1 Corinthians 15:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

There too the Cross was known to all, because Christ was crucified before the eyes of all. But the cause was not known to all. That He died, everyone knew. But that He suffered death for the sins of the whole world, many did not yet know. Therefore the Apostle brings testimony from the Scriptures. However, this has already been sufficiently explained by what we have said. Where in the Scriptures is it said that Christ would be buried and rise on the third day? In the type of Jonah, to which Christ Himself points when He says: "As Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights" (Mt 12:40). It is in the type of the bush in the wilderness. As it burned and was not consumed, so Christ's Body was dead but was not held by death forever (Ex 3:2-3). It is in the type of the serpent that was with Daniel. As it burst apart after receiving the food given it by the prophet (Dan 14:27), so Hades, receiving Christ's Body, fell apart. For the Body tore open its belly and rose. But if you wish to hear in words what you see in types, then listen to Isaiah, who says: "He was cut off from the land of the living" (Is 53:8). And again: "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When His soul makes an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the will of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the travail of His soul and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, and He shall bear their sins" (Is 53:10-11). Listen also to David, who said even earlier: "Thou wilt not leave my soul in Hades, nor wilt Thou give Thy Holy One to see corruption" (Ps 15:10). Therefore Paul refers you to the Scriptures, so that you may know that this was accomplished neither simply nor in vain. Could it be otherwise, when so many prophets had written and foretold this beforehand? Could it be otherwise when Scripture, speaking of the Master's death, nowhere speaks of a sinful death, but everywhere of bodily death, and of such burial and Resurrection? And since there was found in Him nothing that could serve as food for death, death was left to itself and deprived of food. It became death to itself, as many of the righteous prophetically declared about the Resurrection of the Firstborn from the dead. He endured the three-day sojourn in the earth in order to save the whole human race in full by Himself, instead of the Law. Perhaps He became three-day for this reason also: to restore in man the whole fullness of soul, spirit, and body.

Then he unfolds the dogmatic foundation of our future bodily glorification from the properties of the second Adam, our new forefather (1 Cor 15:47-50).

Afterward he speaks of the fate of the bodies that will not have to experience death before Christ’s coming. He concludes with a song of victory over death and a call to stand firm in Christian hope and Christian piety (1 Cor 15:51-58).

The truth of Christ’s Resurrection, established by eyewitnesses (1 Cor 15:1-11).

1 Cor 15:1-4. Having reminded the Corinthians that the essence of the Gospel preached to them consisted precisely in this, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose on the third day according to the Scriptures, the Apostle then begins to enumerate eyewitnesses of this Resurrection.

Among these appearances, the appearance to Peter is especially worthy of attention. It is not mentioned in the Gospel, but it was essentially necessary for him before the others.

Saint John Chrysostom notes, “He who first confessed Him as Christ was rightly the first deemed worthy to see His Resurrection.

And Christ appeared first to Peter alone not only for this reason, but also because Peter had denied Him, so as to comfort him completely.”

The Apostle Paul could have heard of the appearance of the risen Lord to Peter from Peter himself.

The testimony concerning the Lord’s appearance to more than five hundred is also remarkable. Their testimony could be especially important because most of them were alive when the Apostle wrote, and perhaps he himself had seen them.

Then the Apostle speaks of the appearance to the eleven, or according to the accepted reckoning, the twelve apostles (cf. Jn 20:21).

He also speaks of the appearance to the Apostle James, whom, according to John Chrysostom, He Himself appointed Bishop of Jerusalem, and to all the other apostles, who were then among the seventy.

All this happened not simply, but according to the eternal foreordaining. It requires not only faith, but reverence and deep contemplation of the all-embracing meaning of these events.

Saint Chrysostom says, “Where is it said in Scripture that Christ would be buried and rise on the third day?

In the type of Jonah, to which Christ Himself points when He says, ‘As Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth’ (Mt 12:40).

Also in the type of the bush in the wilderness. As it burned and was not consumed, so Christ’s body was dead, but was not held by death forever.

Also in the type of the serpent that was with Daniel. As it burst apart after receiving the food given to it by the prophet, so Hades, after receiving Christ’s body, fell apart.

For that body tore open its belly and rose again.

If you wish also to hear in words what you see in types, then listen to Isaiah, who says, ‘His life is taken away from the earth’ (Isa 53:8), that is, He is buried.

And again, ‘The Lord wills to cleanse Him from the wound... and to show Him light,’ that is, to raise Him (Isa 53:10-11).

Likewise David, who even before Isaiah said, ‘You will not leave My soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption’ (Ps 15:10).

Therefore Paul sends you to the Scriptures, so that you may know that this was not accomplished simply or without cause. For could it have been so, if so many prophets had written and foretold it beforehand?”