How does 1 Corinthians 15:4 affirm the truth of Christ's resurrection? Setting the Verse in Context 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 compresses the gospel into four historical facts: Christ died for our sins, He was buried, He was raised, and He was seen. Verse 4 reads, “that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures”. Each clause is a concrete, datable event, inviting confidence that the resurrection is just as real as the crucifixion and burial. Two Linked, Physical Realities • “He was buried” – a literal corpse laid in a known tomb (John 19:38-42). • “He was raised” – the same body transformed and vacated the tomb (Luke 24:39-43). The pairing rules out any spiritualized or metaphorical resurrection: burial proves true death; rising proves true life. “On the Third Day” – Time-Stamped Proof • Precise timing prevents legendary drift. • Jesus repeatedly promised this timetable (Matthew 16:21; 17:23; 20:19). • The empty tomb found “very early on the first day of the week” (Luke 24:1) aligns perfectly with Passover chronology, confirming Scripture and Jesus’ own words. “According to the Scriptures” – Prophetic Foundation Old Testament patterns and prophecies anticipated resurrection: • Psalm 16:10 – “You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.” • Isaiah 53:11-12 – the Servant sees “the light of life” after suffering. • Hosea 6:2 – “After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up.” • Jonah 1:17 – three days in the fish foreshadowing Matthew 12:40. Paul’s phrase grounds the event in an already-written plan, reinforcing reliability. Historical Eyewitness Chain (vv. 5-8) Immediately after verse 4 Paul lists more than 500 witnesses, many still alive when he wrote. The sequence—burial, resurrection, appearances—forms an unbroken chain of verifiable testimony. Core to the Gospel and Salvation • Romans 4:25 – “He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.” • 1 Peter 1:3 – new birth “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” If the resurrection were untrue, every gospel promise collapses (1 Corinthians 15:17-19). Verse 4, therefore, safeguards every blessing that flows to believers. Practical Confidence for Today • Assurance of forgiveness: the empty tomb is God’s receipt stamped “Paid in Full.” • Victory over death: Christ’s physical rising guarantees our own (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). • Empowered living: “The Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you” (Romans 8:11). 1 Corinthians 15:4 is more than a line in a creed; it is the Bible’s concise, Spirit-breathed affirmation that the resurrection happened in history, in fulfillment of prophecy, and with life-changing power for every believer. |
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