1 Corinthians 15:20
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1 Corinthians 15:20
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. Paul announces a decisive shift: Jesus’ resurrection inaugurates the eschatological harvest. “Firstfruits” is a Jewish agricultural metaphor indicating the guarantee of the harvest to come. Jesus’ resurrection is the first portion of the general resurrection that will follow at the end of the age. This frames the entire Christian hope as already inaugurated and not merely future anticipation.
This verse ties Jesus’ resurrection to the entire resurrection sequence: He is the firstfruits, the guarantee of what is to come for all who belong to Him. It emphasizes Jesus’ unique preeminence and the certainty of God’s plan for renewal—body and soul, creation and humanity.
Practically, this invites believers to live as those who are already part of the coming resurrection. It encourages spiritual disciplines, ethical living, and mission with the confidence that God’s plan is underway. It also reassures us of God’s faithfulness in partial, already-but-not-yet moments of redemption in our lives today.
Cross-References: Leviticus 23:10-11; Romans 8:23; Colossians 1:18; Revelation 1:5