1 Corinthians 15:14
And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
1 Corinthians 15:14
**VERSE REFERENCE**
1 Corinthians 15:14: "And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain."
**Meaning & Context** (200 words)
This verse sharpens the stakes: if Jesus did not rise, then Christian preaching is futile and faith is devoid of its ultimate hope. Paul is not indulging in hyperbole; he is arguing from the premises of the gospel’s central claim. The rhetoric is aimed at Corinth’s skepticism and the seriousness of belief. In a culture of competing philosophical systems, Paul insists that without the resurrection, the entire message loses its integrity and power.
**Theological Significance** (150 words)
This verse underscores the practical indispensability of the resurrection for Christian faith. It anchors justification, sanctification, and eschatological hope in the risen Christ. It also highlights the coherence of the gospel narrative: death is defeated, sins are forgiven, and new creation begins in Jesus’ victory.
**Modern Application** (150 words)
- When doubt creeps in, return to the resurrection as the hinge point of faith. If the resurrection is true, other beliefs about morality, purpose, and destiny gain coherence.
- For evangelism: present the resurrection not as a nice metaphor but as a historically grounded event with transformative implications.
- Practical example: memorize a concise resurrection defense to share in conversations with friends who doubt.
**Cross-References**: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14; Romans 1:4; Acts 17:31; Luke 24:46-47