15:1–58 After addressing problems regarding their worship practices (11:2–14:40), Paul continues by addressing reports about the Corinthians’ beliefs. In this chapter, he focuses on the issue of resurrection. He begins by affirming the resurrection of Christ and then discusses the future hope of bodily resurrection and glorification for all followers of Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:1–58 NICNT 1 Co

15:1 gospel In the following verses, Paul gives a brief sketch of the gospel he preached.

Euangelion Word Study

15:2 you are also being saved Believers experience salvation in part now (in the sense of beginning their relationship with Christ without the burden of sin standing between them and God), but this salvation will be complete when Christ returns and they are unified with God for eternity (see Phil 1:6). See note on 1 Cor 1:18.

you hold fast See note on Heb 3:1.

15:3 I passed on See note on 1 Cor 11:24.

what I also received Refers to the content of vv. 3–5. Paul emphasizes the continuity of his message with the early church’s teaching. See note on 11:23.

according to the scriptures Refers to the ot, especially Isa 52:13–53:12 and Psa 22 (compare Luke 18:31; 24:25–27).

Jesus’ Fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy Table

15:4 he was buried Burial signifies the confirmation and finality of death.

15:5 he appeared Refers to a physical sighting of Christ with his eyes—not merely a vision.

Resurrection Appearances of Jesus Table

to Cephas Refers to Simon Peter, an apostle of Christ (see note on 1 Cor 1:12).

the twelve Refers to 12 men whom Jesus chose to be His disciples and apostles (Matt 10:1–4).

15:6 more than five hundred brothers This appearance is unknown outside of this passage, though it recalls the gathering of believers in Acts 2. The number of witnesses adds credibility to the claim.

some have fallen asleep A common metaphor for death (e.g., 1 Kgs 11:43; John 11:11). In the same way that a person sleeps and awakes, the Christian who dies will arise to life.

15:7 to James Refers to James, the brother of Jesus, who became the leader of the church at Jerusalem (Gal 1:19).

apostles Likely a reference to the 11 apostles present at Christ’s resurrection (and still living at this time). May also refer to the 72 mentioned in Luke (see Luke 10:1 and note), and perhaps others; all of these people saw the risen Christ.

Resurrection Appearances of Jesus Table

15:8 one born at the wrong time Refers to the abnormal manner in which Paul became an apostle.

15:9 the apostles Paul considers his apostleship to be a sign of God’s grace and mercy because he did not deserve it. See note on Rom 1:1.

church Paul uses the Greek word ekklēsia here to refer to all Christians, especially those in Jerusalem (Acts 8:3; 9:1–2; compare Gal 1:13, 22).

The Church Devotional

Ekklēsia Word Study

15:10 by the grace of God Paul acknowledges that he become an apostle through God’s grace. He recognizes that he does not deserve such a gift.

labored even more than all of them Paul may mean that he planted churches and preached the gospel message in new areas (see 2 Cor 10:13–17).

15:12 how do some among you say The Corinthians were questioning the resurrection of the dead, despite claiming to believe in Christ’s resurrection (1 Cor 15:1, 11). Most Greeks believed that only the soul was immortal (see Acts 17:32 and note). Compare note on Rom 6:22.

15:14 our preaching Refers to the content of 1 Cor 15:3–4.

15:17 your faith is empty In other words, denying the resurrection involves denying Christ’s redemptive work in individuals and creation.

Faith

still in your sins The core teaching of the early church presented Christ’s death and resurrection as the solution to sin (v. 3). If the resurrection of Christ is denied, then a person not only has an empty faith but remains under condemnation for their sins (compare Rom 3:23).

15:18 fallen asleep in Christ A metaphor for the death of believers (see 1 Thess 4:13).

have perished Refers to a state of condemnation and judgment, still under the guilt and power of sin.

15:19 we are of all people most pitiable Refers to Paul and his companions, who endured great suffering for the sake of spreading the gospel (see note on 1 Cor 15:30).

15:20 the first fruits An allusion to the Jewish Feast of Firstfruits (see Lev 23:10). Paul uses this metaphor to present Christ’s resurrection as an example of the greatness of the future resurrection of believers (1 Cor 15:35–57). See note on Acts 26:23; compare note on Rom 8:23.

those who have fallen asleep See note on 1 Cor 15:6.

15:21 a man came death Refers to Adam as the representative of sinful humanity (see note on Rom 5:12).

a man came the resurrection Refers to Jesus Christ as the representative of those who will overcome death and receive eternal life (see note on Rom 5:14).

15:22 in Adam See Rom 5:12.

in Christ all will be made alive While the unbelieving dead are raised to life for judgment (Rev 20:12–15), God will only raise those who are “in Christ”—that is, believers—to eternal life with Him (compare Matt 25:46; 2 Thess 1:9; Phil 3:19).

15:23 first fruits See note on 1 Cor 15:20.

15:24 the end Refers to the end of the present age and the completion of the believers’ salvation in Christ—their union with Him (see Mark 13:7; Matt 24:6, 14).

the kingdom Refers to the reign of God as king.

all rule and all authority and power Refers to the evil entities that are opposed to God and oppress His people (e.g., Rom 8:38; Col 2:15; Eph 2:2).

15:25 his enemies under his feet In fulfillment of Psa 8:6 and 110:1. Jesus and Peter affirmed the necessity of this event (Mark 12:36; Acts 2:35). Compare Heb 2:8. Paul’s language suggests that Christ is presently reigning in His kingdom, but the kingdom is also still in the future.

The Kingdom of God: Already but Not Yet

15:28 the Son himself Just as Christ suffered and died for humanity in submission to the Father’s will (compare Mark 14:36), at the end of the present age Christ will submit all things entrusted to Him to God the Father.

that God may be all in all Expresses the supremacy of God and His will in all things.

15:29 being baptized on behalf of the dead Possibly a reference to washing the bodies of the dead. The idea may mean that believers were being baptized in honor of unbaptized deceased believers.

15:30 in danger Paul wants the Corinthians to know that he would not have risked his life if he did not believe that the bodily resurrection was true. In 2 Corinthians, Paul lists some of the specific dangers he faced (2 Cor 11:23–33).

15:31 every day Paul may be using hyperbole here, but he may have also felt that he was actually endangered daily.

15:32 I fought wild beasts Probably refers to intense opposition. Paul is perhaps using this phrase figuratively since there is no evidence of Christians enduring this type of persecution until the second century ad.

15:34 Sober up correctly and stop sinning Paul chastised the Corinthians for their arrogance; in this context, their sin is the denial of the resurrection.

have no knowledge of God Some believers were as uninformed about God as the pagans around them. Paul says this to the Corinthians’ shame because they prided themselves on their knowledge (1 Cor 8:1–13).

15:35 How are the dead raised Paul anticipates this question from the Corinthians who doubt the truth of the bodily resurrection. The question also implies that some Corinthians thought the resurrection was foolish (1:18–25).

15:36 Foolish person Paul considers them foolish because some of them denied the resurrection. In the ot, a fool is someone who rejects or ignores the idea of God (Psa 14:1; compare 1 Cor 1:19, 20, 26).

What you sow does not come to life unless it dies Paul takes an example from nature to show the Corinthians that life can come from death.

15:37 wheat or of some of the rest The wheat seed, though it dies, comes to life as a plant. In the same way, physical bodies perish, but God raises and transforms them into glorified spiritual bodies.

15:38 each one of the seeds its own body God created seeds and plants that produce various plants according to their kinds. This shows that God can do likewise with the resurrection from the dead.

15:40 heavenly bodies The belief that divine beings could take on a physical form was common in the ancient world. Paul contrasts heavenly bodies with earthly bodies to emphasize that the body of resurrected believers will be distinctly different; earthly bodies rot and decay while heavenly ones do not (v. 42).

glory The Greek word used here, doxa, refers to the radiance or light of the heavenly bodies.

Doxa Word Study

15:42 Thus also is the resurrection of the dead The Corinthians expressed skepticism about the transformation of a dead body through resurrection. Paul uses an example from nature to show that such transformation already takes place within creation. See note on Rom 1:4.

It is sown in corruption The corruption of the seed corresponds to the mortal bodies of people.

15:43 it is raised in glory When God raises the dead in Christ, they will receive glorified spiritual bodies (see Phil 3:21). Thus, the bodies will become honorable before the Lord.

15:44 natural body Refers to life in the limited mortal body that is subject to the things of this present age: hunger, thirst, and death.

spiritual body Refers to a body fashioned and controlled by the Holy Spirit. The body belongs to the new age under the reign of God (compare 1 Cor 1:8 and note).

15:45 first man, Adam See Gen 2:7 and note.

last Adam Refers to Jesus Christ, who represents a new humanity glorified by God.

became a life-giving spirit Refers to Jesus becoming a life-giving spirit as a result of His resurrection. Compare Gen 2:7.

15:47 second man is from heaven May refer to Christ’s origin (heaven) or to His resurrected and glorified status in heaven.

15:49 bear the image of the heavenly Paul informs the Corinthians that they will resemble Christ in His glorified spiritual body and His character (compare 1 John 3:2).

15:50 flesh and blood is not able to inherit the kingdom Eternal life with Christ and the inheritance of God’s kingdom will require a heavenly spiritual body like Christ’s (1 Cor 15:49). The perishable body of human existence will be replaced. On sarx or “flesh,” see note on John 3:6.

the kingdom of God See note on 1 Cor 4:20.

15:51 a mystery See note on Rom 1:25.

we will not all fall asleep Implies that not all believers will die before Jesus returns. Compare 1 Thess 4:15. See note on 1 Cor 15:6.

15:52 last trumpet See note on 1 Thess 4:16.

we will be changed Probably refers to those who are alive when the Lord returns.

15:53 this mortal body to put on immortality Christ reverses the condition of mortality and grants to people the immortality God created them to enjoy.

15:54 Death is swallowed up in victory Echoes Isa 25:8 as a sign of the new age. In the age to come, the effects of humanity’s sin will be removed (1 Cor 15:21–22; Rom 5:17; compare Rev 21:4).

15:55 Where, O death, is your victory Paul quotes Hos 13:14 to taunt death on account of Christ’s victory.

15:56 the power of sin is the law Compare Rom 5:12–14; 7:9–13.

The Law in Paul’s Letters

15:57 the victory Christ obtained victory over sin and death.

15:58 the work of the Lord Refers to the task of proclaiming the gospel message and obeying Jesus.