Resurrection of Christ
Jesus rose bodily from the dead.
This doctrine defines Christian orthodoxy. Denial places one outside the historic faith.
Who binds this (creedal)
Every affiliated congregation inherits its denomination's position. Follow a chip to see the confession's language.
Key scriptures
- 1Cor 15:14 — And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
- 1Cor 15:17 — And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
- 1Cor 15:20 — But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
- 1Cor 15:3 — For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
- 1Cor 15:4 — And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
- 1Cor 15:54 — So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
- 1Pet 1:3 — Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
- Acts 10:40 — Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
- Acts 2:24 — Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
- Acts 2:31 — He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
- Col 2:12 — Buried 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.
- John 20:9 — For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
- Luke 24:6 — He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
- Mark 16:6 — And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
- Matt 28:6 — He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
- Phil 3:10 — That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
- Rev 1:18 — I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
- Rom 6:9 — Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
What the confessions say
Articles of the historic confessions that address this doctrine.
- Anglican Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion Article 4 — Of the Resurrection of Christ
- Reformed Westminster Larger Catechism Q52 — How was Christ exalted in his resurrection?
- Reformed Heidelberg Catechism Q57 — What comfort does the resurrection of the body offer you?
- Reformed Westminster Shorter Catechism Q28 — Wherein consisteth Christ's exaltation?
- Lutheran Augsburg Confession Article 3 — Of the Son of God
- Roman Catholic Council of Trent (Decrees) On Justification · Chapter XIV — On the fallen, and their restoration
The Church Fathers
The earliest Fathers who commented on the Scriptures above.
Let us consider, beloved, how the Lord continually proves to us that there shall be a future resurrection, of which He has rendered the Lord Jesus Christ the first-fruits by raising Him from the dead. Let us contemplate, beloved, the resurrection which is at all times taking place. Day and night declare to us a resurrection. The night…
The last times are come upon us. Let us therefore be of a reverent spirit, and fear the long-suffering of God, lest we despise the riches of His goodness and forbearance. For let us either fear the wrath to come, or let us love the present joy in the life that now is; and let our present and true joy be only this, to be found in Christ…
Sheol saw me and was shattered, and Death ejected me and many with me. I have been vinegar and bitterness to it, and I went down with it as far as its depth. Then the feet and the head it released, because it was not able to endure my face. And I made a congregation of living among his dead; and I spoke with them by living lips; in…
I have greatly rejoiced with you in our Lord Jesus Christ, because ye have followed the example of true love [as displayed by God], and have accompanied, as became you, those who were bound in chains, the fitting ornaments of saints, and which are indeed the diadems of the true elect of God and our Lord; and because the strong root of…
But who is it that has had fellowship with us in the matter of food? Whether is it he who is conceived of by them as the Christ above, who extended himself through Horos, and imparted a form to their mother; or is it He who is from the Virgin, Emmanuel, who did eat butter and honey, of whom the prophet declared, "He is also a man, and…
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who by His great mercy has regenerated us." For if God generated us of matter, He afterwards, by progress in life, regenerated us. "The Father of our Lord, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" who, according to your faith, rises again in us; as, on the other hand, He dies in…