1 Corinthians 15:3 to Isaiah 53:5-6, 11-12

NT Text: 1 Corinthians 15:3

OT Source(s):

• Isaiah 53:5-6 ("He was pierced for our transgressions; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him")
• Isaiah 53:11-12 ("He bore the sin of many")

Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Reference Type: Echo

Connection Method(s): Promise-Fulfillment + Typology (Direct Type, Forward-Looking)

Anchor Text: Isa 52:13-53:12 — The Suffering Servant

Significance: Paul's declaration that "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures" (kata tas graphas) in 1 Corinthians 15:3 most directly echoes Isaiah 53, the Suffering Servant Song, which provides the primary scriptural warrant for vicarious atonement. The phrase "for our sins" (hyper tōn hamartiōn hēmōn) reflects Isaiah 53:5 ("wounded for our transgressions") and 53:12 ("bore the sin of many"). While Paul does not explicitly cite Isaiah 53, the creedal formula he received and transmitted presupposes it as the chief OT text explaining how the Messiah's death could be "according to the Scriptures." The Servant's suffering is both substitutionary (53:5, "the punishment that brought us peace") and effective (53:11, "by his knowledge he will justify many"). This is the earliest preserved Christian creed (ca. AD 35-40), demonstrating that the Isaiah 53 interpretation of Jesus' death predates Paul's letters and belongs to the foundational apostolic tradition.