What Old Testament prophecies connect with the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:6? Setting the Scene 1 Corinthians 15:6: “After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.” Paul points to a crowd of eyewitnesses, underscoring that Jesus’ resurrection was a public, verifiable fact. Behind that historical moment lie clear Old Testament promises that Messiah would rise—and that His resurrection would be amply attested. Key Prophecies Foretelling Messiah’s Resurrection “For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.” David’s words look beyond himself to the greater “Holy One,” whose body would never decompose because God would raise Him. “Yet it pleased the LORD to crush Him and cause Him to suffer. When His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days… After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied.” The Servant would die (v. 9) yet “prolong His days” and again “see the light of life”—a plain pointer to resurrection. “After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.” Israel’s corporate hope foreshadows Messiah’s personal victory: life restored on the third day. “He has not despised or detested the affliction of the afflicted; He has not hidden His face from him, but has listened to his cry for help… They will come and proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn—for He has done it.” The psalm that begins with crucifixion agony ends in triumphant proclamation to future generations—resurrection implied. • Jonah 1:17; 2:6 “Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish… But You raised my life from the pit, O LORD my God!” Jesus later called Jonah the sign of His own three-day entombment and deliverance. “And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life…” Though corporate in scope, it normalizes bodily resurrection within prophetic expectation—grounding Paul’s argument in 1 Corinthians 15. “I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will stand upon the earth… yet in my flesh I will see God.” Job’s confidence in a living Redeemer anticipates a bodily encounter after death. Prophecies Hinting at “Many Witnesses” “A single witness shall not suffice… only on the testimony of two or three witnesses shall a charge be established.” The Law demanded multiple witnesses for legal certainty. By appearing to “more than five hundred,” Jesus supplied far more than the minimum, perfectly satisfying this Mosaic requirement. “I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly… I have not concealed Your loving devotion and faithfulness.” Resurrection vindication would not stay hidden; it would be heralded “in the great assembly,” matching Paul’s mention of hundreds who could testify. How the Pieces Fit with 1 Corinthians 15:6 1. Old Testament expectation: Messiah would die yet live again (Psalm 16, Isaiah 53). 2. Third-day motif: Hosea 6 and Jonah’s sign sharpen the timeline Paul had just cited in 15:4 (“He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures”). 3. Abundant witnesses: Deuteronomy 19’s legal principle explains why Paul stresses “more than five hundred.” God orchestrated eyewitness testimony that met and exceeded the Torah’s standard. 4. Public proclamation: Psalm 22 and 40 look ahead to a message shouted to future generations; Paul could say many of those first messengers were “still alive.” Take-Home Truths • The resurrection events of 1 Corinthians 15 are not isolated New Testament claims; they rest squarely on promises God planted centuries earlier. • Scripture’s storyline—prophecy, fulfillment, and eyewitness confirmation—forms a seamless tapestry proving God keeps His Word. • Because those prophecies were literal and Jesus fulfilled them precisely, believers can rest assured that every remaining promise will likewise come to pass. |
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