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1 Corinthians 15

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

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.

But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?

I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:

And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:

But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.

There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

What does 1 Corinthians 15:1 mean?

Explanation

1 Corinthians 15:1 is a statement made by the Apostle Paul to the believers in Corinth, where he is reminding them of the gospel message he had previously preached to them.

It underscores the foundational nature of the gospel and the fact that it is something they had received and were continuing to adhere to.

By saying "wherein ye stand," Paul is emphasizing that their continued faith and existence as a Christian community is grounded in the adherence to this gospel.

It suggests a sense of stability and perseverance in their faith, indicating that the gospel is not only a message they had heard once but a living and active truth upon which their lives were built.

Top Rated 1 Corinthians Books

Historical Context

The Corinthian church was a diverse community with its fair share of problems, including internal divisions, moral issues, and misunderstandings about Christian teachings.

Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, written around 53-54 AD, addresses these issues and attempts to correct errant beliefs and behaviors within the church.

This verse sets the stage for the following discourse on the resurrection, which was a fundamental part of the gospel and a topic of misunderstanding or doubt among some Corinthian believers.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, 1 Corinthians 15:1 is critical because it focuses on the gospel, which is the central message of Christianity that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again, defeating death and sin.

This establishes the gospel as the common ground for all Christian beliefs and teachings.

The verse serves as a reminder that the truth of the gospel is not only historical but also transformational, as it should be the basis for the believer's daily actions and hope.

Practical Applications

The practical application of 1 Corinthians 15:1 encourages believers to remember and stand firm in the foundational truths of the gospel.

It serves as a call to recall the saving work of Jesus Christ and to let that truth guide daily conduct, decision making, and interaction with others.

It also stresses the importance of consistency in faith and the ongoing commitment to live according to the teachings of the gospel.

Cross-References

Galatians 1:8-9: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."
Romans 5:1-2: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."
Ephesians 2:19-20: "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;"

Language Study

In the original Greek, the phrase "the gospel" is "τὸ εὐαγγέλιον" (to euangelion), where "euangelion" translates to "good news" or "glad tidings." The word "received" is "παρελάβετε" (parelabete), which indicates not just intellectual assent but acceptance and internalization of the message.

"Wherein ye stand" is derived from "ἑστήκατε" (hestekate), which carries the meaning of standing firm and being established.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of a central, life-altering message presented in 1 Corinthians 15:1 can be found in many religious traditions. For example, in Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths serve a similar foundational purpose.

However, the distinctiveness of Christianity is the focus on a salvific event in history, the death and resurrection of Jesus, which offers grace and hope to believers.

Other ancient myths may include stories of gods dying and rising, but none propose a direct impact on individual salvation as the Christian gospel does.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives do not generally intersect directly with the proclamations of faith-based beliefs, such as those found in the Bible.

While scientific inquiry focuses on empirical evidence and observational data, religious faith is rooted in spiritual understanding and historical testimonies.

Therefore, the affirmation of the gospel as a foundational truth for Christians as Paul highlights in this verse is not something that science seeks to prove or disprove.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have commented on 1 Corinthians 15:1.

Many note that Paul is reinforcing the credibility and importance of the gospel message, emphasizing its role as the unchanging truth upon which the faith of the Corinthians, and all Christians, rests.

Commentators also observe Paul's pastoral concern for the spiritual health of the Corinthian church, urging them to remember and uphold the true gospel in contrast to false teachings or misunderstandings that may have infiltrated the community.

As such, this verse is often referenced in discussions about the centrality of the resurrection in Christian doctrine and its application in daily life.

1 Corinthians 15

1 Corinthians 15

What does 1 Corinthians 15:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated 1 Corinthians Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does 1 Corinthians 15:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated 1 Corinthians Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?