1 Corinthians Chapter 15

At a Glance

  • Chapter 15 is Paul’s monumental treatment of the resurrection, the gospel’s heart, and the ultimate meaning of Christian faith.
  • Historical & Literary Context.
  • 1 Corinthians 15 sits at a pivotal moment in Paul’s argument: establishing foundational Christian doctrines—resurrection and bodily transformation—as the scaffolding for Christian ethics and hope.
  • - Resurrection reality: the central claim that Jesus’ resurrection guarantees the future resurrection of believers.
  • - Historical reliability: multiple eyewitness appearances establish credibility.

CHAPTER REFERENCE

Chapter Overview

Chapter 15 is Paul’s monumental treatment of the resurrection, the gospel’s heart, and the ultimate meaning of Christian faith. He presents the core confession: Christ died for sins, was buried, and rose on the third day, all in accordance with Scripture. He then catalogues post-resurrection appearances—Cephas, the twelve, over five hundred brothers, James, all the apostles, and finally Paul himself—demonstrating the reliability of the resurrection witness. If Christ is not raised, Paul argues, τότε faith is futile and believers are still in their sins, the preaching is in vain, and Christians are most to be pitied. The chapter steadily ramps from belief to implications: the dead will be raised, and the body will be transformed. He uses the metaphor of mortality clothed with immortality, the perishable putting on the imperishable, and the spiritual body replacing the physical. The climax is the victory over mortality through the resurrected Christ, the firstfruits of what God will accomplish for all who belong to Him. The chapter binds the eschatological hope to conviction about history: the resurrection is not mere later belief but the defining reality that shapes ethics, endurance, and mission.

Historical & Literary Context

1 Corinthians 15 sits at a pivotal moment in Paul’s argument: establishing foundational Christian doctrines—resurrection and bodily transformation—as the scaffolding for Christian ethics and hope. The genre blends apologetic defense with pastoral exhortation. The chapter interacts with Greco-Roman skepticism about bodily existence and the afterlife, offering a robust bodily resurrection claim that anchors Christian hope. It serves as a hinge between the present ethical exhortations and the apocalyptic horizon that undergirds Paul’s mission theology. The historical context includes debates within early Christian communities about what happens after death and how the future resurrection relates to current life.

Key Themes

- Resurrection reality: the central claim that Jesus’ resurrection guarantees the future resurrection of believers.

- Historical reliability: multiple eyewitness appearances establish credibility.

- Eschatological transformation: the mortal body will be clothed with immortality.

- This-worldly implications: moral endurance and steadfast faith grounded in the hope of what is to come.

- Universal scope: Christ’s resurrection as the hinge for salvation and cosmic restoration.

Modern Application

For contemporary life, 1 Corinthians 15 anchors Christian hope beyond present suffering, inviting believers to live with a confident expectation of transformation. It encourages integrity in preaching and teaching about resurrection, grounding it in historical testimony. Practically, it motivates perseverance, moral courage, and a mission-driven posture—knowing that life in Christ has a future culmination that redefines present values. It challenges secular narratives that deny meaning beyond the grave and provides a robust anthropology: our bodies matter, creation awaits renewal, and God’s future shapes how we treat others, steward resources, and engage in justice. The chapter also informs pastoral care around loss and grief, offering confidence that suffering is not the final word because of the resurrection.

Cross-References: Romans 6 (new life in Christ), Philippians 3:10–14 (pressing toward the goal), 2 Corinthians 4–5 (eternal weight of glory), Colossians 3:1–4 (set minds on things above)

Recommended Personas: Paul (the resurrection apologist), Jesus (rising Lord), Peter (eyewitness apostle), David (faith amid despair)

Chapter Text

1

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

2

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

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

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.

7

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

8

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

9

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

10

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.

11

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

12

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

13

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

14

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

15

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.

16

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

17

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

18

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

19

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

20

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

21

For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

22

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

23

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

24

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.

25

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

26

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

27

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.

28

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.

29

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?

30

And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?

31

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

32

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.

33

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

34

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

35

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

36

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

37

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:

38

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

39

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.

40

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

41

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.

42

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

43

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

44

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

45

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

46

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

47

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

48

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

49

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

50

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

51

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

52

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.

53

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

54

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.

55

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

56

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

57

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

58

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.

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