For I handed on to you, as of foremost importance, that which I also received: That Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day [tē hēmera tē tritē] according to the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve, then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at once, of whom most remain alive to this day, but some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all of the apostles. And last of all, as to one who had been miscarried, he appeared also to me. (1 Cor 15:3-8)
He was raised on the third day according to the scriptures
Paul’s scriptures nowhere explicitly indicate that the Christ will die and be raised on the third day. However, there is certainly an established pattern whereby Israel, or its faithful representatives, undergo suffering and persecution and possible death before being vindicated by God. Many “Psalms of Lament” follow this pattern (such as Psalm 22 and Psalm 30), as well as Isaiah 53, narratives within Daniel and its additions (Sussana and Bel and the Dragon), and the book of Esther.
It may be that “the third day” was an idiom that indicated the expected end of a certain sequence. So Hosea 6:2 expresses that Israel will be “raised up” on the “third day”, after suffering for a while. Luke has Jesus using the same idiom to speak about the necessity of reaching Jerusalem: “I am casting out demons and conducting healings today and tomorrow; and on the third day I will reach the goal.” The “Gabriel Revelation” also seems to utilise the number 3 in relation to days, perhaps confirming its use as an idiom in first century Judaism:
Line 19: Holiness for Israel! In three days [lšlšt ymyn] you will know
Line 54: …three days… [šlšt ymyn]
Line 80: In three days [lšlvšt ymyn]… I, Gabriel
The context and meaning of these lines is hard to determine. It seems that the phrase “three days” is important in the 87 line Hebrew inscription; but beyond this, not much is certain. In none of the above instances, however, are three literal days envisaged.
So in what sense did Paul believe that “the scriptures” were being fulfilled with the resurrection of Jesus on the third day? In the sense that the scriptures envisaged the necessary vindication of the righteous representative of Israel. That’s my take on it anyway.
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It would have been nice if Paul had indicated which scripture passages he actually had in mind.
Wow. I’ve taught this passage before and I am ashamed to say, I completely overlooked the question you are asking.
What does Thiselton say?
Brian: If only he’d had the fore-thought to write a commentary!
Mike: Hmm yeah I don’t know what Thiselton would make of my “third day idiom” thing – but I’m sure he’d say that “the scriptures” here refers to broad themes rather than an individual passage
I think Jesus envisaged that the three days were prefigured by Jonah, as per Matt 12:39-41, cf Mark 10:34. Of course, I have absolutely not Greek or Hebrew or time to do any research, so I don’t know if this holds up to any level of scrutiny.
Hi Sharon… Yes, I think the model of Jonah is important – and depictions of Jonah feature heavily in early Christian artistic depictions of the theme of resurrection. On the other hand, the Gospels don’t claim that Jesus was actually dead for “three days and three nights” – but rather from Friday to dawn on Sunday; so I guess we are expected to hear the “three days and three nights” of Jonah 1:17 and Matt 12:40 as representative rather than literal.
Perhaps it might be simpler to read “according to the scriptures” as qualifying “was raised” rather than “on the third day”? In this sense Paul is referring to the general pattern of vindication you mention, but the “third day” bit ceases to be problematic.
Yep, that could be the case. Still, I would wonder why mention of the “third day” came to be important enough to include as a credal component. Perhaps we’ve lost something of its original force.
John Behr has written on this very question in his The Way to Nicea where he has an entire section on “according to the scriptures” which may be of interest. I haven’t read it myself, but Aaron Riches has and could tell you more about it. Although, he has a summary of what is going on in his shorter theological work called The Mystery of Christ: Life in Death, which was one of the best books I’ve read in my life. Anyway, you should be able to click around on Google Books with the limited preview to see what Behr is up to.
Thanks Eric – I’ll definitely check that out. The ‘Mystery of Christ’ book sounds intriguing too
I like your thinking on this Matt (having pondered on this one many a time). We are so “unsteeped” (it’s a word despite what spell check says) in Scripture that the subterranean nuances and forces probably flow under us without us realising. But force of Scripture rather than chapter and verse is such a common way of thinking for NT writers isn’t it? I wonder how Paul proclaimed this concept in his preaching.
Yeah… preaching it is an interesting question. I’m wondering if the concept of resurrection on the “third day” (as the inevitable end of the sequence set in motion by Jesus’ death) is somewhat parallel to Revelation’s insistence that certain things must “soon take place” for those who belong to Christ. In other words, the sequence has begun – and must come to its conclusion.
I think Barth would agree:
“Paul certainly quotes no passages, and with good reason. He might, in fact have done so – Isa. liii. 10-12, for example – but how much more eloquent is the effect of the solemn “according to the scriptures,” which points like an outstretched arm to the Holy Narrative, than all quotation?” (The Resurrection of the Dead, 148-9)
ahh… that is still the best book on 1 Corinthians (until some time in 2010
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