, but there is also a spiritual body, and I have a new body waiting for me. Hear Chuck Smith teach it.
(clipped middle)
He's talking about the new body that I have. God has prepared a new body for me. A building of God not made with hands eternal in the heavens, so then we who are in this body do groan earnestly desiring to move out of them, not that I would be an unembodied spirit, but I want to move into that new building, that new body. I want to be clothed upon with that new body which is from heaven, for I know that as long as I am living in this body, as long as Chuck is living in his old body, I am absent from the Lord, but I would choose rather to be absent from this body and to be present with the Lord in that new body. Hear Chuck Smith teach it.
Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many mansions, I'm going to prepare one for you". He's talking about that new body that he has gone to prepare for you. (A) glorious new mansion, my spirit's going to move into. Hear Chuck Smith teach it.
Smith also wrote in Snatched Away:
I'm going to get a whole new body direct from God, geared and equipped for the universe. (Snatched Away, p. 11, ©1976, 1980)
On the next page, Smith wrote:
I'm living in a perishing tent, but I'm going to move into an incorruptible house - one that is not defiled and fades not away, that has been reserved in heaven for me as I'm being kept by the power of God through faith.
Many Calvary pastors that we have talked to hold the same view as Chuck Smith. A few have recognized the serious challenge to Christian Orthodoxy presented by Smith's view.
Chuck Missler in his Immortality tape series defends Smith's view based upon the scientifically centered idea that God knows the genetic code for all of us, and that God will use that genetic code to regenerate our old bodies out of different material.
1 Cor 6:14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
2 Cor 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
Denial of Future Resurrection for Believers
Another real problem is that Smith teaches that the believer receives their resurrection at the point of death and not at the future resurrection. This is on tape #5263. The statement Smith made was:
Right now, the first resurrection is a process over a period of time. It began with Jesus Christ. He is the first fruit and it continues as each child of God living and believing in Jesus Christ (cough) as they fall asleep in Christ. The first resurrection continues (big-cough). It will be completed when all of the martyred saints from the tribulation period have been fulfilled and entered the heavenly realm. That will complete the first resurrection. Hear Chuck Smith teach it.
A Time Fallacy
Smith misunderstands the nature of linear time to try to explain his view of the resurrection. It also could be used to explain the differences in timing between the rapture and the Second Coming. Smith teaches that since God is in eternity, we will be too at death. Per Smith, at death we are fast-forwarded to the last day. Hence, although we receive our resurrection bodies at death, this is just simply also the last day. From tape 4743:
There are too many problems with this to explain them all here.
Let's look at just a few.
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
These people are in heaven and in time (in heaven). There is a linear progression of the events in heaven. The passage also shows the souls of those beheaded during the tribulation period in Heaven. Also, if Smith was right, then why are their souls and not resurrected bodies there?
Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Another problematic passage is:
2 Cor 5:6-8 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
The apostle Paul had no concept of this extra-Biblical concept and in fact, Smith goes to scientific explanations about his concepts of the nature of time, as there are no Biblical texts to make his case.
Maybe Smith is Just Ignorant of the Orthodox View of the Resurrection?
We thought for sure that was the case, that was, until we heard Smith's Tape # 5266. That section of the tape is much too long to transcribe (over 5 minutes).
It might be smart to get a copy of these tapes from The Word for Today to keep. Once the word gets out, there's a good chance they will be edited or no longer available.
Contrast Smith's words with the following verses:
John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. ... 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. ... 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Contrary to Smith, this is the believer, not the unbeliever. Smith extensively mocks the orthodox view of the resurrection on tape 4743.
So What's Wrong with Smith's View of the Resurrection of the Believer?
The view denies the bodily resurrection of the believer and in the process it implicitly denies the bodily resurrection of Jesus Himself from the dead. There are many, many passages that deal with Smith's aberrant view, and we shall examine a few of them here.
Jesus said about our future resurrection:
John 5:28-29 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
This shows a distinct resurrection, not a series of resurrections which happen at the death of each person. Taking Smith's view, the phrase all that are in the graves would have no meaning, since they have already received their resurrection bodies over time.
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
This passage shows the souls of those beheaded during the tribulation period in Heaven. If Smith was right, then why are they souls and not resurrected bodies?
Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Same question here.
1 Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
How can the dead be raised incorruptible (at the end of time) if they were already raised over time (when they died)? This is a contradiction that Smith avoids on the tape # 5266 by saying that God is outside of time. Sorry, this is still a contradiction in your view. We are not talking about God, but man and his relationship to time. Man; even in heaven still has a temporal (time-based) existence as seen in the Revelation 6:9 passage. Otherwise, you end up with soul-sleep, a doctrine that Smith explicitly denies in the tape.
Why does the text say we shall be changed? If Smith's view was true, it should say instead we shall receive a replacement body.
Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Christ was not raised as a spirit, but as a physical being.
Mat 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Mark 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
Luke 24:6-7 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
John 2:19-22 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
The body that died was the one that came up from the dead, but incorruptible (never to die again). If Smith were right, there would have been a body in the tomb. Surely, Smith must then state that Jesus was a singularity and that we are different than him. He had a material continuity, and we don't. That's the heresy that the next verse addresses:
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Phil 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Our resurrection bodies shall be like his. Physical (like his was) and based on some sort of a material continuity with our old body (like his was).
1 John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Jesus lived his life in a body of flesh (Smith should agree with this).
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
The flesh is not a bad thing, in and of itself. Christ came in the flesh and was not fleshy.
What Books Are There On This Subject?
Another source is any standard Systematic Theology. For instance, Charles Hodge's Systematic Theology, reprinted 1993, by Eerdmans says on page 724:
As all Christians believe in the resurrection of the body and a future judgment, they all believe in an intermediate state. That is, they believe that there is a state of existence, which intervenes between death and the resurrection; and that the condition of the departed during that interval is, in some respects, different from that which is said to be subsequent to that event.
Hodge goes on to say:
The common Protestant doctrine on this subject is that "the souls of believers are at their death, made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves till the resurrection".
What Does It Matter Anyway?
Smith himself explains that the central message of the New Testament is the resurrection of the believer. Hear Smith say it.
As Larry Taylor has noted, the doctrine of the bodily resurrection of Christ is a fundamental one:
After all, what really matters is what we have in common as Christians: the "essential" doctrines of the infallibility of God's Word, the virgin birth of Christ, His sinless life, death for our sins, bodily resurrection, ascension to glory, and personal return to rule the earth. These are the essence of Christianity, and agreed upon by virtually all born again believers.
Assertion of a "spiritual resurrection body" and a denial of a physical body are a denial of the "bodily resurrection".
Why No Response To These Heresies From Others?
Also, Craig Hawkins has publicly responded to Smith's teachings on the resurrection and termed them as heretical. Hanegraaff, Geisler, and others have been hesitant to attack Smith on his deviant view publicly since they are connected to Calvary.
Norman Geisler has written a paper which was in the CRI Journal on this subject. Read Giesler's paper.
Hanegraaff and CRI, rely on Calvary Chapel members for much of their support. According to a former member of the CRI correspondence department, when CRI would receive tapes about Smith's heretical teaching, they would be told that CRI would not touch the subject. Smith has ordained Hanegraaff as a CC pastor.
Where Can I hear these quotes?
You can either buy the tapes from The Word for Today, or you can listen to them on-line for free. The real audio files for Smith's commentaries are on-line. The tape for 1 Cor 15-16 is almost 90 minutes long. This tape has not been altered and is hosted by Smith himself on the web.
More On This
We have added a clip from Smith's 6 July 1997 sermon on this subject. Tape is 8156, 2 Cor 5. Here's the transcript of the relevant portion:
There is a relationship, there is a tie, there is a mystic relationship between this body and the new body that I will have. Just what it is I do not know, but I do believe in the resurrection of the dead. Now Jesus rose and seemed to be in the same body, but in reality His was a special case and we need to recognize that. Hear Smith say it.
Chuck: Here's a hint about what the "mystic relationship" is. It's the same body. Jesus was not a special case, but was our prototype in the resurrection.
This statement clearly contradicts past statements that are documented on this page. In this statement Smith is trying to come closer to the historical doctrine of the resurrection, but still has many problems that will be discussed in this page.
TEMAA Call of 4-15-97
Added a tape clip from the "To Every Man An Answer" radio program with Don Stewart and Chuck Smith. Program aired on 4-15-97. Hear Chuck Smith and Don Stewart deny the historical doctrine of the resurrection of the believer for a caller who asked about "organ donation". Smith denies in this call that our body is the same one that is raised. Don Stewart walks a fine line here (he's not as bad when he's alone on this subject).
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