Why are Paul's statements about Christ's death, burial, and resurrection not found in the Gospels or Jesus' earthly ministry?
These truths were revealed by the Holy Spirit through Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles. They are not found in Christ's earthly ministry or His own words at that time, because Paul was sent to preach the Gospel—that Christ died, was buried, and rose again—not to baptize as John was.
Les explains that Paul's statements about Christ's death, burial, and resurrection keep coming up constantly. They were prompted by the moving of the Holy Spirit through this apostle of the Gentiles, and they are not found even in Christ's earthly ministry or any of His own words as He was dealing back there at that time. In 1 Corinthians 1:17, Paul says Christ sent him not to baptize, unlike John the Baptist, who was sent to baptize and preached the baptism of repentance. Paul's mission was to preach the Gospel—that Christ died, was buried, and rose again—not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ be made of no effect. The preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who perish, yet it has everything to do with us, because there God has His controversy with man.