12Now if Christ is proclaimed that He has been raised out from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? [15:13] If, however, there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised; [15:14] and if Christ has not been raised, void then is our preaching and void also is your faith. [15:15] We are found, moreover, even to be false witnesses of God, because we have witnessed concerning God that He raised up Christ — whom He did not raise, if indeed the dead are not raised. [15:16] For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised; [15:17] and if Christ has not been raised, futile is your faith — you are still in your sins. [15:18] Then also those having fallen asleep in Christ have perished. [15:19] If in this life we are those having hoped only in Christ, we are more to be pitied than all men.
1CO 15:12-19
The Resurrection of the Dead
In the world it was spoken into
In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of resurrection was largely foreign and often viewed with skepticism. While some Jewish sects, like the Pharisees, affirmed a future resurrection of the dead, many Greeks and Romans saw death as final, with the soul departing to Hades or the underworld. Paul’s argument in 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 hinges on the centrality of Christ’s resurrection as the foundation of Christian faith. If resurrection is impossible, then Christ was not raised, and the apostles’ preaching is (empty) and (vain). The term (false witnesses) carries legal weight, as bearing false witness was a serious offense in both Jewish and Roman law. By claiming Christ’s resurrection, the apostles risked being seen as deceitful if it were untrue. The euphemism (fallen asleep) for death reflects a common Jewish and early Christian belief in the temporary nature of death for believers. Paul’s argument underscores the inseparable link between Christ’s resurrection and the hope of resurrection for all believers, a radical claim in a culture skeptical of bodily resurrection.
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How other translations render this
1CO 15:12
- KJV
- Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
- 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?
- Koinōnos
- Now if Christ is proclaimed that He has been raised out from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
1CO 15:13
- KJV
- But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
- BSB
- If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
- Koinōnos
- If, however, there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised;
1CO 15:14
- KJV
- And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
- BSB
- And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith.
- Koinōnos
- and if Christ has not been raised, void then is our preaching and void also is your faith.
1CO 15:15
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- 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.
- Koinōnos
- We are found, moreover, even to be false witnesses of God, because we have witnessed concerning God that He raised up Christ — whom He did not raise, if indeed the dead are not raised.
1CO 15:16
- KJV
- For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
- BSB
- For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised.
- Koinōnos
- For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised;
1CO 15:17
- KJV
- And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
- BSB
- And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
- Koinōnos
- and if Christ has not been raised, futile is your faith — you are still in your sins.
1CO 15:18
- KJV
- Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
- BSB
- Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
- Koinōnos
- Then also those having fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
1CO 15:19
- KJV
- If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
- BSB
- If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men.
- Koinōnos
- If in this life we are those having hoped only in Christ, we are more to be pitied than all men.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
1CO 15:14
- [is] void:The word translated 'void' here means empty, without content or purpose. It suggests something that is hollow and has no real effect or meaning.
1CO 15:15
- false witnesses:The term used here for 'false witnesses' specifically refers to those who give untrue testimony in a legal or public setting, deliberately misleading others.
1CO 15:17
- [is] futile:The word translated 'futile' describes something that is vain, useless, or without any lasting value or purpose, like an effort that produces no result.
1CO 15:18
- having fallen asleep:The phrase 'having fallen asleep' was a common and gentle euphemism in the ancient world for death, emphasizing a peaceful rest rather than a harsh end.