First Corinthians chapter 15

^.3for I gave-over to you among (the) first-things that-which also I received: that Christ died on behalf of our sins according to the writings; ^.4and that he was buried, and that he was raised-up² the day, the third (day), according to the writings;

In truth, I gave over to you (I handed over, delivered beside or alongside, handed along to you), as part of the first things that I taught you, that-which also I received (the information that the Lord Jesus Christ presented to me and I took it beside or alongside myself):

·         that Christ died on behalf of our sins (in the interest of the sins of all of us – he died in our place, instead of us because of our sins)

o   in accordance with the writings (the previously written old covenant writings foretold of Jesus Christ's crucifixion, death, etc);

·         and that he was buried (in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights, 72 hours),

·         and that he was raised-up and continues raised-up (Jesus was caused to rise up alive from being dead by God – and he is still alive today!)

o   the day, emphatically and specifically the third day (72 hours having passed, for that was the legal requirement for a person's death to be completely established),

o   in accordance with the writings (the old covenant writings also foretold of Jesus Christ's resurrection).

The truth that the Christ (Messiah) would die on behalf of the sins of mankind, so as to save mankind, was not a secret. God had first spoken of it in Genesis 3:15 and God continued to speak about man's redemption by the blood of the sacrifice of the redeemer throughout the ages. It had also been written down in the old covenant writings by the prophets.

The Lord Jesus Christ himself did not commit any sinful acts against God his Father (refer to II Corinthians 5:21). He gave himself to be the sacrificial offering encompassing or encircling our sins (our aberration from God's Word), thereby making sure that everything was included and no sin was forgotten-about or left-out.

Paul repeats that the information regarding the Christ had already been foretold and written-down. God's people were to know this and to have looked forward to it coming to pass. Now it has come to pass – and Christ has been raised up from among the dead-people never to die again. He is alive!

[Reference: Genesis 3:15, 4:4; Leviticus chapter 1; Isaiah 53:2-12; Daniel 9:26; Jonah 1:17; Matthew 12:38-40, 16:21, 17:23, 20:19, 26:32, 27:57-60, 28:1-10; Mark 9:12, 10:34; Luke 22:37, 24:46; (plus many other old covenant scriptures referring to the reign of the Christ after his resurrection); Acts 2:22-27, 3:12-26, 10:34-43, 26:13-23; Romans 5:6-8, 10:8-10; I Corinthians 11:23; II Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4 and 12; I Thessalonians 5:10; Hebrews 10:12; I Peter 2:21-24, 3:18.]