1 Corinthians 15:12-28
Christ the Firstfruits
12But 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?
13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith.
15In 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.
16For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised.
17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
19If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men.
20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
23But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him.
24Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power.
25For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
26The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
27For “God has put everything under His feet.” Now when it says that everything has been put under Him, this clearly does not include the One who put everything under Him.
28And when all things have been subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all.
Berean Standard Bible
Some Corinthians are saying there is no resurrection of the dead. Paul follows their claim to its logical end: if there is no resurrection, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, the preaching is empty, faith is empty, and the apostles are false witnesses about God.
More follows. If Christ has not been raised, the Corinthians are still in their sins, those who died in Christ have perished, and Christians are people to be pitied more than anyone else. Paul is not treating resurrection as one optional topic among many. The whole gospel depends on Jesus' victory over death.
But Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. Firstfruits are the beginning of a harvest that points toward what follows. Death came through a man, Adam; resurrection of the dead also comes through a man, Christ. In Adam all die, and in Christ all will be made alive, each in his proper order.
Christ is the firstfruits, then those who belong to Him at His coming. Then comes the end, when He hands the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule, authority, and power. He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet, and the last enemy to be destroyed is death.
The Son will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all. Paul is describing ordered victory within the life of Father and Son, not competition between rival gods. The resurrection means death is not an eternal equal to God; it is an enemy Christ will finally destroy.
Questions
1 What would follow if there were no resurrection?
AnswerChrist would not have been raised, preaching and faith would be empty, the apostles would be false witnesses, and believers would remain in their sins.
2 How does Paul describe Christ's resurrection?
AnswerHe describes Christ as the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep, the beginning of the resurrection harvest.
3 What order does Paul give for resurrection?
AnswerChrist is first, then those who belong to Him at His coming, and finally the end when He hands the kingdom to the Father.
4 What is the last enemy to be destroyed?
AnswerDeath is the last enemy to be destroyed after Christ has brought every opposing rule, authority, and power under His feet.
What This Means for Us
Let resurrection change your definition of reality. Grief is still grief, but death is not the final authority over people who belong to Christ.
Do not reduce Christian faith to helpful advice for this life. Jesus' bodily resurrection is the foundation for forgiveness, future life, and the promise that evil and death will not reign forever.
Prayer
Risen Christ, thank You for becoming the firstfruits of the resurrection. Strengthen our faith when death feels final, and teach us to live under Your victory while we wait for its completion. Amen.