# Why did it take Jesus 3 days to rise from the dead? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 28, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-jesus-3-days-to-rise-from-the-dead/478959 "2008-12-28T14:56:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-jesus-3-days-to-rise-from-the-dead/478959/1 "2008-12-28T14:56:53Z")
What is the significance of the number “3” in the resurrection story? Is there a reason why it took so long for an omnipotent being to bring his only son back to life, and does it tie into the other 3’s in the Bible, such as the cock crowing 3 times, the Holy trinity, etc.? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-jesus-3-days-to-rise-from-the-dead/478959/2 "2008-12-28T15:16:36Z")
I once read through an “explanation” of Revelations. It would say that the 14 candles of the candelabrum signified the 14 churches of Tunisia, the 5 headed beast refers to the 5 judges of…whatever. The list continued on exhaustively, but…how would they know that for certain? Who even wrote the damn thing is pretty unclear, let alone having that guy’s checklist of things he felt he needed to symbolize numerically. As a writer, you need to come up with random “facts” as you’re coming up with the story. Sometimes you’ll have some sort of reference in mind but, and especially if you’re telling the story orally, often you’re just choosing a number based on a general “size”. 3 would probably be a size that means “soon enough that we can be certain that we’re not talking about a successor, but the actual Jesus.” And probably the original story was told orally and later transcribed. The number 3 may have started out as 7 or 5 or any other decently small number, but getting transposed with each new rendition due to being such a minor detail–only retaining the basic general “size”. Not to say that there might not be a numerological meaning that is well-documented, but minus any such documentation I’d be cautious of believing any theories regardless of popularity. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-jesus-3-days-to-rise-from-the-dead/478959/3 "2008-12-28T15:25:38Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What is the significance of the number “3” in the resurrection story? Is there a reason why it took so long for an omnipotent being to bring his only son back to life, and does it tie into the other 3’s in the Bible, such as the cock crowing 3 times, the Holy trinity, etc.? Uh, the Holy trinity is **not** in the bible. ---
**Author:** ![truthpizza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@truthpizza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthpizza)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-jesus-3-days-to-rise-from-the-dead/478959/4 "2008-12-28T15:26:45Z")
I hearing once that three days was a traditional time to establish that somebody was actually dead in not in some sort of coma. On the other hand, if Jesus died at 3 PM Friday and was up at 4 AM Sunday, that’s only 37 hours, though it included parts of three days - Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-jesus-3-days-to-rise-from-the-dead/478959/5 "2008-12-28T15:27:50Z")
> [@the raindog](#): > > Uh, the Holy trinity is **not** in the bible. Thank you for the correction. I had assumed it was a Christian concept-my bad. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-jesus-3-days-to-rise-from-the-dead/478959/6 "2008-12-28T15:35:19Z")
It was the favorite number of the guy who first dreamed up the story. No, I can’t prove it, but it sounds as good as any other theory. You can attach numerological significance to any number. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-jesus-3-days-to-rise-from-the-dead/478959/7 "2008-12-28T15:38:05Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Thank you for the correction. I had assumed it was a Christian concept-my bad. It’s vaguely in the Bible, but wasn’t formalized until the 4th century. > **[Trinity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_trinity#History)** > > The Trinity (Latin: Trinitas, lit. 'triad', from trinus 'threefold') Ancient Greek: trias, lit. 'τριάς', Greek: triada, lit. 'τριάδα', is a Christian doctrine concerning the nature of God, which defines one God existing in three coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit, three distinct persons (hypostases) sharing one essence/substance/nature (homoousion). > As the Fourth Lateran Council declared, it is the Father who begets, t... The contest between it and other divisions was actually pretty rough. > **[Arianism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arianism)** > > Arianism (Koine Greek: Ἀρειανισμός, romanized: Areianismós) is a Christological doctrine that rejects the traditional notion of the Trinity, teaching that Jesus was created by God and is therefore distinct from God. It is named after its proponent Arius (250 or 256 – 336 AD) and is regarded as heretical by most modern mainstream branches of Christianity. Arianism is held by a minority of modern denominations, although some of these groups espouse related doctrines such as Socinianism, and o It ... ---
**Author:** ![Aswan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@Aswan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aswan)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-jesus-3-days-to-rise-from-the-dead/478959/8 "2008-12-28T15:59:08Z")
Yes, I would agree. It’s purely a literary device, which is not only acceptable but emotionally satisfying. If it had happened instantaneously, as one might suppose an all-powerful God is capable of, the crucifixion would have been robbed of its true power and purpose. Jesus had to be dead long enough to convince His followers that He was really, really dead and that He had conquered Death completely and convincingly. Let’s remember Lazarus: it had been three days and Jesus was warned not to enter the tomb because “he stinketh.” To be truly palpable, Jesus had to stink for a while. Face it: if God had wanted to, er, hammer home the point, He’s have skipped the whole burial scene altogether and cut straight to the Transfiguration right there on the cross. Blinding light, Jesus disappears. But this would not have supplied the emotionally wrenching removal of the dead body and interment that believers had to experience. And it would not have created the deepening Mystery that the faithful must hold as an anchor of their belief. At least, that’s what Spielberg would have done. ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-jesus-3-days-to-rise-from-the-dead/478959/9 "2008-12-28T15:59:58Z")
Some feel that this correlates with the days a Winter solstice that the sun “stands still” or appears to hover in its southernmost position before appearing to “move” back northward, heralding the coming spring and renewal of life itself. It makes sense when one thinks of Christianity as heavily borrowing from pagan traditional Sun gods, which many speculate to be the case. This would mean that the Solar deity festival of resurrection would have to have been moved up a season, but that never bothered ancient Christians when adapting local pagan festivals to their own purposes. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-jesus-3-days-to-rise-from-the-dead/478959/10 "2008-12-28T16:01:00Z")
A nitpick: He rose on the 3rd day, not 3 days later. The Romans counted from 1, not from 0 (the concept of 0 was invented many centuries later). 1st day = Good Friday = crucified & died, second day= dead, third day = Easter Sunday = resurrection. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-jesus-3-days-to-rise-from-the-dead/478959/11 "2008-12-28T16:08:52Z")
Maybe it doesn’t mean anything? What if it was 2 days or 4 days? ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-jesus-3-days-to-rise-from-the-dead/478959/12 "2008-12-28T16:20:11Z")
Because he got lost coming out of the tomb and wouldn’t stop to ask directions? ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-jesus-3-days-to-rise-from-the-dead/478959/13 "2008-12-28T16:21:09Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > A nitpick: He rose on the 3rd day, not 3 days later. The Romans counted from 1, not from 0 (the concept of 0 was invented many centuries later). 1st day = Good Friday = crucified & died, second day= dead, third day = Easter Sunday = resurrection. Yeah, he died sometime before sunset Friday and his tomb was found empty Sunday morning. That’s not even 48 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-jesus-3-days-to-rise-from-the-dead/478959/14 "2008-12-28T16:32:09Z")
You try it sometime and see how long it takes you. ---
**Author:** ![Aswan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@Aswan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aswan)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-jesus-3-days-to-rise-from-the-dead/478959/15 "2008-12-28T16:32:47Z")
No, I think the number three was significant. After hundreds of years as an oral tradition—and therefore numerous “editors”—Jewish literature developed a distinct rhythm, and numbers were an important reinforcement of the validity of divine events. Three, seven, and ten appear over and again. I think three days was a number both long and short enough to satisfy the community of the authenticity of the event. [Here’s](http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_did_Jesus_die_on_Friday_and_rise_on_Sunday_and_is_said_to_have_been_dead_for_3_days) a good explanation of the way the days were reckoned. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-jesus-3-days-to-rise-from-the-dead/478959/16 "2008-12-28T17:01:33Z")
Well, first he had to find a 10th level cleric, and then the cleric had to rest and pray for the “Raise Dead” spell… ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-jesus-3-days-to-rise-from-the-dead/478959/17 "2008-12-28T17:16:08Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Yeah, he died sometime before sunset Friday and his tomb was found empty Sunday morning. That’s not even 48 hours. This is something I don’t understand, and my knowledge of this is sketchy at best. They put the body in the tomb and sealed it in, then Sunday morning they opened it and discovered it empty. How do they know he didn’t rise, say, Friday night, or sometime Saturday? Does it have to do with the Jewish \*shabbos, \*and rising from the dead would be considered “work”? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-jesus-3-days-to-rise-from-the-dead/478959/18 "2008-12-28T17:25:53Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > A nitpick: He rose on the 3rd day, not 3 days later. The Romans counted from 1, not from 0 (the concept of 0 was invented many centuries later). 1st day = Good Friday = crucified & died, second day= dead, third day = Easter Sunday = resurrection. So Jesus’ own prophecy did not come true: > [@](#): > > [Matthew 12:40](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=47&chapter=12&verse=39&end_verse=41&version=31&context=context) > > For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-jesus-3-days-to-rise-from-the-dead/478959/19 "2008-12-28T17:30:54Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > How do they know he didn’t rise, say, Friday night, or sometime Saturday? Pilate posted a guard on Saturday, placing a seal on the stone, which, presumably was unmoved: > [@](#): > > [Matthew 27:62-66](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2027:62-66;&version=31;) > > The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” > > Take a guard," Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-jesus-3-days-to-rise-from-the-dead/478959/20 "2008-12-28T17:33:58Z")
We know when the stone was rolled away, but he could have arisen ten minutes after the tomb was sealed, and walked out-he _was_ a ghost, y’know. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-jesus-3-days-to-rise-from-the-dead/478959.md?page=2)