Bible Discussion Thread

Has anyone used 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" as the Gospel to believe to be born again?

Charles, yes, this ancient creed is perhaps the earliest formulation of the essence of The Gospel. Paul was writing to the church at Corinth in about 55 AD. He had been there earlier, as he stated, "I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received."

We know it was a creed, because it has a cadence to it and repeated words that are characteristic of creeds...

"

How that Christ died for our sins

According to the scriptures;

And that he was buried,

And that he rose again the third day

According to the scriptures:

And that he was seen of Cephas,

Then of the twelve:

After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

After that, he was seen of James;

Then of all the apostles.

"

So Paul "delivered" this creed earlier to the Corinthians, but when was it that Paul "received" this creed?

Many believe it was when he visited Peter in Jerusalem 3 years after his conversion. This would have been 3 to 5 years after the Crucifixion. So if Paul "received" this creed at that time, it had to have been in use by Christians earlier than 3 to 5 years after the Crucifixion. Some believe that this creed came into use within months after Jesus died and arose from the dead. Nonetheless, it is one of the pieces of evidence for The Resurrection and Gary Habermas has done quite a bit of research work on this topic.

Charles R. Peek,

I have in gospel presentations, as well as having it printed on my checks in the signature area(verses 3&4 only). Have you, and why do you ask?

Jesus sent Paul to the Gentiles, but very few Gentiles believe his gospel to be saved. I'm glad to know some one believes it.