bible verses about resurrection

Bible Verses About Resurrection: 12

Bible verses about resurrection: 12 Scriptures on Christ raised, our future rising, and hope that death does not win.

Illustrated portrait of Christopher McAllister

By Christopher McAllister

Founder of theBibleand.Love

Published September 29, 2026Updated October 23, 20266 min read1 Corinthians 15:20 (NIV)

A simple wooden cross stands far off on a quiet hill at dawn, with wildflowers in the foreground.

"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."

— 1 Corinthians 15:20 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about resurrection want Scripture for a graveside, a doubt that Easter feels thin, or hope that bodies matter to God — not metaphors only. This page is a numbered list of twelve passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. Related lists: Bible verses about the cross, Bible verses about heaven, Bible verses about eternal life, Bible verses about hope, Bible verses about redemption, and Love and the cross. Here the focus is Christ raised and our future rising — distinct from the cross as atoning death (Bible verses about the cross) and from eternal life as the gift received (Bible verses about eternal life). Christ as the resurrection and the life, the John 11 claim, is Bible verses about resurrection and life. Christ as firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep is Bible verses about firstfruits. The first word spoken to the risen Jesus was Rabboni; see what Rabboni means.

Word study (lead theme). In Greek, "resurrection" is ἀνάστασις anastasis (Strong's G386) — a standing up again, rising from death. See also Bible Hub G386. Related verbs (ἐγείρω egeirō, Strong's G1453; Bible Hub G1453) stress God raising Jesus — and those who belong to him.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 15 presses firstfruits: Christ's rising is the beginning of the harvest of those who sleep (Bible Hub commentaries on 1 Corinthians 15:20; fuller MHC at Bible Hub MHC 1 Corinthians 15). On Romans 8:11 he notes that the Spirit who raised Jesus will also give life to our mortal bodies (Bible Hub commentaries on Romans 8:11; Bible Hub MHC Romans 8).

12 Bible verses about resurrection

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:20. "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." His rising is not a private miracle — it starts the harvest. See Bible verses about hope.

  2. 1 Corinthians 15:21-22. "For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." Two humanities; two outcomes. See Bible verses about salvation.

  3. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44. "So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable… it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body." Resurrection upgrades the body; it does not discard it. See Bible verses about heaven.

  4. 1 Corinthians 15:54-55. "When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.' 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?'" Victory language belongs at the empty tomb. See Bible verses about hope.

  5. Romans 6:4-5. "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his." Union with Christ includes rising. See Bible verses about identity.

  6. Romans 8:11. "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you." The same Spirit, the same power, for mortal bodies. See Bible verses about the holy spirit.

  7. Philippians 3:10-11. "I want to know Christ — yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead." Knowing Christ includes resurrection power now and rising later. See Bible verses about purpose.

  8. Acts 2:24. "But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him." Death could not hold him — Acts' first sermon says so. See Bible verses about the cross.

  9. Acts 4:33. "With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all…" The early church's message centered on the risen Lord. See Bible verses about faith.

  10. 1 Thessalonians 4:14. "For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him." Belief about Jesus shapes belief about the dead in Christ. See Bible verses about hope.

  11. Daniel 12:2. "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt." Old Testament hope already speaks of waking. See Bible verses about eternity.

  12. Luke 24:6-7. "He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" Empty tomb plus remembered promise. See Bible verses about the cross.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse for a week when a grave feels final, Easter feels thin, or your body feels discarded by hope — not twelve. If you need firstfruits, start with 1 Corinthians 15:20. If you need the Spirit's promise for mortal bodies, start with Romans 8:11. If you need the empty-tomb announcement, start with Luke 24:6-7. For the cross that led here, see Bible verses about the cross. For eternal life as gift, see Bible verses about eternal life. For forever God, see Bible verses about eternity. For the risen Lord taken up, see Bible verses about ascension. For Mary Magdalene, the first to see him risen, open Bible verses about Mary Magdalene. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about resurrection?

1 Corinthians 15:20 (Christ raised as firstfruits), Romans 8:11 (Spirit who raised Jesus will give life to mortal bodies), and Luke 24:6-7 (He is not here; he has risen) are clear starting places.

Does the Bible teach a bodily resurrection?

Yes. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 speaks of a body sown perishable and raised imperishable — a spiritual body, not no body. Romans 8:11 ties the Spirit to life for mortal bodies.

What is the difference between resurrection and eternal life?

Resurrection stresses rising from death (Christ first, then those who belong to him). Eternal life stresses the gift of life through the Son that begins now and never ends. Cross-link Bible verses about eternal life.

Start with Love and the cross, then Bible verses about the cross, Bible verses about eternal life, Bible verses about heaven, and Bible verses about eternity. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Sources

A distant wooden cross on a dawn hill, with wildflowers in the foreground.

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