1 Corinthians 15

Atonement — Christ died for our sins

Christ — Greek for Messiah, 'the Anointed One'

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 1 Corinthians 15:1–3

The heart of the gospel Paul received and taught is that Christ died for our sins, just as the scriptures foretold. His death was not an accident but the promised sacrifice for everyone's sins.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Isaiah 53:5-6 — "he was wounded for our transgressions ... the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all".
• the same event in Luke 24:46 — The risen Lord teaches that it was written that Christ should suffer and rise the third day.

Resurrection of Christ

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:4

Jesus was truly dead and buried, and on the third day He rose again, as prophets had said. This is the core fact the whole chapter builds on.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Matthew 12:40 — Jesus' sign of Jonah: three days in the heart of the earth.
• the same event in Matthew 28:6 — "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said."

Witnesses of the risen Christ

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 1 Corinthians 15:5–8

Paul lists eyewitnesses who saw the resurrected Lord: Peter, the Twelve, more than five hundred at once, James, all the apostles, and finally Paul himself. The Resurrection rests on many real witnesses.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same event in Luke 24:34 — "The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon."
• the same event in John 20:19-20 — The risen Jesus appears to the gathered disciples.
• the same event in Acts 9:3-5 — Jesus appears to Saul on the road to Damascus.

Resurrection of Christ

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 1 Corinthians 15:12–17

Paul answers people who denied the resurrection: if nobody rises, then Christ did not rise, and without His Resurrection our faith is empty and our sins remain. Everything depends on the fact that He lives.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

Hope in Christ

Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 1 Corinthians 15:18–19

Our hope in Christ reaches beyond death. Those who died believing in Him are not lost, because He rose, and our hope in Him is for eternity, not only this life.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

Firstfruits of them that slept

Firstfruits — the first portion of the harvest, offered to God as a pledge of the whole harvest

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 1 Corinthians 15:20

Under the law of Moses the first sheaf of harvest was offered to the Lord as a promise that the rest would follow. Christ is the first to rise from the dead, and His Resurrection guarantees that all will be raised.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• typified by Leviticus 23:10-11 — The sheaf of firstfruits waved before the LORD on the morrow after the sabbath.
• the same title in 2 Nephi 2:8 — Christ is "the first that should rise".

Universal resurrection through Christ

For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:21–22

Adam's Fall brought death to everyone; Christ's Resurrection brings life to everyone. Because of Jesus, every person who has ever lived will be resurrected.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same event in Alma 11:42-44 — Amulek teaches that because of Christ's death and resurrection all shall rise, old and young, bond and free.
• the same event in Mosiah 16:7-8 — Abinadi: if Christ had not risen there could have been no resurrection.

Second Coming

But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 1 Corinthians 15:23

The Resurrection happens in order: Christ first, then those who belong to Him when He comes again. Being "Christ's" is what places a person in that first resurrection.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alluded to by D&C 88:98 — Those caught up to meet Him "are Christ's, the first fruits".

Christ's reign and victory over death

Then 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 15:24–26

Christ will reign until every enemy is conquered, the last one being death itself. Then He will present the finished kingdom to His Father, showing that the Son and the Father are two distinct beings working as one.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Psalm 110:1 — "until I make thine enemies thy footstool".
• alluded to by D&C 76:106-107 — Christ shall have subdued all enemies under his feet and "shall deliver up the kingdom, and present it unto the Father".

The Son subject to the Father

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 excepted, which did put all things under him. 1 Corinthians 15:27–28

The Father has put all things under the Son, yet the Son Himself remains subject to the Father. Jesus always honors and obeys His Father, which shows they are separate persons.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• quotes Psalm 8:6 — "thou hast put all things under his feet".
• interpreted by Hebrews 2:8-9 — Hebrews applies Psalm 8's "all things in subjection under his feet" to Jesus.

Christ Jesus our Lord

I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our LORD, I die daily. 1 Corinthians 15:31

Paul swears by the joy he has in the Corinthian Saints through Christ Jesus. He faces death every day for Christ, which only makes sense if the dead really rise.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

The seed that dies and rises

Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 1 Corinthians 15:36–38

A seed must be buried and die before it grows into a new plant. Jesus used this same image for His own death and the life it would bring, and Paul uses it to show how the dead will rise in new bodies.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to John 12:24 — "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone" — Jesus on His death.

The Last Adam

Last Adam — Christ as the head of a new, resurrected humanity, as Adam was head of mortal humanity

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 1 Corinthians 15:45

Adam received life and passed on mortal life; Christ, the "last Adam," gives life, raising the dead. Adam's role and Christ's role mirror each other.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• quotes Genesis 2:7 — "man became a living soul".

The Lord from Heaven

The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:47–49

Adam was made from the earth, but Christ is the Lord who came from heaven. Just as we carry Adam's earthly image now, through Christ we will be raised to carry His heavenly, glorified image.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in John 3:13 — "he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man".

Second Coming — the last trump

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 1 Corinthians 15:51–53

At the Lord's coming the trumpet will sound, the righteous dead will rise, and the living will be changed in an instant to immortality. Christ is not named here, but the event is His return.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same event in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 — The Lord descends with the trump of God and the dead in Christ rise first.
• the same event in D&C 43:32 — "he that liveth in righteousness shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye".

Death swallowed up in victory

So 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. 1 Corinthians 15:54–56

Paul quotes Isaiah and Hosea, who foretold that death would be swallowed up. Abinadi explains that the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ, so these prophecies are fulfilled by His Resurrection.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• quotes Isaiah 25:8 — "He will swallow up death in victory."
• quotes Hosea 13:14 — "O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction".
• interpreted by Mosiah 16:7-8 — "the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ".

Our Lord Jesus Christ

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

The victory over sin and death is a gift from the Father that comes through Jesus Christ. We win only because He won.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

Lord (Jesus Christ)

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 in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Because Christ rose, work done for Him is never wasted. The Saints can stay steady and keep serving the Lord with confidence.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him