Christ’s Resurrection: Scriptural Basis

Scriptural Basis—The Facts

Prophecies

In the Old Testament

Psalm 2:7 I will recount the decree of Jehovah; He said to Me: You are My Son; Today I have begotten You.

Psalm 16:8-11 (8) I have set Jehovah before me continually; Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. (9) Therefore my heart rejoices and my glory exults; Even my flesh dwells securely. (10) For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, Nor let Your Holy One see the pit. (11) You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Note: The following New Testament passages confirm that the Old Testament prophecies above refer to Christ’s resurrection.

Acts 2:25-32 (25) For David says regarding Him, “I saw the Lord continually before me, because He is on my right hand, that I may not be shaken. (26) Therefore my heart was made glad and my tongue exulted; moreover, also my flesh will rest in hope, (27) because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor will you permit Your Holy One to see corruption. (28) You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of gladness with Your presence.” (29) Men, brothers, I can say to you plainly concerning the patriarch David that he both deceased and was buried, and his tomb is among us until this day. (30) Therefore, being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him to seat One from the fruit of his loins upon his throne, (31) he, seeing this beforehand, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was He abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. (32) This Jesus God has raised up, of which we all are witnesses.

Acts 13:33-37 (33) That God has fully fulfilled this promise to us their children in raising up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, “You are My Son; today I have begotten You.” (34) And as to His having raised Him up from the dead, no longer to return to corruption, He spoke in this way, “I will give you the holy things of David, the faithful things.” (35) Therefore He also says in another place, “You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” (36) Now David, having served his own generation by the counsel of God, did indeed fall asleep and was buried with his fathers and saw corruption; (37) but He who God has raised did not see corruption.

Old Testament | New Testament | Summary Table

Prophecies | Types | Accounts | Witnesses