EDITORIAL

According to the Scriptures
Whenever I recite the Creed at Mass there is a phrase that always catches my attention. In Latin it is two words “secundum Scripturas,” and in English, “according to the Scriptures.” The full expression is, “And on the third day he rose, according to the Scriptures.”

The usual understanding of the expression is that the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus was foretold in the Old Testament (OT) and also predicted by Jesus himself during his public life.

Regarding the OT, the first texts that come to my mind are the Servant Hymns in Isaiah, especially the fourth one in 52:13 to 53:12. Also, by referring to himself as the “Son of Man” during his public life, but never after his resurrection, Jesus indicated that he was a suffering Messiah, not a triumphant political leader.

More immediately, the expression refers to the three predictions of the paschal mystery that Jesus made with regard to himself in Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34 (and parallels in Matt. and Luke).

Referring to the same scriptural testimony, St. Paul says in 1 Cor. 15:3, “. . . that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures . . . .”

The words of the Creed would also seem to refer to the mysterious event of the Transfiguration when Moses and Elijah appeared in glory with Jesus “and spoke of his departure” (Luke 9:30), that is, of his passion, death and resurrection. In this miracle Moses represents the Law or the whole Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) and Elijah represents all the prophets, including both the historical books of the OT and the major and minor prophets. The implied meaning here is that they were speaking to Jesus about the foreshadowing of his passion, death and resurrection in the writings of the OT.

Further biblical support for the phrase “according to the scriptures” can be found in two texts in St. Luke’s Gospel. The first one is found in the account of Jesus joining the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They did not understand the meaning of the death of Jesus so he explained it for them by interpreting the Scriptures. For he said, “‘O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:25-27).

More proof of this point is found in Luke 24:44-48. Here Jesus says that “‘everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead . . . .’”

When we profess our faith during Mass and say, “And on the third day he rose, according to the Scriptures,” we are affirming a truth of our faith that is stated many times in the Bible itself.

The resurrected Lord Jesus Christ is the key to understanding the Scriptures. Before his resurrection, before he explained the Scriptures to his disciples, before he opened their minds to understand” them, before he sent his Holy Spirit on them at Pentecost, they did not see the connection between the writings of the OT and the paschal mystery. Once Jesus enlightened them, commissioned them and sent his Spirit on them, they were different men. Now they understood and were prepared to preach, “according to the Scriptures,” salvation in Jesus Christ to all the nations (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15).

Kenneth Baker, S.J., Editor

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