Neither.
Lazarus was dead
physically but alive
spiritually. He was in Sheol, the place of the dead. He returned to his physical body at Jesus' command. Jesus revived Lazarus' body by restoring it and reuniting it with the man's spirit.
I will have to catch up with the Scripture references later.
Okay... references...
From the OT we know that the dead were in Sheol:
Genesis 44:29 If you also take this one from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.’
1 Samuel 2:6 The Lord puts to death and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and brings up.
Psalm 6:5 For there is no mention of You in death; In Sheol, who will praise You?
Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do
it with
all your might; for there is no activity, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.
The physical body obviously did not descend to Sheol; people's bodies and bones still existed on Earth:
Genesis 50:25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will assuredly take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here.”
2 Kings 13:21 And as they were burying a man, behold, they saw a marauding band; and they threw the man into the grave of Elisha. And when the man touched the bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet.
Those who have died are still alive in some sense:
1 Samuel 28:12-15a: Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!” 13 But the king said to her, “Do not be afraid; but what do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a divine being coming up from the earth.” 14 He said to her, “How does he appear?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.
15 And Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?
The dead can be restored to life:
2 Kings 4:32-35 When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. 33 He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the Lord. 34 Then he got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out on him, the boy’s body grew warm. 35 Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out on him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.
Luke 7:14-15 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.