151 Now I make known to you, brethren , the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received , in which also you stand , 2 by which also you are saved , if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless e you believed in vain . 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received , that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures , 4 and that He was buried , and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures , 5 and that He appeared to Cephas , then to the twelve . 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time , most of whom remain until now , but some have fallen asleep ; 7 then He appeared to James , then to all the apostles ; 8 and last of all , as to one untimely born , He appeared to me also . 9 For I am the least of the apostles , and not fit 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 toward me did not prove vain ; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed .
12 Now 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 ? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead , not even Christ has been raised ; 14 and if Christ has not been raised , then our preaching is vain , your faith also is vain . 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God , because we testified against God that He raised Christ , whom He did not raise , if in fact the dead are not raised . 16 For if the dead are not raised , not even Christ has been raised ; 17 and if Christ has not been raised , your faith is worthless ; you are still in your sins . 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished . 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only , we are of all men most to be pitied .
20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead , the first fruits of those who are asleep . 21 For since by a man came death , by a man also came the resurrection of the dead . 22 For as in Adam all die , so also in Christ all will be made alive . 23 But each in his own order : Christ the first fruits , after that those who are Christ's at His coming , 24 then comes the end , when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father , when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power . 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet . 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 15:1-26
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
(Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-11)
The word resurrection, usually points out our existence beyond the grave. Of the apostle's doctrine not a trace can be found in all the teaching of philosophers. The doctrine of Christ's death and resurrection, is the foundation of Christianity. Remove this, and all our hopes for eternity sink at once. And it is by holding this truth firm, that Christians stand in the day of trial, and are kept faithful to God. We believe in vain, unless we keep in the faith of the gospel. This truth is confirmed by Old Testament prophecies; and many saw Christ after he was risen. This apostle was highly favoured, but he always had a low opinion of himself, and expressed it. When sinners are, by Divine grace, turned into saints, God causes the remembrance of former sins to make them humble, diligent, and faithful. He ascribes to Divine grace all that was valuable in him. True believers, though not ignorant of what the Lord has done for, in, and by them, yet when they look at their whole conduct and their obligations, they are led to feel that none are so worthless as they are. All true Christians believe that Jesus Christ, and him crucified, and then risen from the dead, is the sun and substance of Christianity. All the apostles agreed in this testimony; by this faith they lived, and in this faith they died.
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
(Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-19)
Having shown that Christ was risen, the apostle answers those who said there would be no resurrection. There had been no justification, or salvation, if Christ had not risen. And must not faith in Christ be vain, and of no use, if he is still among the dead? The proof of the resurrection of the body is the resurrection of our Lord. Even those who died in the faith, had perished in their sins, if Christ had not risen. All who believe in Christ, have hope in him, as a Redeemer; hope for redemption and salvation by him; but if there is no resurrection, or future recompence, their hope in him can only be as to this life. And they must be in a worse condition than the rest of mankind, especially at the time, and under the circumstances, in which the apostles wrote; for then Christians were hated and persecuted by all men. But it is not so; they, of all men, enjoy solid comforts amidst all their difficulties and trials, even in the times of the sharpest persecution.
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 15:20-34
(Read 1 Corinthians 15:20-34)
All that are by faith united to Christ, are by his resurrection assured of their own. As through the sin of the first Adam, all men became mortal, because all had from him the same sinful nature, so, through the resurrection of Christ, shall all who are made to partake of the Spirit, and the spiritual nature, revive, and live for ever. There will be an order in the resurrection. Christ himself has been the first-fruits; at his coming, his redeemed people will be raised before others; at the last the wicked will rise also. Then will be the end of this present state of things. Would we triumph in that solemn and important season, we must now submit to his rule, accept his salvation, and live to his glory. Then shall we rejoice in the completion of his undertaking, that God may receive the whole glory of our salvation, that we may for ever serve him, and enjoy his favour. What shall those do, who are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Perhaps baptism is used here in a figure, for afflictions, sufferings, and martyrdom, as Matthew 20:22,23. What is, or will become of those who have suffered many and great injuries, and have even lost their lives, for this doctrine of the resurrection, if the dead rise not at all? Whatever the meaning may be, doubtless the apostle's argument was understood by the Corinthians. And it is as plain to us that Christianity would be a foolish profession, if it proposed advantage to themselves by their faithfulness to God; and to have our fruit to holiness, that our end may be everlasting life. But we must not live like beasts, as we do not die like them. It must be ignorance of God that leads any to disbelieve the resurrection and future life. Those who own a God and a providence, and observe how unequal things are in the present life, how frequently the best men fare worst, cannot doubt as to an after-state, where every thing will be set to rights. Let us not be joined with ungodly men; but warn all around us, especially children and young persons, to shun them as a pestilence. Let us awake to righteousness, and not sin.