Based on John 2:19, it is claimed that Jesus resurrected himself, but many scriptures say God the Father resurrected Jesus. Did Jesus resurrect himself? Let’s consider the immediate context in which Jesus spoke at John 2:19, as well as the remote context of the entire Bible.

John 2:19-21 —“Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days’ . . . the temple he had spoken of was his body” (NIV), referring to his death. Trinitarians claim Jesus resurrected himself, but how could that be? Did Jesus actually say that he would resurrect himself?

First of all, who was Jesus speaking to?

He had just cleansed the Temple of money exchange tables and animals for sale, and his Jewish opposers had challenged his authority (John 2:13-16). In such situations, “All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable” (Matthew 13:34 ESV).

So Jesus was not speaking to this crowd literally. He was using “figures of speech” (John 16:25).

Second, Jesus was responding to the question,

“What sign do you show us as your authority for doing these things?” (John 2:18 LSB). His answer,

“Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:19), “was speaking about the temple of his body” (John 2:21) was obviously not literal. The question his opposers put to Jesus is very similar to what they did on another occasion.

“Teacher, we want to see a sign from you” (Matthew 12:38 NIV). Jesus’ answer was also very similar.

“None will be given . . . except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:39-40 NIV).

Jesus was referring to his death and resurrection.

Jeremiah was told by Yahweh,

“I have appointed you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To uproot and to tear down, To cause to perished to pull down, to build and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:10 LSB). Did Jeremiah literally do these things? No, but he did foretell them, and in that sense he did them! The same is true of Jesus, he foretold his resurrection, but he did not literally resurrect himself. 

Trinitarians claim that “the divine part of Jesus didn’t die”. Is Christ divine? Trinitarians say he is, oblivious to their own contradiction here.

According to the Bible, “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3). The divine Christ actually died, according to the scriptures!

Jesus said “I was dead” (Revelation 1:18 NIV). Could the dead Jesus resurrect himself?

“The dead do not know anything . . . there is no working . . .  in Sheol” (Ecclesiastes 9:5,10 LSB).

Dead people can’t do anything, because they are “non-existent” (Isaiah 41:12 LSB).

Jesus said, “By myself I can do nothing” (John 5:30).

Jesus did not resurrect himself, as Trinitarians assert.

According to the Bible, God the Father resurrected Jesus:

“God has resurrected this Jesus” (Acts 2:32 HCSB).

“the God of peace . . . brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus” (Hebrews 13:20 NIV). “By his power God raised the Lord from the dead” (1 Corinthians 6:14 NIV). According to the scriptures, “the Lord” was “brought back from the dead.” Is “the Lord” divine? Trinitarians admit that he is, oblivious to their own contradiction. The divine Lord actually died, according to the scriptures!

 “Paul, an apostle . . . through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead” (Galatians 1:1 NAB). Here we see plainly that it was, “God the Father who raised him from the dead”. To say that Jesus resurrected himself contradicts the scriptures!

“You turned to God . . . to wait for His Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 1:9,10 LSB).

Another point is: John 3:2 – “No one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him” (NIV).  Notice – “God” is “with him”, which means Jesus is not God. If Jesus was God, he wouldn’t need God to be with him.

CONCLUSION

The point is that the scriptures never say Jesus resurrected himself. God the Father did.

For more information on this subject, please see:

https://bibleauthenticity.com/trinity-john-jes…od-spirit-gospel/