that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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1 Corinthians 15:4
What does 1 Corinthians 15:4 mean?
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1 Corinthians 15:4
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Paul doesn't just state Jesus' burial and resurrection; he emphasizes they happened in accordance with the Scriptures. This isn't a post-hoc justification, but a declaration that God's ancient promises planned for Jesus' death and return to life, proving His mission was divinely ordained from the very start. It highlights that this wasn't an accident, but the fulfillment of God's perfect, foreknown plan.
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is building his case for the resurrection of Jesus, which he insists is the absolute cornerstone of Christian faith. He's just recounted how Jesus appeared to many witnesses after his death, and now he emphasizes the essential events of his burial and resurrection as proof that it actually happened, all according to God's ancient promises.
We hear the story of Jesus' burial and resurrection all the time. But what if it's not just a heartwarming tale, but a divine guarantee?
A Historical Anchor
Paul doesn't just say Jesus died; he emphasizes He was buried. This isn't just about ending a life; it's about confirming death. A burial is undeniable proof that someone is truly gone. It's a historical marker that grounds the event in reality.
A Promise Fulfilled
The resurrection isn't random. Paul stresses it happened 'in accordance with the Scriptures.' This means God had planned this all along. From the Old Testament onward, the pattern was laid out. Jesus' death and resurrection were not surprises; they were the culmination of God's ancient promises.
Why 'the third day'? It might seem like a small detail, but this timing is packed with theological weight and points to a divine victory.
A Sign of Vindication
Jesus Himself spoke of a sign: 'For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth' (Matthew 12:40). The third day signifies a decisive break from death and the underworld.
Divine Timing
'On the third day' wasn't just an arbitrary marker. It was God's chosen time to demonstrate His power over death and hell. It signifies not just survival, but triumph. It shows that God's plan unfolded precisely as intended, leading to resurrection and new life.
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Understand the original words
egeirō · Greek Verb
The act of being raised from the dead. It signifies the defeat of death, the vindication of Christ’s divinity, and the promise of the believer’s future resurrection.
The resurrection was not a vague, later theological concept, but a concrete event central to the early Christian message preached within decades of Jesus' death, shaping the very identity and hope of the fledgling church.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth is crucified under the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate, a pivotal event in early Christianity.
c. 30 AD
Burial of Jesus
Jesus' body is placed in a tomb, fulfilling the prophecy and marking the end of his earthly life.
c. 30 AD
Resurrection of Jesus
According to scripture and eyewitness accounts, Jesus is raised from the dead on the third day after his burial.
c. 30-33 AD
Early Church Growth
Following the resurrection, the early followers of Jesus begin to preach and spread the message of his death and resurrection.
c. 40s-60s AD
Paul's Missionary Journeys
The Apostle Paul travels extensively, establishing churches and spreading the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire.
c. 50-52 AD
Writing of 1 Thessalonians
Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica, addressing questions about the return of Christ and the resurrection of believers.
c. 53-55 AD
Writing of 1 Corinthians
Paul writes this letter to the church in Corinth to address various issues, including theological disputes and matters of Christian conduct. Chapter 15 specifically addresses the resurrection.
This passage echoes the burial and resurrection of Christ, emphasizing His suffering for sins and His glorification, mirroring the victory over death described in 1 Corinthians.
Hosea 6:2This Old Testament prophet speaks of God's promise to revive us after two days and raise us up on the third day, a clear foreshadowing of Christ's resurrection and its life-giving power.
Acts 2:23-24Peter quotes from the Psalms here, showing how the Messiah's death and resurrection were not a surprise but part of God's foreknown plan, fully aligning with the 'in accordance with the Scriptures' aspect.
Romans 4:25This verse directly links Jesus' death and resurrection to our justification, reinforcing the salvific significance of His burial and rising on the third day that Paul is highlighting.
Paul doesn't just state Jesus' burial and resurrection; he emphasizes they happened in accordance with the Scriptures. This isn't a post-hoc justification, but a declaration that God's ancient promises planned for Jesus' death and return to life, proving His mission was divinely ordained from the very start. It highlights that this wasn't an accident, but the fulfillment of God's perfect, foreknown plan.
Paul is building his case for the resurrection of Jesus, which he insists is the absolute cornerstone of Christian faith. He's just recounted how Jesus appeared to many witnesses after his death, and now he emphasizes the essential events of his burial and resurrection as proof that it actually happened, all according to God's ancient promises.
Paul is building his case for the resurrection of Jesus, which he insists is the absolute cornerstone of Christian faith. He's just recounted how Jesus appeared to many witnesses after his death, and now he emphasizes the essential events of his burial and resurrection as proof that it actually happened, all according to God's ancient promises.
"that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures," — Paul doesn't just state Jesus' burial and resurrection; he emphasizes they happened in accordance with the Scriptures. This isn't a post-hoc justification, but a declaration that God's ancient prom…
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Last reviewed October 2026