1 Corinthians 15

1 Corinthians 15 is a profound chapter where Paul addresses the fundamental Christian doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. He emphasizes the historical reality of Christ's resurrection as the cornerstone for Christian faith and the hope for believers' own future resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:1 (NKJV) Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,

Paul reminds the Corinthians of the gospel he preached, which they have received and continue to adhere to. This introduction sets the stage for discussing the importance of the resurrection within this gospel message.

1 Corinthians 15:2 (NKJV) by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

The gospel is the means of salvation for those who steadfastly believe it, implying that a true faith must endure; otherwise, it is ineffective.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NKJV) For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

Paul outlines the core components of the gospel: Christ’s death for sins, His burial, and His resurrection, all prophesied in the Scriptures. This establishes the historical and scriptural foundation of Christian faith.

1 Corinthians 15:5-6 (NKJV) and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 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.

After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to Peter (Cephas), then to the twelve apostles, and subsequently to over five hundred other followers—many of whom were still alive and could corroborate the testimony of His resurrection, though some had died.

1 Corinthians 15:7-8 (NKJV) After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. And last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

Further appearances of the resurrected Christ include to James and then to all the apostles. Paul highlights his own encounter with Christ as an apostle “born out of due time,” referring to his unconventional, late conversion.

1 Corinthians 15:9 (NKJV) For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Paul reflects on his unworthiness to be an apostle due to his past as a persecutor of Christians, emphasizing God's grace in his life transformation.

1 Corinthians 15:10 (NKJV) 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.

Despite his past, Paul credits his apostolic ministry and efforts to spread the gospel to the grace of God working within him, distinguishing his hard work as a response to that grace rather than a personal merit.

1 Corinthians 15:11 (NKJV) Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Paul unites his message with that of the other apostles, emphasizing the consistency in their preaching about Christ, which led to the Corinthians' belief.

1 Corinthians 15:12 (NKJV) 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?

Paul confronts a contradiction within the Corinthian church—some members deny the general resurrection despite accepting the resurrection of Christ, which is a central tenet of the gospel they believed.

1 Corinthians 15:13-14 (NKJV) But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.

Paul logically argues that denying the general resurrection implies denying Christ's resurrection, which would invalidate the entire Christian message and faith.

1 Corinthians 15:15 (NKJV) 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.

If the dead do not rise, then the apostles, including Paul, are liars about God’s actions, specifically regarding the resurrection of Christ, challenging their integrity and the truth of their message.

1 Corinthians 15:16-17 (NKJV) For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

The resurrection is critical for Christian faith because, without it, believers would remain unredeemed from sin, undermining the entire purpose of Christ's sacrifice.

1 Corinthians 15:18 (NKJV) Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

Without resurrection, Christians who have died have simply perished, which contradicts the Christian hope of eternal life and resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:19 (NKJV) If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

Christians are to be pitied more than all others if their hope in Christ is limited to this life, suggesting a bleak and futile faith if there is no resurrection to eternal life.

1 Corinthians 15:20 (NKJV) But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Paul affirms the reality of Christ's resurrection, presenting Him as the "firstfruits," a term from Jewish harvest rituals indicating that Christ's resurrection is the first of more to come, promising future resurrection for believers.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 (NKJV) For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

Paul draws a parallel between Adam and Christ: just as death entered through Adam, resurrection comes through Christ. Everyone dies because of Adam, but all who are in Christ will be made alive, underscoring the universality of both death and resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:23 (NKJV) But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.

The resurrection will follow a specific sequence: Christ, the first to rise, and then at His return, those who belong to Him will be resurrected, highlighting an ordered process in God’s redemptive plan.

1 Corinthians 15:24-25 (NKJV) 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. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.

At the end of time, after defeating all opposition, Christ will hand over a fully subdued kingdom to the Father. This indicates a period during which Christ will reign, culminating in a final victory over all forms of rebellion and sin.

1 Corinthians 15:26 (NKJV) The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.

Death is described as the final enemy to be defeated, marking the ultimate victory in Christ's redemptive mission and the full realization of eternal life for believers.

1 Corinthians 15:27-28 (NKJV) 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. Now when all things are made subject 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.

Paul refers to a Psalm to affirm Christ's dominion over all, clarifying that "all things under Him" excludes God the Father, who granted Christ this authority. Ultimately, Christ will also be subject to the Father, emphasizing the unity and ultimate sovereignty of God.

1 Corinthians 15:29 (NKJV) 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?

Paul mentions a controversial practice, possibly specific to the Corinthian context, questioning the rationale behind being baptized on behalf of the dead if there is no belief in resurrection, which underlines the inconsistency in their beliefs and practices.

1 Corinthians 15:30-32 (NKJV) And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 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.”

Paul discusses the daily risks and sacrifices he and others make for the gospel, which would be meaningless without the hope of resurrection. He rhetorically questions the purpose of enduring such hardships if there is no eternal hope, contrasting it with a hedonistic lifestyle that would make sense if there were no future judgment or resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:33 (NKJV) Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

Paul warns against being misled by those who deny the resurrection, using a common proverb to emphasize that bad company can lead to moral and doctrinal corruption.

1 Corinthians 15:34 (NKJV) Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

He urges the Corinthians to live righteously and recognize the gravity of their witness, indicating that their behavior reflects their understanding of God and has implications for those around them who are observing their faith.

1 Corinthians 15:35 (NKJV) But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?”

Paul anticipates skepticism about the resurrection, addressing questions about the mechanics of how the dead are raised and the nature of their resurrected bodies.

1 Corinthians 15:36-37 (NKJV) Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain.

Paul uses the analogy of a seed to explain the resurrection. Just like a seed must die to give life to a new plant, so must our physical bodies die before being transformed into resurrected bodies. The body that rises is different from the body that was sown, like a plant is different from a seed.

1 Corinthians 15:38 (NKJV) But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.

God determines the nature of the resurrected body, just as He designs each seed to grow into a specific type of plant. This emphasizes the sovereignty and creative power of God in the resurrection process.

1 Corinthians 15:39-41 (NKJV) 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. There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.

Paul differentiates between various types of bodies and glories to illustrate the diversity of the resurrection bodies. Just as earthly and heavenly bodies differ, so will the resurrected bodies, each appropriate to its environment and purpose.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 (NKJV) So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

Paul contrasts the mortal body with the resurrected body: the former is subject to decay, dishonor, and weakness, but the resurrected body will be incorruptible, glorious, powerful, and spiritual.

1 Corinthians 15:45 (NKJV) And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

Referencing Genesis, Paul contrasts Adam, who was made a living soul, with Christ, the "last Adam," who imparts eternal life, highlighting Christ's role in bringing spiritual life to humanity.

1 Corinthians 15:46-49 (NKJV) However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 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. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

Paul explains the sequence and transformation from natural to spiritual existence. Believers, who currently bear the earthly image of Adam, will ultimately bear the heavenly image of Christ in their resurrected state.

1 Corinthians 15:50 (NKJV) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.

Paul asserts that our current physical state is incompatible with the kingdom of God, underscoring the necessity of transformation from corruptible to incorruptible.

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 (NKJV) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Paul reveals a mystery about the end times: not all Christians will die, but all will be transformed instantaneously at Christ's return, marked by the sound of a trumpet. This change is essential for inheriting eternal life.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57 (NKJV) 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.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

When believers receive their immortal bodies, death will be defeated as prophesied. Paul taunts death, highlighting that its power (sin) and the law's role in defining sin are overcome through Christ's victory, which grants believers eternal life.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NKJV) 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.

In conclusion, Paul encourages the Corinthians to remain diligent in their Christian lives and ministries, reassured that their efforts are meaningful and contribute to an eternal purpose.