Why is the phrase "according to the Scriptures" significant for understanding resurrection? Setting the Scene - Paul’s summary of the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 places the resurrection right at the center: “that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” - By repeating the phrase “according to the Scriptures,” Paul anchors every part of the gospel—Christ’s death and His resurrection—in God’s written revelation, not human invention. The Phrase in Context - “According to the Scriptures” means the resurrection isn’t a late Christian idea; it was foretold. - Paul is reminding the Corinthian believers that the authority of their faith rests on what God had already promised and recorded. Rooted in the Old Testament Promise • Psalm 16:10 — “For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.” • Isaiah 53:10-11 — The suffering Servant “will prolong His days.” • Hosea 6:2 — “After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.” • Jonah 1:17 — Jonah in the fish “three days and three nights,” a sign Jesus explicitly ties to His own resurrection (Matthew 12:39-40). These texts establish a prophetic pattern: God delivers from death, points to a coming Messiah, and specifically highlights a third-day motif. Anchoring the Historical Event - By linking the resurrection to Scripture, Paul answers the “Did this really happen?” question with “Yes, and God said it would.” - Scripture functions as a legal document: the resurrection is certified in advance by divine testimony and afterward by eyewitnesses (1 Corinthians 15:5-8). Guarding the Gospel - If Jesus rose “according to the Scriptures,” then every other biblical promise is equally trustworthy. - Detaching the resurrection from Scripture would reduce it to spiritual symbolism, but the phrase binds it to factual, verifiable fulfillment. Fuel for Hope and Worship - Because God fulfilled His Word in raising Jesus, believers can count on His promises about their own resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). - Revelation 1:18: “I am He who lives. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.” The living Christ is proof that God keeps Scripture to the letter. Living It Out Today • Confidence: The Bible’s accuracy in predicting the resurrection assures us it is reliable in everything else. • Perspective: Suffering and death are temporary; resurrection life is guaranteed. • Mission: A resurrection “according to the Scriptures” is good news the world can test and believe, motivating bold witness. |
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