1 Corinthians 15:18
Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
1 Corinthians 15:18
Verse 18 follows the logic: if there is no resurrection, those who sleep in Christ have perished. The phrase “fallen asleep” is a common New Testament metaphor for death, particularly used by Paul to emphasize the hope that believers will be awakened. In Corinth, where death and the afterlife were thought about in various ways, Paul insists on a concrete future resurrection for believers. The verse conveys the seriousness of the consequence: without the resurrection, believers’ hope would vanish at death, resulting in eternal loss rather than eternal life.
This verse underscores the reality of bodily resurrection as the consummation of salvation. It connects life after death with communal identity: those who died in Christ are not lost but transformed and raised at Christ’s return. The verse also highlights the cohesiveness of Pauline soteriology: death, resurrection, and eternal life are parts of a single storyline.
This verse invites believers to grieve with hope and to face death with trust in the risen Christ. It encourages funeral practices and memorials that proclaim the hope of resurrection rather than mere consolation. Practically, it invites families to lean into community, share testimonies of faith, and use death as a reminder to live in light of eternity. It also calls Christians to care for the living: comforting the bereaved with genuine hope in Christ.
Cross-References: John 11:25-26; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14; Philippians 1:21-24; 2 Corinthians 5:1-8; Revelation 21:4