How is what happened to Jesus before his resurrection considered by many Christians to be death?

You are trying to redefine death in terms of permanency. But that is not the definition used by the rest of humanity. Death is the absence of life. Whilst usually permanent, that is not always the case. However, returning to life after three days (without life) is highly unusual - and indicative of power over death..

The apostle Paul declares the gospel of our salvation in (1Cor 15:1-4)

"I declare unto you the gospel...By which also ye are saved...that Christ died for our sins..was buried, and that he rose again the third day"

Jesus died in his body on the cross (stake)

(Matt 27:50) Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

(Mark 15:37) And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

(Luke 24:46) And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this thus, he gave up the ghost.

(John 19:30) When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

What does "gave up the ghost" or "yielded up the ghost" mean ?

(Gen 25:8) Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and DIED.

(Gen 25:17)..Ishmael..and he gave up the ghost and DIED.

(Gen 35:29) And Isaac gave up the ghost and DIED.

(1Pet 3:18) For Christ also hath once suffered for our sins...being put to DEATH in the FLESH.

So it's clear Jesus did die in his flesh on the cross/stake and remained dead for 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth (Matt 12:40)

Where was the body of Christ in the heart of the earth ?

(Psa 16:10) For thou wilt not leave my soul in HELL.

(Psa 30:3) O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the GRAVE.

Peter speaking:

(Acts 2:31) He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his SOUL was not left in HELL neither his FLESH did see corruption.

Christ was dead in HELL which is the common GRAVE !

Paul speaking of this:

(1Cor 15:55) O death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy victory ?

If you check any Greek bible dictionary you will find the word grave in this context is also translated as hades or hell.

Doesn't this dispel the traditional view held by many christians that hell is a place of eternal conscious torment for the unsaved?

Jesus had victory over death in the grave/ hell through the resurrection which is the good news gospel for us (1Cor 15:1-4 & 55-57)

Jesus did appear to his disciples after his resurrection in bodily form.

He spoke this to Thomas:

(John 20:27) Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side.

Jesus had bodily hands and a side (body) !

If you have trusted by faith in Jesus Christ for your salvation then you have been:

(Rom 6:5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

Jesus said this even BEFORE he died:

(John 11:25) I am the resurrection, and the life.

All believers will die (sleep) in the grave (hell !) and await the power of the resurrection when Jesus will awaken us and resurrect our mortal bodies into immortal bodies like his own ready to enter heaven (1Cor 15:20-21, Eph 5:14 & Phil 3:10, 21)

His earthly life did not resume.

The fact of the matter: NO, The Lord Jesus Christ, died and after the third day the father raised the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, that is why it is so important to become saved by the Lord Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior only, so that you will have eternal life, and not have eternal death, which is hell, the grave. forever.

My goodness, what specious reasoning.

Fact: Jesus did not exist anywhere for most of three days.

Non-existent.

He was however, re-made.

To be re-made one must be dead first.

Fact: Jesus as a human never existed again.

He was re-made as a spirit creature, like angels.

Still, for the better part of three days he existed in no way, shape, or form.

I doubt you can point to any other example in which someone resumed life after more than 24 hours of clinical death.

In any case, we explain why we consider him to have been dead by the simplest method possible: that's how it works. That's the whole point of resurrection--it doesn't take place until after you're dead.

And to us, Jesus is a unique example only in that his resurrection has already happened, and ours hasn't.

Jesus was resurrected as a spirit person, not a human. The Scriptures even show Jesus did not always look the same as when he was a human. - John 20:14 - After saying this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. - But then he revealed himself to her - John 20:16 Jesus said to her: “Mary!” On turning around, she said to him in Hebrew: “Rab·boʹni!” (which means “Teacher!”). - - - - Luke 24:15 & 16 - 15 Now as they were conversing and discussing these things, Jesus himself approached and began walking with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. - - - - Later when Jesus was having a meal with them, he revealed himself to them, and then disappeared from them - showing again that he was no longer human, but a spirit person, like angels. There is much evidence in the Scriptures that provide solid, convincing accounts of Jesus death as a human and resurrection as a spirit person. So, yes, Jesus did die, and was resurrected. - Again, God's word is shown to be the truth - John 17:17 - Sanctify them by means of the truth; your word is truth. - - - - And for those wanting the truth about matters, they should follow this Scriptural example - Acts 17:11 . . . carefully examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. - - - - So, I encourage ALL to find out what the Bible can teach us, here (ALWAYS comparing the Scriptures) - https://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/bible-stu...

Exactly, and what happens to us isn’t really death either, because he will raise us back up too.

In the Bible, Jesus often refers to someone dying as "falling asleep in death." This is because it is temporary. God promises a resurrection for everyone. This is brought out at John 5:28,29 where it says: "Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice  and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment."

Its considered death because he died. Thats like saying I went to sleep but because I woke up I had a near sleep experience. If the heart stops pumping blood to the body then the body dies, the fact that he got up proves that GOD will also resurrect those who do what Christ did. Which is follow the laws of GOD, be baptized and endure until the end.

There is a significant amount of evidence in the bible itself that shows Jesus survived his relatively gentle crucifixion with the help of fast thinking Nicodemus and J.Aramithea.

In all 3 gospels, Jesus is clearly not in shock. Patient is coherent, able to walk and speak, and is situationally aware. Also, no signs of suffocation on cross - is able to make lengthy orations well into the evening. Showed no signs of confusion. Was not irritable or combative. Thus, blood loss is very minimal - surface lesions only. A class 1 hemorrhage at most.

Soldier did not break legs - survival rate guaranteed. Can live for 7 more days in this condition. Even Pilate knows this for he is surprised to hear that he is ''dead so soon''. So surprised that he sends a sentry to confirm as he is in total disbelief.

The flowage of blood from the wound - a sign the body is still alive - it is not yet dead. Also flowage of water - most likely urine from stabbing the kidney - another sign that the nervous system is still intact. In quick succession, Aramithea pleads with Pilate for Jesus's body shortly after losing consciousness and moves him briskly to a tomb upon which we see Nicodemus arrive to treat the body with a peculiar mix of myrrh and aloe - a salve that stops mortal bleeding. But thats not all that was peculiar - the sheer amount of it was extraordinary - about 100 pounds was used. And he did it during the night of the sabbath when no work was to be performed. John 19:39. The only work allowed on the sabbath was saving a person's life or defending Israel against an attack as proclaimed by Mattathias and Shammai the Elder.

After his resuscitation, we see Mary not recognizing him - most likely from all the bandages and edema (swelling of body tissues after trauma). She also mistakes him for a lowly garden caretaker which suggests he was clothed in something that hid his face and injuries like a hooded lacerna or paenula. And then we see Jesus in hiding as he walks incognito to Emmaus alongside Cloepas who is unaware of the "stranger's" identity and appears to be spotted for very brief moments in spurious locations by some disciples. When he finally does visit, doors and windows are shut out of fear and trepidation rather than rejoicing. In Luke 24:39, he tells the stunned apostles that he is not a ghost but is a real human with flesh and bones. He then tells them he is hungry and promptly asks for food upon which he is given some leftovers. Luke 24:41-43.

This clandestine-like activity recorded in the gospels is typical of a fugitive who is attempting to evade recapture.

His actual survival of crucifixion - unheard of in 1st century Rome - became the basis for the legend celebrated on Easter and influenced a great deal of people - one in particular named Paul of Tarsus who may have actually met Jesus in person on the road to Damascus - complete with holes in both hands and feet and a large gaping scar under his ribs.