Bible Study Reader

1 Corinthians 15

Introduction

First Corinthians 15 is the most sustained and systematic treatment of the resurrection in the entire New Testament. Throughout the letter, Paul has been addressing a series of problems in the Corinthian church -- factionalism, sexual immorality, lawsuits, food offered to idols, worship practices, and spiritual gifts. Now he turns to the most foundational issue of all: some in Corinth are denying the future bodily resurrection of believers. This denial likely arose not from atheism but from a Greek philosophical worldview that valued the immortal soul and despised the body as a prison to be escaped. For Paul, however, the bodily resurrection of Jesus is not a peripheral doctrine but the very heart of the gospel. If Christ has not been raised, everything collapses -- the preaching is empty, faith is futile, the dead are lost, and Christians are the most pitiable of all people.

Paul's argument unfolds in a carefully structured sequence. He begins by anchoring the discussion in the gospel tradition he received and passed on, establishing Christ's resurrection as a historical event attested by numerous eyewitnesses (vv. 1-11). He then draws out the devastating logical consequences of denying the resurrection (vv. 12-19), before pivoting triumphantly to the declaration that Christ has indeed been raised as the "firstfruits" of those who have died (vv. 20-28). He appeals to the Corinthians' own practices and his own daily willingness to face death as further evidence that resurrection hope is indispensable (vv. 29-34). In the chapter's most creative section, he addresses the question of what the resurrection body will be like, using analogies from agriculture and astronomy to argue that the resurrection body will be radically transformed yet continuous with the present body (vv. 35-49). He concludes with a revelatory "mystery" -- that all believers will be changed in an instant -- and a triumphant hymn of victory over death, culminating in a practical exhortation to steadfast labor in the Lord (vv. 50-58).

The Gospel Tradition and the Resurrection Witnesses (vv. 1-11)

BSB

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, and in which you stand firm. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth.

For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them -- yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

Translation

Now I make known to you, brothers and sisters, the gospel which I proclaimed to you, which you also received, in which you also stand, and through which you are also being saved -- if you hold fast to the message I proclaimed to you -- unless you believed for nothing.

For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died on behalf of our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he has been raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. After that he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom remain alive to this day, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. And last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared also to me.

For I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by God's grace I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not empty. On the contrary, I labored more abundantly than all of them -- yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether then it was I or they, this is what we proclaim, and this is what you believed.

Notes

The Consequences of Denying the Resurrection (vv. 12-19)

BSB

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith. In that case, we are also exposed as false witnesses about God. For we have testified about God that He raised Christ from the dead, but He did not raise Him if in fact the dead are not raised.

For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men.

Translation

Now if Christ is proclaimed as having been raised from the dead, how is it that some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is empty, and your faith is also empty. Moreover, we are found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that he raised Christ -- whom he did not raise, if indeed the dead are not raised.

For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is pointless -- you are still in your sins. Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life we have only hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable of all people.

Notes

Christ the Firstfruits and the Destruction of Every Enemy (vv. 20-28)

BSB

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him.

Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For "God has put everything under His feet." Now when it says that everything has been put under Him, this clearly does not include the One who put everything under Him. And when all things have been subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all.

Translation

But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a human being. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own proper order: Christ the firstfruits, then those who belong to Christ at his coming.

Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has abolished every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has placed all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be abolished is death. For "he has subjected all things under his feet." But when it says that all things have been subjected, it is clear that the One who subjected all things to him is excluded. And when all things have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the One who subjected all things to him, so that God may be all in all.

Notes

Baptism for the Dead and Daily Danger (vv. 29-34)

BSB

If these things are not so, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? And why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I face death every day, brothers, as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for human motives, what did I gain? If the dead are not raised,

"Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good character." Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.

Translation

Otherwise, what will those do who are being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they being baptized on their behalf? And why do we ourselves face danger every hour? I die every day -- I swear it by the boasting I have in you, brothers and sisters, in Christ Jesus our Lord. If, from a merely human perspective, I fought wild beasts in Ephesus, what benefit was it to me? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good morals." Come to your senses as is right, and stop sinning, for some have no knowledge of God -- I say this to your shame.

Notes

The Nature of the Resurrection Body (vv. 35-49)

BSB

But someone will ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?" You fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or something else. But God gives it a body as He has designed, and to each kind of seed He gives its own body.

Not all flesh is the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another, and fish another. There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. But the splendor of the heavenly bodies is of one degree, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is of another. The sun has one degree of splendor, the moon another, and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.

So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable. 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. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam a life-giving spirit. The spiritual, however, was not first, but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. As was the earthly man, so also are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so also shall we bear the likeness of the heavenly man.

Translation

But someone will say, "How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?" You foolish one! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow -- you do not sow the body that will come into being, but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body just as he willed, and to each of the seeds its own particular body.

Not all flesh is the same flesh: there is one flesh for human beings, another flesh for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another kind. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; indeed, star differs from star in glory.

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in decay; it is raised in incorruptibility. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a soul-animated body; it is raised a Spirit-animated body. If there is a soul-animated body, there is also a Spirit-animated body.

So it is also written: "The first man, Adam, became a living soul"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But the spiritual was not first -- rather the soul-animated, and then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, made of dust; the second man is from heaven. As the man of dust is, so also are those who are of the dust; and as the heavenly man is, so also are those who are heavenly. And just as we have worn the image of the man of dust, we will also wear the image of the heavenly man.

Notes

The Mystery of Transformation and Victory over Death (vv. 50-58)

BSB

Now I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed -- in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."

"Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?"

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Translation

Now this I declare, brothers and sisters: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

Look -- I am telling you a mystery: we will not all fall asleep, but we will all be transformed -- in an indivisible instant, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be transformed. For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

And when this perishable body has put on imperishability, and this mortal body has put on immortality, then will come to pass the word that has been written: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."

"Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?"

Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who keeps giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, be immovable, always overflowing in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not empty.

Notes