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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 15:55 mean?

Explanation

1 Corinthians 15:55 is a rhetorical exclamation that represents the ultimate triumph over death through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The "sting" of death refers to the pain, sin, and punishment that typically accompanies death, while "victory" refers to the power and finality that death holds over life.

The verse symbolizes the Christian belief that through Christ’s resurrection, death has been defeated and no longer has power over those who believe in Him.

Thus, the "sting" and "victory" of death are rendered null and void.

Top Rated 1 Corinthians Books

Historical Context

This verse is part of a longer passage within Paul the Apostle's first letter to the Corinthians, written around 53-54 A.D.

The church in Corinth was a diverse community within a cosmopolitan city, and it faced various theological disagreements and moral dilemmas.

In this letter, Paul addresses the issue of resurrection, a topic that some in Corinth were questioning.

Paul emphasizes that the resurrection is a cornerstone of Christian faith and is essential for hope in eternal life.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse offers a message of hope and assurance in the Christian faith, emphasizing the resurrection's victory over death.

In Catholic theology, it underscores the belief in the bodily resurrection, while in Reformed and Evangelical theology, it confirms the assurance of salvation.

From a preterist perspective, it might be seen as having been fulfilled in the first century with the resurrection of Christ and the subsequent outpouring of spiritual power on the early church.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, 1 Corinthians 15:55 can be invoked by believers as a source of comfort in the face of death, mourning, or fear.

It encourages them to live a life free from the fear of death, focusing instead on the eternal life promised through faith in Christ.

This perspective can influence moral decision-making, end-of-life conversations, and provide solace in times of loss or grief.

Cross-References

Hosea 13:14: "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes."
Romans 6:9: "Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him."
Revelation 20:14: "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death."

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek and their meanings include:

"Sting" (κέντρον, kentron): This word was used for a sting, such as that of a bee or scorpion, metaphorically associating death with pain and suffering.
"Victory" (νῖκος, nikos): This term denotes conquest or victory, in this context, used to suggest that death's seeming triumph is ultimately defeated.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The theme of defeating death is prevalent in various religious myths, such as the Egyptian story of Osiris or the Greek myth of the death and return of Persephone.

However, unlike these myths, the Christian doctrine of resurrection as signaled in this verse is central to its teachings of salvation history and is coupled with the idea of overcoming spiritual death through a personal relationship with a deity.

Scientific Perspectives

Science views death as a natural and irreversible biological process.

However, the exploration of near-death experiences (NDEs) and research on consciousness could be perceived to intersect with the dialogues on life after death.

Yet, while these studies provide interesting insights into human consciousness and the dying process, they do not confirm any religious interpretations of the afterlife.

Commentaries

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 15:55 often focus on the eschatological implications and the transformative power of the resurrection.

Renowned theologian John Gill interpreted the verse as a fulfillment of prophecy and a declaration of the resurrection's victory over the law's condemnatory power.

Matthew Henry saw it as an encouragement to Christians facing death, emphasizing that because Jesus conquered the grave, believers would also overcome it through Him.

1 Corinthians 15

1 Corinthians 15

What does 1 Corinthians 15:55 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 15:55 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?