The big picture
1 Corinthians 15 opens in verse 1 with “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 29 with “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all…”, and closes in verse 58 with “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work…” Repeated or prominent terms include Christ, dead, raised, body, glory. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Corinthians · King James Version · 581 Corinthians 15:1-8
1–8: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto…
1 Corinthians 15:1–8 opens with “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have…” and reaches “And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Witnesses to the risen Christ, seed buried and raised transformed, and death’s apparent victory giving way to resurrection hope, with particular weight carried by seen, brethren, preached.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein…” Naming Moreover keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
1 Corinthians 15:1-8
King James Version1Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6After 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.
7After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
1 Corinthians 15:9-16
9–16: For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an…
1 Corinthians 15:9–16 opens with “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I…” and reaches “For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Witnesses to the risen Christ, seed buried and raised transformed, and death’s apparent victory giving way to resurrection hope, with particular weight carried by Christ, dead, grace.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
1 Corinthians 15:9-16
King James Version9For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10But 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.
11Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
12Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15Yea, 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.
16For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
1 Corinthians 15:17-24
17–24: If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
1 Corinthians 15:17–24 opens with “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” and reaches “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Witnesses to the risen Christ, seed buried and raised transformed, and death’s apparent victory giving way to resurrection hope, with particular weight carried by Christ, dead, firstfruits.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” Naming Christ keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Corinthians 15:17-24
King James Version17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
24Then 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.
1 Corinthians 15:25-32
25–32: For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1 Corinthians 15:25–32 opens with “For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.” and reaches “If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Witnesses to the risen Christ, seed buried and raised transformed, and death’s apparent victory giving way to resurrection hope, with particular weight carried by dead, baptized, feet.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“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…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
1 Corinthians 15:25-32
King James Version25For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
27For 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.
28And 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.
29Else 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?
30And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
31I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32If 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.
1 Corinthians 15:33-40
33–40: Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
1 Corinthians 15:33–40 opens with “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” and reaches “There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Witnesses to the risen Christ, seed buried and raised transformed, and death’s apparent victory giving way to resurrection hope, with particular weight carried by body, flesh, some.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” The line’s distinctive content terms include communications, corrupt, deceived. Its relationship to verses 34 shows what work it does in this passage.
“But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
1 Corinthians 15:33-40
King James Version33Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
34Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
35But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
37And 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:
38But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
39All 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.
40There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
1 Corinthians 15:41-48
41–48: There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and…
1 Corinthians 15:41–48 opens with “There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars…” and reaches “As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Witnesses to the risen Christ, seed buried and raised transformed, and death’s apparent victory giving way to resurrection hope, with particular weight carried by glory, body, raised.
Context that brings the passage to life
“There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:” The line’s distinctive content terms include raised, sown, dishonour. Its relationship to verses 42 and 44 shows what work it does in this passage.
1 Corinthians 15:41-48
King James Version41There 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.
42So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1 Corinthians 15:49-56
49–56: As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image…
1 Corinthians 15:49–56 opens with “And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” and reaches “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Witnesses to the risen Christ, seed buried and raised transformed, and death’s apparent victory giving way to resurrection hope, with particular weight carried by death, incorruption, changed.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
1 Corinthians 15:49-56
King James Version49And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52In 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.
53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54So 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.
55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1 Corinthians 15:57-58
57–58: Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus…
1 Corinthians 15:57–58 opens with “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” and reaches “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Witnesses to the risen Christ, seed buried and raised transformed, and death’s apparent victory giving way to resurrection hope, with particular weight carried by Lord, abounding, always.
1 Corinthians 15:57-58
King James Version57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58Therefore, 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Corinthians 15:1 begins with “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;”
Where the chapter turns
1 Corinthians 15:29 forms a natural hinge: “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?”
The final note
1 Corinthians 15:58 leaves the reader with “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…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Christ, dead, raised, body, glory, vain help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What is Abram invited to trust?
God's promise of an heir and innumerable descendants despite his present childlessness.
Why does the delay matter?
The covenant is larger than one lifetime and includes suffering before deliverance.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.