Saints LightDid Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?
The early creed, the empty tomb, the many witnesses and their willingness to die all make the Resurrection the best explanation of what happened, and it is the heart of the Christian faith.
What this lesson teaches
- The Resurrection is a real historical event and also a mystery beyond history.
- Paul's creed in 1 Corinthians 15 dates from within a few years of the Cross, too early for legend.
- The empty tomb, women witnesses, group appearances and the martyrdom of the apostles all point the same way.
- The Resurrection confirms Jesus' claims and promises our own resurrection.
Catechism paragraphs this lesson cites
- CCC 639-644
- CCC 647
- CCC 651-655
CCC means the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Saints Light teaches it in its own words and never quotes it. Look up any paragraph in a printed copy or at vatican.va. See every lesson by paragraph in the Catechism index.
Scripture read in this lesson: 1 Corinthians 15:14; 1 Corinthians 15:6; Luke 24:39.
A sample question from this lesson
Why does the creed in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 matter so much?
- It was written by an eyewitness to the empty tomb
- It dates from very soon after the Cross, too early for legend to grow
- It is the only place the Resurrection is mentioned
- It was written by a Roman historian
Show the answer
It dates from very soon after the Cross, too early for legend to grow. The lesson notes that Paul passes on a creed many scholars date within a few years of the Cross, naming specific witnesses.
The lesson in the app has three questions, each with an explanation.
Words to know
- Resurrection
- Jesus rising bodily from the dead on the third day, in a glorified body that can no longer die.
More terms in the Catholic glossary. More passages in the Scripture index.
Read the full lesson in the app
"Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?" is lesson 3 of Answers to Hard Questions. In Saints Light you get the whole teaching, the Scripture quoted in full, all three questions and a step to live it this week.
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Related lessons
- He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead (The Creed, free)
- The Cross and Resurrection: How We Are Saved (Start Here, free)