Alma begins this section with an interesting introduction. He says “there are some that have understood….” It would appear that Alma is referencing something, but what? A typical reference is scripture, but that reference is usually explicit. What we appear to have is a reference to a form of scholarly debate with which Alma was familiar, and because of the terseness of the introduction, we must assume was also familiar to Corianton.
The issue is the nature of the concept of resurrection. This tells us the reason that Alma earlier stated that the number of resurrections did not matter (see verse 5). It appears that some held that the raising of the spirit itself could be termed a resurrection. Alma agrees that there is something of a resurrection in the restoration of life to the spirit. Having conceded that there might be confusion, he will proceed to define his understanding of resurrection, and the difference between the resurrection that will come after the Atoning Messiah, and the “resurrection” of the spirit alone after death.