Resurrection of Christ

The resurrection of Christ is the foundational event of Christian faith — the bodily rising of Jesus of Nazareth from death to eternal life on the third day after his crucifixion. All four Gospels narrate the discovery of the empty tomb on the first day of the week by women followers of Jesus (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20), followed by appearances of the risen Jesus to Mary Magdalene, the disciples, Thomas, the Emmaus travelers, and others. Paul provides the earliest written account, recording a series of post-resurrection appearances including to Peter, the twelve, five hundred people at once, James, and finally Paul himself (1 Corinthians 15:3–8).

Paul argues in 1 Corinthians 15:12–19 that the resurrection is not peripheral but constitutive of the gospel: if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. The resurrection vindicated Jesus's claims, fulfilled the Scriptures (citing Psalm 16:10 in Acts 2:27–31), inaugurated the new creation, and guaranteed the future resurrection of all who belong to Christ. Jesus's resurrection body was physical yet glorified — recognizable yet able to appear and disappear. The empty tomb and the post-resurrection appearances together formed the basis of apostolic proclamation from Pentecost onward.