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1 Corinthians 15

World English Bible

WEB

1Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand, 2by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. 9For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was given to me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11Whether then it is I or they, so we preach, and so you believed. 12Now 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? 13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised. 14If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith also is in vain. 15Yes, we are also found false witnesses of God, because we testified about God that he raised up Christ, whom he didn’t raise up if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead aren’t raised, neither has Christ been raised. 17If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. 18Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable. 20But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruit of those who are asleep. 21For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man. 22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s at his coming. 24Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God the Father, when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27For, “He put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when he says, “All things are put in subjection”, it is evident that he is excepted who subjected all things to him. 28When all things have been subjected to him, then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all. 29Or else what will they do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead aren’t raised at all, why then are they baptized for the dead? 30Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour? 31I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32If I fought with animals at Ephesus for human purposes, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, then “let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33Don’t be deceived! “Evil companionships corrupt good morals.” 34Wake up righteously and don’t sin, for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. 35But someone will say, “How are the dead raised?” and, “With what kind of body do they come?” 36You foolish one, that which you yourself sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37That which you sow, you don’t sow the body that will be, but a bare grain, maybe of wheat, or of some other kind. 38But God gives it a body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own. 39All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. 40There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial differs from that of the terrestrial. 41There 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. 42So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown perishable; it is raised imperishable. 43It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body. 45So also it is written, “The first man Adam became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46However, that which is spiritual isn’t first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual. 47The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven. 48As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let’s also bear the image of the heavenly. 50Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood can’t inherit God’s Kingdom; neither does the perishable inherit imperishable. 51Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52in 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 will be changed. 53For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55“Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?” 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

1 Corinthians 15 is a pivotal chapter in the Apostle Paul's letter to the church in Corinth, focusing primarily on the doctrine of the resurrection. Paul begins by reminding the Corinthians of the gospel he preached to them, emphasizing the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the foundation of their faith (#gospel). He recounts how Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose on the third day, appearing to many witnesses, including Peter and the twelve disciples. This historical account serves to affirm the reality of the resurrection, which is central to Christian belief (#resurrection).

Paul then addresses the critical importance of the resurrection for believers. He argues that if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, their faith is futile, and they are still in their sins. This underscores the resurrection as a cornerstone of Christian hope (#hope). Paul reassures the Corinthians that Christ is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep, indicating that just as Christ was raised, so too will all believers be raised at His coming. The chapter concludes with a triumphant declaration of victory over death, proclaiming that death has been swallowed up in victory through Jesus Christ, encouraging believers to stand firm in their faith and labor for the Lord, knowing their work is not in vain.

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Referenced by

  1. Leviticus 2:14v20Leviticus 2:14 discusses the offering of firstfruits, which is a concept Paul uses in 1 Corinthians 15:20 to describe Christ as the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
  2. Leviticus 23:10v20Leviticus 23:10 introduces the Feast of Firstfruits, which is fulfilled in Christ as the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep, as explained in 1 Corinthians 15:20, symbolizing resurrection and new life.
  3. Job 17:15v19Job 17:15 questions where hope can be found, resonating with 1 Corinthians 15:19, where Paul speaks of the futility of hope in Christ if it is only for this life.
  4. Job 19:26v42Job 19:26 speaks of seeing God in the flesh after his skin has been destroyed, which aligns with 1 Corinthians 15:42-44's teaching on the resurrection of the body.
  5. Psalms 8:5v27Psalm 8:5 describes humanity being made a little lower than the angels, with all things under their feet, which 1 Corinthians 15:27 applies to Christ's dominion over all things.
  6. Psalms 110:2v25Psalm 110:2 speaks of the Messiah ruling in the midst of His enemies, which is echoed in 1 Corinthians 15:25 where Paul describes Christ reigning until all enemies are under His feet.
  7. Proverbs 1:10v33Proverbs 1:10 warns against consenting to sinners, which aligns with 1 Corinthians 15:33, where Paul warns that bad company corrupts good character.
  8. Proverbs 13:20v33Proverbs 13:20 advises walking with the wise to become wise, similar to 1 Corinthians 15:33, which warns that bad company corrupts good character.
  9. Isaiah 25:8v54Isaiah 25:8 proclaims that God will swallow up death forever, a promise reiterated in 1 Corinthians 15:54 where Paul declares the victory over death through Christ’s resurrection.
  10. Isaiah 26:19v52Isaiah 26:19 prophesies the resurrection of the dead, which is further explained in 1 Corinthians 15:52 where the dead will be raised imperishable at the last trumpet.
  11. Hosea 6:2v4Hosea 6:2 speaks of revival on the third day, which is echoed in 1 Corinthians 15:4, where Paul speaks of Christ being raised on the third day.
  12. Hosea 13:14v54Hosea 13:14 contains a promise of redemption from death, which Paul references in 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 to proclaim victory over death through Christ's resurrection.
  13. Luke 20:36v42Luke 20:36 speaks of the resurrection and being like angels, which is further explained in 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, describing the transformation of the body in the resurrection.
  14. John 12:24v36John 12:24 uses the metaphor of a grain of wheat dying to produce much fruit, which parallels 1 Corinthians 15:36's discussion of resurrection and new life through death.
  15. Acts 25:19v12Acts 25:19 mentions the dispute over Jesus' resurrection, which is central to Paul's preaching. 1 Corinthians 15:12-14 emphasizes the importance of the resurrection as the foundation of Christian faith.
  16. Acts 26:23v3Acts 26:23 speaks of Christ's suffering, resurrection, and proclamation of light to both Jews and Gentiles, which aligns with the core gospel message Paul outlines in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.
  17. Romans 5:12v21Romans 5:12 discusses sin entering the world through one man, Adam, and death through sin. 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 contrasts this with the resurrection of the dead through Christ, the second Adam.
  18. Romans 5:18v45Romans 5:18 contrasts the condemnation through Adam with the justification through Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 further elaborates on the contrast between the first man, Adam, and the last Adam, Christ, as a life-giving spirit.
  19. Romans 6:9v54Romans 6:9 declares that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again, which is further explained in 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 where death is swallowed up in victory through Christ's resurrection.
  20. Galatians 1:11-12v3Galatians 1:11-12 emphasizes that the gospel Paul preaches is not of human origin but received through revelation, similar to 1 Corinthians 15:3 where Paul states he received the gospel directly.
  21. Galatians 6:9v58Galatians 6:9 encourages believers not to grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up, similar to 1 Corinthians 15:58 which exhorts believers to be steadfast and always abounding in the work of the Lord.
  22. 1 Thessalonians 4:13v511 Thessalonians 4:13 addresses the hope believers have concerning those who have died, assuring them of the resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 also speaks of the resurrection, describing the transformation that will occur at the last trumpet.
  23. 2 Timothy 1:10v542 Timothy 1:10 speaks of Christ abolishing death and bringing life and immortality to light through the gospel. 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 celebrates the victory over death through Christ, proclaiming that death has been swallowed up in victory.
  24. Hebrews 2:14-15v54Hebrews 2:14-15 explains that through His death, Jesus destroyed the power of death held by the devil, which is echoed in 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 where death is swallowed up in victory through Christ.
  25. 2 Peter 1:16v32 Peter 1:16 emphasizes the eyewitness testimony of the apostles regarding Jesus' majesty, which is echoed in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 where Paul recounts the appearances of the risen Christ to many witnesses.
  26. Revelation 20:6v54Revelation 20:6 speaks of the blessedness of those who partake in the first resurrection, which aligns with 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 where Paul speaks of victory over death through resurrection.
  27. Revelation 20:14v26Revelation 20:14 states that death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire, which is the second death. This is related to 1 Corinthians 15:26 where Paul declares that the last enemy to be destroyed is death.

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