apr 1, 74 - 1 Corinthians 15 Creed, Reference (Non-Manuscript)

Description:

Written by Paul the Apostle, 1 Corinthians is dated to be written around AD53-57, though we have no manuscripts to confirm this.
A CREED is a summary of a core belief that is intended to be memorized and shared. Often rhythmic, this teaching formula is a remembered proclamation.

1 Corinthians 15, Paul writes, "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received..."
- "received" and "delivered" were technical Jewish teaching terms for 'passing on tradition,' oral preservation, teaching formula intended for transmission.

Then follows the formula...

Christ died...
was buried...
was raised...
appeared...

This does not sound like Paul's normal writing style, it is structured and formulaic, and seems prepackaged.

Paul's letter dates to AD53-57, but the Creed is likely older. Possibly from the 30s, just a few year after Jesus' death- Christians were already repeating this formula before widespread books, literacy, and manuscripts.

Earlier than manuscripts and the written gospels, historians use this to understand what earliest Christians were proclaiming.

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