1 Corinthians 15:17

And if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins.

And {G1161} if {G1487} Christ {G5547} be {G1453} not {G3756} raised {G1453}, your {G5216} faith {G4102} is vain {G3152}; ye are {G2075} yet {G2089} in {G1722} your {G5216} sins {G266}.

and if the Messiah has not been raised, your trust is useless, and you are still in your sins.

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

and if Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

Commentary

In 1 Corinthians 15:17, the Apostle Paul delivers a stark and foundational truth regarding the Christian faith. This verse is a pivotal statement in his comprehensive defense of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, emphasizing its absolute necessity for salvation and the validity of belief.

Context

Paul addresses the Corinthian church, where some members were denying the resurrection of the dead, perhaps influenced by Greek philosophical thought that disdained the physical body. In this chapter, Paul systematically argues for the reality and implications of Christ's resurrection, which is the cornerstone of the Christian gospel. He has already established that if Christ is not risen, then their preaching is empty and their faith is also empty (1 Corinthians 15:14). Verse 17 builds on this, highlighting the dire personal consequences for individual believers.

Key Themes

  • The Indispensability of Christ's Resurrection: Paul asserts that the resurrection is not an optional doctrine but the very foundation upon which Christian faith stands. Without it, the entire structure collapses. It validates Jesus' claims and His victory over sin and death.
  • Vain Faith: The word "vain" comes from the Greek kenos (κενος), meaning "empty," "futile," or "without substance." If Christ did not rise, then faith in Him is meaningless; it has no power to save or transform. It would be an empty hope based on a dead savior.
  • Still in Sins: This is the most critical consequence. The resurrection of Jesus is God's declaration that Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross was accepted and sufficient to pay the penalty for sin. If Christ was not raised, then His death would merely be that of a martyr, not a triumphant savior who conquered sin and death. Consequently, believers would remain unforgiven, still bound by the power and guilt of their sins. This highlights the crucial link between the resurrection and our justification and forgiveness of sins.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "be not raised" uses the Greek verb egegertai (ἐγήγερται), which is in the perfect passive indicative. This tense emphasizes a completed action (Christ was raised) with continuing results (He is still alive and glorified). Paul uses this strong grammatical form to underscore the definitive and lasting reality of the resurrection, making its denial all the more catastrophic to faith.

Practical Application

For believers today, 1 Corinthians 15:17 offers profound assurance and a call to firm conviction. It reminds us that our faith is not based on a myth or a mere philosophical idea, but on a historical event with eternal implications. Because Christ was raised, we have:

  • Assurance of Forgiveness: Our sins are truly forgiven, and we are declared righteous before God.
  • Power for New Life: We are not merely forgiven, but empowered to live a new life, free from sin's dominion, just as Christ rose to new life (Romans 6:4).
  • Hope for the Future: Christ's resurrection is the "firstfruits" (1 Corinthians 15:20) of our own future resurrection, giving us certain hope beyond death.

This verse compels us to cling to the reality of Christ's resurrection as the bedrock of our hope, salvation, and daily walk.

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Cross-References

  • Romans 4:25 (12 votes)

    Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

  • 1 Peter 1:3 (9 votes)

    ¶ Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

  • 1 Corinthians 15:14 (8 votes)

    And if Christ be not risen, then [is] our preaching vain, and your faith [is] also vain.

  • Romans 8:33 (6 votes)

    Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? [It is] God that justifieth.

  • Romans 8:34 (6 votes)

    Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

  • 1 Peter 1:21 (6 votes)

    Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

  • Romans 5:10 (5 votes)

    For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.