1 Corinthians 15:3

The context

First Corinthians 15 answers members of the congregation who denied a future resurrection of the dead. Paul begins by reminding them of what he had handed on when he first preached in the city, and he marks it as a matter of first importance. Verses 3 and 4 give the content in a compact, formulaic form, followed by the list of appearances.

What it establishes

It establishes that Paul was passing on material he had received, which is one of the clearest indications in the letters of an earlier tradition circulating before him. The death is stated as being for sins and as standing in line with Scripture.

What it does not establish

It does not identify the Scriptures. The formula says the death happened in accordance with them but does not cite which texts, and the atonement language is left undeveloped. Nor does the formula carry a date; its antiquity is inferred from Paul's wording, not from any timestamp in the text.

Short note, first pass, October 2026. Corrections welcome.

Cited in these answers

• If only the words of Jesus matter, why do we need Paul and the rest of the New Testament?

Part of Scripture, Opened — the exegetical layer behind every citation on this site. Scripture quotations are from the ESV.