"According to the Scriptures" in the Creed

[~Anastasia~]

In the Creed, we say, "He rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures".

My question is, are there documents that would discuss the selection of these words that explain whether "the Scriptures" refer to the New Testament, or the Old? I was wondering, are they saying something like "in the Gospel accounts, Christ rose on the third day" or are they saying something like "Christ rose on the third day, fulfilling the written words of the/some prophet/s"? Or something else?

The Gospel seems most likely, but I may be superimposing an English understanding of word meanings and structure to guess that. So do we have this answer?

Thank you all!

 

[prodromos]

I suspect the Fathers were referring to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, but I have not studied the subject in sufficient detail to offer more than my subjective opinion

 

[~Anastasia~]

It is just a matter of curiosity. You see the thread that inspired the question ...

I'm not interested in debate there. Too much difference in foundation and even word meanings. But it did occur to me to wonder about this.

Maybe someone will know.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I suspect the Fathers were referring to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, but I have not studied the subject in sufficient detail to offer more than my subjective opinion

probably this, because that is what Christ did on the road to Emmaus, and that was what was referenced in the Parable of Lazarus and the rich man.

 

[~Anastasia~]

That makes more sense than just me reading the sentence in English and interpreting more on how a translation strikes me.

Interesting. I do wonder if that's the case.

Thank you both.

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

I would think they mean the NT Gospel account since that was added around the time of the NT canon and Nicean Creed. The Apostle's Creed did not include those words but the Nicean did.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.

 

[gzt]

1 Corinthians 15:3 is what I always presumed it referred to.

 

[buzuxi02]

Its a quote borrowed from Paul in 1 Cor 15.4, where Paul says he delivered to the corinthians that which he recieved. In other words its the tradition held by the earliest christians concerning those OT prophecies which speak of Christ's suffering, death, burial and third day resurection.

The scriptures Paul had in mind (and were commonly known) to be prophecies of the passion and third day resurection are the 'sign of Jonah' & Psalms 16.10 and Psalm 17.8-13. More specifically psalm 17.8-13 would be based on the wording of the LXX (16.8-13). The phrase in verse 13, 'Arise O Lord' is rendered in greek as Anastise Kyrie!

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

My point was that "according to the scriptures" was not in the earlier creeds but added in Nicea, where all were very familiar with the NT accounts as well as Paul's writings. Also this was the same time the NT canon was formulated.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Thanks, everyone. I can see the reasoning, and can lean more heavily to the OT suggestion, but in had thoughts on the timing as well.

I take it - unless I misunderstand - that there is no known statement in the Patristic writings that actually discusses this when it was added? Meaning the answer is not clearly articulated anywhere that we know of?

We need "minutes" of all the discussion ... Perhaps somewhere in all that that is not yet translated?

Thank you, all. Any further information also appreciated.