1 Corinthians15
World English Bible · Public Domain
1Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand,
2by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
6Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep.
7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
8and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.
9For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God.
10But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was given to me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
11Whether then it is I or they, so we preach, and so you believed.
12Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised.
14If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith also is in vain.
15Yes, we are also found false witnesses of God, because we testified about God that he raised up Christ, whom he didn’t raise up if it is true that the dead are not raised.
16For if the dead aren’t raised, neither has Christ been raised.
17If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.
18Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
19If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.
20But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruit of those who are asleep.
21For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man.
22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
23But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s at his coming.
24Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God the Father, when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power.
25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
26The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
27For, “He put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when he says, “All things are put in subjection”, it is evident that he is excepted who subjected all things to him.
28When all things have been subjected to him, then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all.
29Or else what will they do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead aren’t raised at all, why then are they baptized for the dead?
30Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour?
31I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32If I fought with animals at Ephesus for human purposes, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, then “let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
33Don’t be deceived! “Evil companionships corrupt good morals.”
34Wake up righteously and don’t sin, for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
35But someone will say, “How are the dead raised?” and, “With what kind of body do they come?”
36You foolish one, that which you yourself sow is not made alive unless it dies.
37That which you sow, you don’t sow the body that will be, but a bare grain, maybe of wheat, or of some other kind.
38But God gives it a body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own.
39All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.
40There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial differs from that of the terrestrial.
41There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
42So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown perishable; it is raised imperishable.
43It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body.
45So also it is written, “The first man Adam became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
46However, that which is spiritual isn’t first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual.
47The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven.
48As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let’s also bear the image of the heavenly.
50Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood can’t inherit God’s Kingdom; neither does the perishable inherit imperishable.
51Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
53For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55“Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?”
56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Corinthians 15.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The apostle proves the resurrection of Christ from the dead. (1–11). Those answered who deny the resurrection of the body. (12–19). The resurrection of believers to eternal life. (20–34). Objections against it answered. (35–50). The mystery of the change that will be made on those living at Christ's second coming. (51–54). The believer's triumph over death and the grave, An exhortation to diligence. (55–58).
vv1-11
The word resurrection, usually points out our existence beyond the grave. Of the apostle's doctrine not a trace can be found in all the teaching of philosophers. The doctrine of Christ's death and resurrection, is the foundation of Christianity. Remove this, and all our hopes for eternity sink at once. And it is by holding this truth firm, that Christians stand in the day of trial, and are kept faithful to God. We believe in vain, unless we keep in the faith of the gospel. This truth is confirmed by Old Testament prophecies; and many saw Christ after he was risen. This apostle was highly favoured, but he always had a low opinion of himself, and expressed it. When sinners are, by Divine grace, turned into saints, God causes the remembrance of former sins to make them humble, diligent, and faithful. He ascribes to Divine grace all that was valuable in him. True believers, though not ignorant of what the Lord has done for, in, and by them, yet when they look at their whole conduct and their obligations, they are led to feel that none are so worthless as they are. All true Christians believe that Jesus Christ, and him crucified, and then risen from the dead, is the sun and substance of Christianity. All the apostles agreed in this testimony; by this faith they lived, and in this faith they died.
vv12-19
Having shown that Christ was risen, the apostle answers those who said there would be no resurrection. There had been no justification, or salvation, if Christ had not risen. And must not faith in Christ be vain, and of no use, if he is still among the dead? The proof of the resurrection of the body is the resurrection of our Lord. Even those who died in the faith, had perished in their sins, if Christ had not risen. All who believe in Christ, have hope in him, as a Redeemer; hope for redemption and salvation by him; but if there is no resurrection, or future recompence, their hope in him can only be as to this life. And they must be in a worse condition than the rest of mankind, especially at the time, and under the circumstances, in which the apostles wrote; for then Christians were hated and persecuted by all men. But it is not so; they, of all men, enjoy solid comforts amidst all their difficulties and trials, even in the times of the sharpest persecution.
vv20-34
All that are by faith united to Christ, are by his resurrection assured of their own. As through the sin of the first Adam, all men became mortal, because all had from him the same sinful nature, so, through the resurrection of Christ, shall all who are made to partake of the Spirit, and the spiritual nature, revive, and live for ever. There will be an order in the resurrection. Christ himself has been the first-fruits; at his coming, his redeemed people will be raised before others; at the last the wicked will rise also. Then will be the end of this present state of things. Would we triumph in that solemn and important season, we must now submit to his rule, accept his salvation, and live to his glory. Then shall we rejoice in the completion of his undertaking, that God may receive the whole glory of our salvation, that we may for ever serve him, and enjoy his favour. What shall those do, who are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Perhaps baptism is used here in a figure, for afflictions, sufferings, and martyrdom, as Mt 20:22, 23. What is, or will become of those who have suffered many and great injuries, and have even lost their lives, for this doctrine of the resurrection, if the dead rise not at all? Whatever the meaning may be, doubtless the apostle's argument was understood by the Corinthians. And it is as plain to us that Christianity would be a foolish profession, if it proposed advantage to themselves by their faithfulness to God; and to have our fruit to holiness, that our end may be everlasting life. But we must not live like beasts, as we do not die like them. It must be ignorance of God that leads any to disbelieve the resurrection and future life. Those who own a God and a providence, and observe how unequal things are in the present life, how frequently the best men fare worst, cannot doubt as to an after-state, where every thing will be set to rights. Let us not be joined with ungodly men; but warn all around us, especially children and young persons, to shun them as a pestilence. Let us awake to righteousness, and not sin.
Key Words
δέ (dé): but, and, etc.
γνωρίζω (gnōrízō): to make known; subjectively, to know
ὑμῖν (hymîn): to (with or by) you
ἀδελφός (adelphós): a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like G1 (Α))
ὅς (hós): the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
εὐαγγέλιον (euangélion): a good message, i.e. the gospel
εὐαγγελίζω (euangelízō): to announce good news ("evangelize") especially the gospel
παραλαμβάνω (paralambánō): to receive near, i.e. associate with oneself (in any familiar or intimate act or relation); by analogy, to assume an office; figuratively, to learn
ἵστημι (hístēmi): to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively)
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Cross References
1 Corinthians 15Prophetic description of Messiah dying for our sins, specifically cited as 'according to the scriptures.'
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Prophecy that God's Holy One would not see corruption, fulfilled in Christ's third-day resurrection.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Directly cited: 'He must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet.'
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Directly cited: 'For he hath put all things under his feet' as Messianic headship.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Paul quotes the creation of the first man Adam as a 'living soul' from Genesis.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Directly quoted: 'Death is swallowed up in victory' is the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The dramatic rhetorical taunt of death and the grave is drawn from Hosea's prophecy.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Explicit historical account of Jesus appearing specifically to Simon (Cephas) after His resurrection.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The defining comparative parallel of death in Adam versus justification and life in Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Prophetic source for the ultimate swallowing up and destruction of death as an enemy.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Quoted by Paul to represent the epicurean, hopeless despair of those denying the resurrection.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Jesus uses the identical agricultural analogy: grain must fall and die to bring life.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The theological framework contrasting Adam and Christ as the federal heads of humanity.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Parallel description of the last trumpet sounding and the dead rising at Christ's coming.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Paul uses the same clothing metaphor of being clothed upon with our heavenly house.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Paul's verbal parallel of delivering ('I delivered') what he also received by revelation.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Jonah's three days in the whale as a type of Christ's three days in the grave.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The mountain meeting in Galilee, likely where the five hundred brethren saw the risen Christ.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Paul's parallel confession of being the chief of sinners, echoing his humility in v. 9.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel where Paul calls himself 'less than the least of all saints,' matching 'least of the apostles.'
Supported by Matthew Henry
Historical example of false teachers (Hymeneus and Philetus) who destroyed faith by denying the physical resurrection.
Supported by John Calvin
Christ designated as the firstborn from the dead, directly parallel to 'firstfruits of them that slept.'
Supported by Matthew Henry
The original judgment linking Adam's sin with the arrival of physical death.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Elaborates on the specific 'order' and timing of the resurrection at His coming.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Affirms the systematic destruction of the devil and his power over death.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Asserts that Christ has fundamentally abolished death, validating its description as 'destroyed'.
Supported by John Calvin
Prophetic expectation of Yahweh redeeming His people from the power of the grave.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Shares the distinctive eschatological concept of Christ/God being 'all in all'.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The righteous rising to shine as the brightness of the firmament and stars.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jesus as the quickening spirit who has life in Himself and raises the dead.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrasts him who is of the earth (earthy) with Him who comes from heaven.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Believers are predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.
Supported by John Calvin
A matching burst of thanksgiving to God for deliverance through Jesus Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Believers are 'more than conquerors' through Him, possessing the victory over death.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Prophecy of the Messiah being 'cut off, but not for himself' to make reconciliation for iniquity.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms Paul received his Gospel not from man, but by direct revelation of Jesus Christ.
Supported by Matthew Poole