Easter, as celebrated in the modern Christian calendar, is one of the most significant holidays in Christianity, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The event marks the triumph of life over death and sin, symbolizing the hope of eternal life for believers. However, when exploring what Easter is called in the Bible, the answer is not straightforward, as the term “Easter” itself does not explicitly appear in the scriptures. The Bible does not use the term “Easter” in reference to the resurrection of Jesus. Instead, it refers to this event with different terms and within various contexts.
In this article, we will explore the historical, biblical, and theological perspectives on what Easter is called in the Bible, examining both the Old and New Testaments, and the development of the term “Easter” in Christian tradition.
The Absence of “Easter” in the Bible
In the New Testament, the primary focus is on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but the term “Easter” itself is conspicuously absent. In most Bible translations, such as the King James Version (KJV), the word “Easter” is used only once, in Acts 12:4. However, the use of the word in this instance is highly debated by scholars, as it does not directly refer to the resurrection of Christ but rather to the Jewish Passover.
In Acts 12:4, the verse reads: “When he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.” (KJV)
The context of this verse is the imprisonment of the apostle Peter by King Herod. The word “Easter” in this passage is believed by many scholars to be a mistranslation of the Greek word “Pascha,” which is the equivalent of the Hebrew “Pesach,” meaning Passover. The original Greek text most likely referred to the Passover feast, a significant Jewish festival that commemorates the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. The term “Easter” in the KJV is thus seen by many as a later editorial addition that came from the early Christian tradition, not directly reflecting the biblical context of the event.
Pascha: The Biblical Term for Easter
The term used in the Bible for the event commemorated by Easter is Pascha (Πάσχα in Greek), which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word Pesach (פֶּסַח), meaning Passover. This term is central to understanding what Easter means in the biblical sense. The word Pascha appears in the New Testament in several key passages, always referring to the Passover, but also alluding to the death and resurrection of Jesus as the fulfillment of the Passover lamb.
The Passover and the Lamb of God
In the Old Testament, the Passover was instituted as a memorial to the Israelites’ liberation from Egyptian bondage. God commanded that each household sacrifice a lamb, the blood of which was smeared on the doorposts to protect the firstborn from the angel of death. The lamb symbolized the innocent blood that would be shed to bring deliverance to the people of God.
In the New Testament, this imagery is deeply connected to Jesus Christ. John the Baptist famously referred to Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). In the context of Jesus’ crucifixion, the Apostle Paul later wrote, “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). Thus, the event of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection fulfills the symbolism of the Passover lamb, where Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God, takes the place of the sacrificed lamb to bring salvation to humanity.
The Apostle Paul also draws a parallel between the Old Testament Passover and the death and resurrection of Jesus. In 1 Corinthians 15:20-22, he writes:
“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
Here, Paul indicates that just as the Passover pointed to a greater future redemption, the resurrection of Jesus signifies the ultimate victory over sin and death. Thus, the resurrection of Jesus, celebrated as Easter, is the fulfillment of God’s plan of salvation, which began with the institution of the Passover.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Resurrection of Jesus
Another important aspect of the biblical context of Easter is its connection to the Jewish Feast of Unleavened Bread, which begins immediately after the Passover feast. The Bible shows that Jesus was crucified during the time of the Passover, and his body was hastily buried before the Feast of Unleavened Bread began.
In Luke 22:1, we read: “Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.”
The Feast of Unleavened Bread, which lasts for seven days, celebrates the Israelites’ hasty departure from Egypt, when they had no time to let their bread rise. For Christians, the Feast of Unleavened Bread becomes a symbol of purity, as the leaven in the bread is seen as a symbol of sin. Jesus, the “bread of life,” is considered the fulfillment of this feast, and his resurrection marks the beginning of a new spiritual renewal.
Easter in Early Christian Tradition
While the New Testament does not use the term “Easter,” the early Christian church began to develop a celebration around the resurrection of Jesus that eventually became known as Easter. The exact origins of the name “Easter” are not entirely clear. Some scholars believe the term “Easter” is derived from “Eostre,” the name of a Germanic goddess of spring, whose festival coincided with the time of the spring equinox. This idea suggests that early Christians, particularly in the Western Church, adopted the name to replace pagan springtime celebrations.
However, the majority of scholars believe that the name “Easter” was derived from the Old English word ēastre, which is related to the Paschal festival (Pascha). In many other languages, the word for Easter is directly derived from Pascha, such as Pâques in French, Pascua in Spanish, and Pasqua in Italian, reflecting the biblical term for the Passover festival.
The earliest references to a Christian observance of Jesus’ resurrection can be found in the writings of early church fathers, who referred to the event as the “Paschal feast.” Over time, the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection became fixed to the Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox, marking it as the first day of the week, symbolizing a new creation in Christ.
In the East, Easter is still called “Pascha” in most traditions, while in the West, “Easter” became the standard term, likely due to the influence of Germanic language and culture. Despite the differences in naming, the core belief is the same: Easter is the celebration of Christ’s victory over death and the hope of eternal life for all believers.
The Theological Significance of Easter
From a theological perspective, Easter is the ultimate affirmation of the Christian faith. The Apostle Paul makes this clear in 1 Corinthians 15:17:
“And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.”
The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of Christian doctrine. Without it, there would be no victory over sin, no promise of eternal life, and no hope for the future. Easter, therefore, is not just a commemoration of an event in the past, but a declaration of the present reality of the risen Christ. It is the central act that validates the Christian gospel, offering believers the assurance that death has been defeated and that God’s kingdom is inaugurated in Christ’s resurrection.
Conclusion
Although the term “Easter” does not explicitly appear in the Bible in reference to the resurrection of Jesus, the biblical foundation for the celebration of Easter is rooted in the Jewish Passover, with the resurrection of Jesus seen as the fulfillment of Passover’s promise of redemption. The word “Pascha” is the term most closely associated with the resurrection of Christ in the New Testament, and it carries rich theological implications, including the idea of Jesus as the Paschal Lamb. Over time, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus evolved into the Christian festival of Easter, a celebration of Christ’s victory over death and the hope of eternal life. While the name “Easter” may have non-biblical origins, its meaning and significance are thoroughly grounded in the biblical narrative and Christian doctrine. Easter, in both its ancient and modern forms, continues to be a powerful testament to the triumph of life over death through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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