1 Corinthians 15:4
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 12
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ὅτι
And that
G3754
ὅτι
And that
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
2 of 12
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
4 of 12
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ὅτι
And that
G3754
ὅτι
And that
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
5 of 12
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
ἐγήγερται
he rose again
G1453
ἐγήγερται
he rose again
Strong's:
G1453
Word #:
6 of 12
to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e., rouse (literally, from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively, from
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
7 of 12
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τρίτῃ
the third
G5154
τρίτῃ
the third
Strong's:
G5154
Word #:
8 of 12
third; neuter (as noun) a third part, or (as adverb) a (or the) third time, thirdly
ἡμέρᾳ
day
G2250
ἡμέρᾳ
day
Strong's:
G2250
Word #:
9 of 12
day, i.e., (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the jews as inclusive of
κατὰ
according
G2596
κατὰ
according
Strong's:
G2596
Word #:
10 of 12
(prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)
Cross References
Hosea 6:2After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.Matthew 12:40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.Jonah 1:17Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.Hebrews 13:20Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,Psalms 2:7I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.Romans 6:4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.Colossians 2:12Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.Luke 9:22Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.Luke 24:26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?Luke 24:46And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Historical Context
Jewish burial customs involved immediate entombment and three-day observation to confirm death (John 11:39). The third-day resurrection was early enough to prevent decomposition (Psalm 16:10, Acts 2:27) yet long enough to confirm death. The specificity of 'third day' indicates historical testimony, not myth.
Questions for Reflection
- Why is the burial essential to the gospel, not merely the death and resurrection?
- What does the perfect tense 'has been raised' indicate about Christ's current state?
- How do Old Testament scriptures prepare for and validate the third-day resurrection?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And that he was buried (καὶ ὅτι ἐτάφη, kai hoti etaphē)—The burial confirms the reality of Jesus's death. Ancient docetists denied Christ truly died; Paul's emphasis on burial refutes this. The aorist passive verb etaphē indicates a completed action—Jesus was truly, physically dead and laid in Joseph of Arimathea's tomb.
And that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures (καὶ ὅτι ἐγήγερται τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ κατὰ τὰς γραφάς)—The verb egēgertai (ἐγήγερται) is perfect tense, indicating past action with ongoing results: "He has been raised and remains risen." The third day fulfills Hosea 6:2 and Jonah's three days (Matthew 12:40). Unlike pagan resurrection myths (Osiris, Adonis), this occurred in history, on a specific day, verified by witnesses.