1 Corinthians 15:19

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

If {G1487} in {G1722} this {G5026} life {G2222} only {G3440} we have hope {G1679}{G2070} in {G1722} Christ {G5547}, we are {G2070} of all {G3956} men {G444} most miserable {G1652}.

If it is only for this life that we have put our hope in the Messiah, we are more pitiable than anyone.

If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men.

If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.

1 Corinthians 15:19 KJV: "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."

Context

This powerful verse is found within 1 Corinthians chapter 15, often referred to as the "resurrection chapter." The Apostle Paul is addressing a significant theological issue within the Corinthian church: some members were denying or questioning the resurrection of the dead. Paul meticulously argues for the absolute necessity and reality of Christ's resurrection, asserting that it is the foundation of Christian faith. Verse 19 serves as a rhetorical climax, emphasizing the dire implications if the resurrection were not true, particularly for those who have suffered for their faith.

Key Themes

  • The Centrality of Resurrection: Paul asserts that without the resurrection, Christian hope is utterly baseless. The entire gospel message hinges on Christ's victory over death, which promises future life for believers.
  • Hope Beyond This Life: True Christian hope extends beyond earthly comforts, successes, or even the alleviation of present suffering. It is a hope anchored in eternity, promising a future resurrection and eternal life with God.
  • The "Miserable" Condition: The word "miserable" (Greek: eleeinoi) here signifies pitiable, wretched, or deserving of pity. If Christ did not rise, and believers have no future resurrection, then their sacrifices, persecutions, and self-denial for the sake of the gospel would be utterly pointless and foolish. They would be enduring hardship for a delusion, making them the most pitiable of all people. Paul also discusses the implications for those who have already died in Christ, stating that "they also are perished" if there is no resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:18).

Linguistic Insight

The Greek word for "miserable" is eleeinoi (ἐλεεινοί), derived from eleos (mercy). It describes someone who is in a truly wretched state, deserving of compassion or pity due to their misfortune. Paul uses this strong term to underscore the profound despair and futility that would characterize the Christian experience if their hope were confined only to this mortal existence.

Practical Application

This verse profoundly impacts how believers view their present lives and future. It encourages us to:

  • Live with Eternal Perspective: Our hope is not in fleeting earthly gains but in the eternal life promised through Christ's resurrection. This perspective empowers believers to endure trials, knowing that present sufferings are temporary compared to the glory to be revealed (Romans 8:18).
  • Find Meaning in Faith: The resurrection gives ultimate meaning to Christian faith, making sacrifices and devotion not in vain, but investments in eternity. It assures us that our labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).
  • Strengthen Hope: In times of doubt or despair, 1 Corinthians 15:19 reminds us of the unshakable foundation of our faith: Christ's resurrection. It is a living hope that transforms our outlook on life and death (1 Peter 1:3-4).
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Revelation 14:13

    ¶ And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

  • 1 Peter 1:21

    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.

  • 2 Timothy 1:12

    For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:9

    For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:13

    Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, [and are] the offscouring of all things unto this day.

  • Acts 14:22

    Confirming the souls of the disciples, [and] exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

  • 2 Timothy 3:12

    Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
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