1 Corinthians 15:3–4
Bible verses · Also called: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, First Corinthians 15:3–4, 1 Cor 15:3–4, Summary of the gospel, According to the scriptures, He rose again the third day, I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received
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3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
The text is the New Korean Revised Version (1998), shown under a licence from the Korean Bible Society. Wording may differ slightly from the Korean Revised Version and the Revised New Korean Standard Version. Read in the Korean Revised Version
A summary of the gospel stating that Christ died for our sins "according to the scriptures," was buried, and rose again the third day. The passage is regarded as containing one of the earliest forms of Christian confession in the New Testament and is a central basis of faith in the resurrection.
Context
Some in the Corinthian church were saying that "there is no resurrection of the dead" (v. 12). Paul offers an extended defense of the resurrection in chapter 15, and he begins by reminding his readers of the gospel he had preached to them. He says that he himself had "received" this message. Verses 3–4 are followed by a list of those to whom the risen Christ appeared: Cephas, the Twelve, more than five hundred brethren, James, all the apostles, and finally Paul himself (vv. 5–8).
Interpretation
- As early church tradition: Some have noted that the expression "I delivered unto you… that which I also received" resembles the language used in Jewish tradition for handing down teaching. Many scholars regard verses 3–5 as a short confession that existed in the church before Paul, dating to an early period within a few years of Christ's death and resurrection. Scholars differ on how early to date it.
- The meaning of "according to the scriptures": The phrase "according to the scriptures," which appears twice, refers to the Old Testament. Some interpreters point to Isaiah 53 for the death and to Hosea 6:2 or the story of Jonah for the resurrection on the third day, but it cannot be known whether Paul had specific passages in mind.
- As the framework of the gospel: The four elements of death, burial, resurrection, and appearances are seen as forming the framework of the christological sections of later creeds, including the Apostles' Creed.
Questions of Application
The phrase "for our sins" is cited as a key text for substitutionary atonement. Some liberal theologians interpret the resurrection as the disciples' experience of faith, but most denominations, citing the reference to the burial and the list of witnesses, confess the bodily resurrection as a historical event.
In the Korean Church
The passage is frequently used to summarize the core of the gospel in Easter sermons, joint Easter services, and evangelism training.
Related Passages
- Isaiah 53:5–6
- 1 Corinthians 15:12–20
- Romans 4:25
- Luke 24:44–46
See also 6
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