Dear Catholic Exchange:
During the Creed, we pray “on the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures.”
What scriptures are we refering to?
Thank you,
Don
Dear Don,
Peace in Christ!
As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states “Christ’s resurrection is the fulfillment of the promises both of the Old Testament and of Jesus Himself during His earthly life” (no. 652).
The Catechism cites I Corinthians 15:4 which says, “that He was buried; that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures.” The passage in Corinthians does not detail which scriptures were fulfilled by this. However, similar statements in Acts 2:27-31 and 13:29-39 provide several scriptures as evidence. The first passage quotes Psalm 16:8-11 and says that these verses show that David “foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld nor did his flesh see corruption” (cf. Ps 16:10). The second passage adds Psalm 2:7 (You are my son; this day I have begotten you”) and Isaiah 55:3 (“I will renew with you the everlasting covenant, the benefits assured to David”).
While none of the passages refer directly to it, Hosea 6:2 (“He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up to live in his presence”) could also be seen as a prophecy fulfilled by Jesus’s resurrection. In addition, Isaiah’s prophecy regarding the “Suffering Servant” (Is 52:13-53:12) says that the servant, who will suffer and die, will be “raised high and greatly exalted” (Is 52:13).
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