1 Corinthians 15
1 Corinthians Chapter 15, Explained
First Corinthians 15 is the great resurrection chapter. Paul lays out the heart of the gospel: that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day, and that many eyewitnesses saw Him alive. He insists that if Christ has not been raised, then faith is useless and we are still in our sins.
But Christ has been raised, the firstfruits of all who will rise. Paul then unfolds the hope of our own resurrection: these perishable bodies will be raised imperishable, death itself will be swallowed up in victory, and the sting of death will be gone. He ends by urging us to stand firm and give ourselves fully to the Lord's work, because in Him our labor is never in vain.
Key verses from 1 Corinthians 15
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”
1 Corinthians 15:3
“And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
1 Corinthians 15:4
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”
1 Corinthians 15:55
The main point
First Corinthians 15 is about the resurrection of Jesus and the sure hope that His people will rise too.
How 1 Corinthians 15 points to Jesus
Everything here stands on the risen Christ, the firstfruits who guarantees our resurrection. Because He conquered death, its sting is gone, and we can face the grave with victory rather than fear.
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Read 1 Corinthians 15 with its meaning · The book of 1 Corinthians: summary · All chapter guides