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BOOK 46 OF 66 · PAULINE EPISTLES · KING JAMES BIBLE

1 Corinthians 15

1 Corinthians book home•Chapter 15 of 16•58 verses
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REVIEWED OVERVIEW

1 Corinthians 15 Overview

Paul restates the gospel he preached: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, rose again the third day, and was seen by many witnesses. He then answers denial of bodily resurrection, explains Christ as the firstfruits, discusses the resurrection body, reveals the mystery of believers being changed, and ends with victory over death.

1 CorinthiansBook
15Chapter
58Verses
Pauline EpistlesDivision

Before you read 1 Corinthians 15

Coming from

Paul compares prophecy and tongues in gathered worship. Understandable speech that edifies the church is preferred to uninterpreted tongues. He requires interpretation, limits speakers, commands orderly participation, addresses women’s silence in the churches, and concludes that everything must be done decently and in order.

In this chapter

Paul restates the gospel he preached: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, rose again the third day, and was seen by many witnesses. He then answers denial of bodily resurrection, explains Christ as the firstfruits, discusses the resurrection body, reveals the mystery of believers being changed, and ends with victory over death.

Leads into

Paul closes with instructions for a weekly collection for the saints, travel plans, Timothy’s reception, Apollos’s timing, and commendation of faithful workers such as the household of Stephanas. He calls the church to watch, stand fast in the faith, be strong, and let all things be done with charity.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Paul’s gospel rests on historical events and apostolic witnesses, especially the bodily resurrection of Christ.

The warning about believing ‘in vain’ occurs in Paul’s argument against denying resurrection. He is not adding lifelong performance as another condition of eternal life; he is showing that a gospel with no risen Christ would be empty.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

The resurrection is essential to the gospel

If Christ is not risen, preaching and faith are empty.

Christ’s resurrection guarantees a future resurrection order

He is the firstfruits, not an isolated exception.

Believers’ labor matters because resurrection is real

The chapter ends by connecting future victory with steadfast present service.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Luke 24:1–49

The risen Christ appears bodily and explains the Scriptures to His disciples.

Romans 4:24–25

Paul joins Christ’s death and resurrection to justification.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

Paul gives another account of dead believers rising and living believers being caught up together with them.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not make baptism for the dead in verse 29 a clear command to practice proxy baptism

Paul mentions an existing practice rhetorically without instituting it as Christian ordinance.

Do not spiritualize resurrection into mere survival of the soul

Paul argues extensively for bodily resurrection.

Do not use verse 2 to add works or perseverance as a second saving condition

The chapter’s concern is whether the Corinthians truly hold the resurrection gospel they professed to receive and believe.

Read 1 Corinthians 15 watching for…

The gospel facts in verses 3–4.

The resurrection witnesses.

Every consequence Paul names if Christ is not risen.

The seed/body analogies.

The final trumpet, change, and victory over death.

TWBC REVIEW STANDARD

Plain language. Scripture first. Fact distinguished from inference. No filler. No fake certainty. Designed to help you read the Bible itself.

Chapter outline6 sections
1-11Paul restates the gospel of Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and appearances12-19If there is no resurrection, preaching and faith are vain and believers remain in sins20-28Christ is risen as the firstfruits and will reign until all enemies are subdued29-34Paul appeals to resurrection-related practice and urges believers to awake to righteousness35-49Paul explains that resurrection bodies differ from natural bodies and bear the image of the heavenly50-58At the last trump the dead are raised incorruptible, death is defeated, and believers should abound in the Lord’s work
1

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2

By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how 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 of Cephas, then of the twelve:

6

After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

7

After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

8

And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

9

For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet 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 which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

11

Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

12

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

13

But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

14

And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

15

Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

16

For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

17

And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

18

Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

19

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

20

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

21

For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

22

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

23

But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

24

Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

25

For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

26

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

27

For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

28

And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

29

Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

30

And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?

31

I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

32

If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

33

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

34

Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

35

But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

36

Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:

37

And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:

38

But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

39

All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.

40

There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: 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 differeth from another star in glory.

42

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

43

It is sown in dishonour; 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 was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

46

Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

47

The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

48

As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

49

And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

50

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51

Behold, I shew 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 trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have 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 thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

56

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

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1 Corinthians 15:54

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