1 Corinthians 15

This chapter is often referred to as the resurrection chapter, outlining the importance of Christ's resurrection and its implications for believers. Paul emphasizes the foundational nature of the resurrection in Christian doctrine, supporting his arguments with logical reasoning, scriptural references, and eyewitness accounts. This chapter serves as a crucial defense of the bodily resurrection of Jesus, which Paul connects directly to the hope of resurrection for all believers.

1 Corinthians 15:1-10 (NKJV)
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,
2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: 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 by Cephas, then by the twelve.
6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.
7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.
8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy 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 toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

This passage emphasizes the gospel’s core message: Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, as fulfilled in the Scriptures. Paul highlights the eyewitnesses of Christ’s resurrection and exhorts believers to stand firm in their faith, as it secures their salvation. He humbly acknowledges himself as the least of the apostles due to his former persecution of the church. Yet, in verse 10, Paul declares that God's grace empowered him to labor more abundantly than the others, referencing his tireless efforts in missionary journeys, church planting, enduring persecution, and writing foundational epistles. This underscores how God's grace transforms and enables believers to fulfill their divine purpose with extraordinary dedication.

1 Corinthians 15:11-19 (NKJV)
11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.
14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.
15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise.
16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.
17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

Paul argues logically against those in Corinth who deny the resurrection of the dead. He explains that if there is no resurrection, then Christ Himself has not been raised, which would invalidate the entire Christian faith, leaving believers with no hope beyond this life and still in their sins.

1 Corinthians 15:20-28 (NKJV)
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.
24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.
25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.
26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.
27 For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted.
28 And when all things are subdued to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

This passage highlights Christ's resurrection as the "firstfruits" of those who have died, assuring believers of their future resurrection. It explains the order of events: Christ's resurrection, followed by the resurrection of His people at His coming. Paul emphasizes Christ’s mission to defeat all powers, including death, and restore the kingdom to God the Father. The passage explicitly shows that while Christ reigns with authority, His reign is to fulfill the Father’s ultimate purpose. Once all things are subjected under Christ, He will also subject Himself to the Father, demonstrating that God the Father is the supreme authority over all.

1 Corinthians 15:29-34 (NKJV)
29 Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?
30 And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour?
31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32 If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

This passage reinforces the hope and reality of the resurrection and its implications for Christian living. In verse 29, Paul refers to being "baptized for the dead," which can be understood as baptism performed with the hope that all who have died in Christ will be raised to life at His return. This reflects the believer's faith in Christ’s resurrection and the assurance of eternal life for the faithful. Paul then highlights his own sacrifices, facing daily dangers and hardships for the gospel, which would be pointless if the resurrection were not true. He warns against the corrupting influence of those who deny the resurrection, urging believers to avoid such deceptions, live righteously, and let the hope of the resurrection shape their lives. This passage calls for steadfast faith, purposeful living, and a commitment to the transformative power of Christ’s resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:35-49 (NKJV)
35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?”
36 Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies.
37 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain.
38 But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.
40 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; 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 differs from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.
43 It is sown in dishonor, 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 became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.
47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

Paul answers questions about the nature of the resurrection body using the analogy of a seed that must die to bring forth life. He explains that just as different kinds of flesh exist in nature, and celestial bodies differ in glory, so too will the resurrected body be different from the earthly body. It will be imperishable, glorious, and powerful, contrasting with the natural body's corruptibility and weakness. This passage offers a vision of transformation from our current physical existence to a glorified, spiritual existence in the resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:50-53 (NKJV)
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

This passage explains the transformation required for believers to inherit eternal life. Paul states that "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God," emphasizing that our mortal, sinful bodies must be changed into immortal, incorruptible ones. He reveals the mystery that not all believers will "sleep" (die); instead, those alive at Christ's second coming will be instantly transformed at the sound of the last trumpet. This aligns with the belief that the 144,000, the faithful remnant alive during Earth’s final events, will not see death but will witness Christ’s return and be changed into glorified beings without experiencing the grave. This moment will also raise the righteous dead, fulfilling God’s promise of victory over death for all His people. Paul’s message is one of hope and assurance, showing that God’s faithful, whether alive or asleep, will share in the triumph of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

1 Corinthians 15:54-58 (NKJV)
54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has 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 your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

This passage celebrates the ultimate victory over sin and death through Christ. Paul explains that the mortal, corruptible bodies of humanity will be transformed into immortal, incorruptible ones at the resurrection, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies such as Isaiah 25:8 ("He will swallow up death forever") and Hosea 13:14 ("O Death, where are your plagues?"). He emphasizes that death, the last enemy, has been defeated through Christ’s resurrection. Paul also states that "the strength of sin is the law" (v. 56), reflecting how the law, as seen in passages like Deuteronomy 27:26, exposes sin and holds humanity accountable, making sin’s power evident. However, Christ’s victory over sin and death renders this power null for believers. Paul concludes with a call for steadfastness, encouraging believers to remain faithful and diligent in God’s work, knowing their labor is not in vain. This passage assures believers of their ultimate triumph through Christ and calls them to live with hope and dedication.