Scriptures Christ Fulfilled in His Resurrection
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is presented in Scripture as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and a necessary component of God's redemptive plan [2, 3]. The New Testament emphasizes that without Christ's resurrection, Christian faith would be futile [3, 8].
Several Old Testament passages are understood to foretell Christ's resurrection. Psalm 16:10, for instance, states, "For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption," which Peter later applied to Jesus's resurrection in Acts 2:24-28 [2, 3]. Isaiah 26:19 and Hosea 6:2 are also cited as prophetic references to the resurrection [2, 6]. Jesus himself foretold his resurrection on multiple occasions, indicating that he would be raised on the third day (Matthew 20:19; Mark 9:9; John 2:19-22) [2, 3].
The resurrection was essential for the fulfillment of Scripture, as Luke 24:45-46 indicates that Jesus opened the minds of his disciples to understand how the Old Testament prophesied his suffering and resurrection [2]. The apostle Philip, for example, demonstrated how the general tenor of the sacred writings, including Christ's birth, life, doctrine, miracles, passion, death, and resurrection, fulfilled Old Testament prophecies [4].
Beyond prophecy, the resurrection is foundational to several key Christian doctrines:
- Justification and Forgiveness of Sins The apostle Paul connects Christ's resurrection to the justification of believers, stating that Jesus "was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification" (Romans 4:25) [2]. If Christ had not been raised, believers would still be in their sins (1 Corinthians 15:17) [2, 8].
- Proof of Divine Sonship The resurrection serves as a powerful declaration of Jesus's identity as the Son of God (Romans 1:4; Acts 13:33) [2].
- Assurance and Hope The resurrection of Jesus is God's pledge that his revelation is true and worthy of acceptance, providing "full assurance" (Acts 17:31) [1]. It is the basis for Christian hope (1 Corinthians 15:19) [2].
- Efficacy of Preaching and Faith The resurrection underpins the effectiveness of Christian preaching and the validity of faith (1 Corinthians 15:14, 17) [2].
The resurrection was accomplished by the power of God (Acts 2:24; Romans 8:11) and, as Jesus himself stated, by his own power (John 10:18) [2]. The event was manifested through angelic testimony and Christ's appearances to his disciples, providing sufficient proof of its truth [7]. John Calvin emphasizes the resurrection as one of two auxiliary proofs Scripture provides to enable faith to surmount the difficulty of believing in the resurrection of the body, the other being God's omnipotence [5].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Assurance — The resurrection of Jesus (Acts 17:31) is the "assurance" (Gr. pistis, generally rendered "faith") or pledge God has given that his revelation is true and worthy of acceptance. The "full assurance [Gr. plerophoria, full bearing'] of faith" (Heb. 10:22) is a fulness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt. The "full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2) is an entire unwavering conviction of the truth of the declarations of Scripture, a joyful steadfastness on the part of any one of conviction that he has grasped the very truth. The "full assurance ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resurrection of Christ, The — Foretold by the prophets -- Ps 16:10; Ac 13:34,35; Isa 26:19. Foretold by Himself -- Mt 20:19; Mr 9:9; 14:28; Joh 2:19-22. Was necessary to The fulfilment of Scripture. -- Lu 24:45,46. Forgiveness of sins. -- 1Co 15:17. Justification. -- Ro 4:25; 8:34. Hope. -- 1Co 15:19. The efficacy of preaching. -- 1Co 15:14. The efficacy of faith. -- 1Co 15:14,17. A proof of his being the Son of God -- Ps 2:7; Ac 13:33; Ro 1:4. Effected by The power of God. -- Ac 2:24; 3:15; Ro 8:11; Eph 1:20; Col 2:12. His own power. -- Joh 2:19; 10:18. The power of”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Resurrection of Christ — One of the cardinal facts and doctrines of the gospel. If Christ be not risen, our faith is vain (1 Cor. 15:14). The whole of the New Testament revelation rests on this as an historical fact. On the day of Pentecost Peter argued the necessity of Christ's resurrection from the prediction in Ps. 16 (Acts 2:24-28). In his own discourses, also, our Lord clearly intimates his resurrection (Matt. 20:19; Mark 9:9; 14:28; Luke 18:33; John 2:19-22). The evangelists give circumstantial accounts of the facts connected with that event, and the apostles, ”
- Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 8:35: Began at the same scripture - He did not confine himself to this one scripture, but made this his text, and showed, from the general tenor of the sacred writings, that Jesus was the Christ, or Messiah; and that in his person, birth, life, doctrine, miracles, passion, death, and resurrection, the Scriptures of the Old Testament were fulfilled. This preaching had the desired effect, for the eunuch was convinced of the truth of Philip's doctrine, and desired to be baptized in the name of Jesus.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 80: the philosophers maintained the immortality of the soul, few of them assented to the resurrection of the body. Although in this they were inexcusable, we are thereby reminded that the subject is too difficult for human apprehension to reach it. To enable faith to surmount the great difficulty, Scripture furnishes two auxiliary proofs, the one the likeness of Christ’s resurrection, and the other the omnipotence of God. Therefore, whenever the subject of the resurrection is considered, 2262 let us think of the case of our Savior, who”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 10:40: Him God raised up the third day,.... According to the Scriptures, particularly Hos 6:2. The resurrection, of Christ, though it is sometimes ascribed to himself, as God, whereby he was declared to be the Son of God, yet generally to God the Father, as here: and showed him openly; in a glorious body, and yet numerically the same he before lived and suffered in, so as to be heard, seen, and handled; by which full proof was given of the truth of his resurrection, in which he appeared to be the conqueror over death and the grave.”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Manifestation of the Resurrection, Art. 6: Article: Whether the proofs which Christ made use of manifested sufficiently the truth of His Resurrection? I answer that, Christ manifested His Resurrection in two ways: namely, by testimony; and by proof or sign: and each manifestation was sufficient in its own class. For in order to manifest His Resurrection He made use of a double testimony, neither of which can be rebutted. The first of these was the angels' testimony, who announced the Resurrection to the women, as is seen in all the E”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 132: § 1. Resurrection of Christ. The resurrection of Christ is not only asserted in the Scriptures, but it is also declared to be the fundamental truth of the gospel. “If Christ be not risen,” says the Apostle, “then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain” ( 1 Cor. xv. 14 ). “If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins” ( verse 17 ). It may be safely asserted that the resurrection of Christ is at once the most important, and the best authenticated fact in the history of the world. (1.) It was predicted in”