How to be saved: only believe Christ paid for your sins. Done. Salvation cannot be lost, even if you stop believing.

1 Corinthians 15 - Exegesis

Index

Introduction
Chapter 13

Introduction

An incomplete exegesis of 1 Corinthians chapter 15. There are some anomalies with how Paul is writing the Greek that I'll need to sort out later. Lots of wordplay with a very high level of understanding Greek which makes some verses more complicated if not impossible, to truly translate.

Chapter 15

1 Corinthians 15:1 And (to you) making it known, brethren, the Gospel which (I) preached (to) you, and which (you) received, and in which (you) stand.

1 Corinthians 15:1 Γνωρίζω δὲ ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ὃ εὐηγγελισάμην ὑμῖν, ὃ καὶ παρελάβετε, ἐν ᾧ καὶ ἑστήκατε,

1 Corinthians 15:2 And through which (you are) rescued, if you hold (in memory) what Word preached (to you), if unless (you) believed (to) no purpose.

1 Corinthians 15:2 δι᾽ οὗ καὶ σῴζεσθε, τίνι λόγῳ εὐηγγελισάμην ὑμῖν εἰ κατέχετε, ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ εἰκῇ ἐπιστεύσατε.

Of course the "σῴζεσθε" here is not referring to salvation itself but being rescued from your own thinking. Greek can use sodzo in different contexts just as our "save" gets used in different contexts. If I save a file on my computer that file isn't being 'saved' from the lake of fire; however many Christians have the bad tendency to ignore context and apply the same "saved-from-lake-of-fire" to every sodzo they see. You'll also know this is what's meant near the end, if the Word isn't in your memory your belief in God has no purpose. Oh, you can believe in God alright as many do but never have the Word in you.

Peter, who is not talking about salvation all but growing up by living and learning Bible, also references a similar thing:

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babies crave the pure milk of the Word, in order that you grow into rescuing (your thinking)

1 Peter 2:2 ὡς ἀρτιγέννητα βρέφη τὸ λογικὸν ἄδολον γάλα ἐπιποθήσατε, ἵνα ἐν αὐτῷ αὐξηθῆτε εἰς σωτηρίαν

1 Corinthians 15:3 For (I) handed-over in you first even which (I) received, since Christ died behalf (of) our {the} sins according (to) the Scriptures.

1 Corinthians 15:3 παρέδωκα γὰρ ὑμῖν ἐν πρώτοις, ὃ καὶ παρέλαβον, ὅτι Χριστὸς ἀπέθανεν ὑπὲρ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν κατὰ τὰς γραφὰς

1 Corinthians 15:4 And that (He was) buried, and that (He) rose up the third {the} day according (to) the Scriptures.

1 Corinthians 15:4 καὶ ὅτι ἐτάφη καὶ ὅτι ἐγήγερται τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ κατὰ τὰς γραφὰς

1 Corinthians 15:5 And that (He was) seen (of) Cephas, then the Twelve.

1 Corinthians 15:5 καὶ ὅτι ὤφθη Κηφᾷ εἶτα τοῖς δώδεκα·

1 Corinthians 15:6 Then (He was) seen (from) above (by) five hundred brethren at once, out of which the many remain until now, but also some (are) "asleep".

1 Corinthians 15:6 ἔπειτα ὤφθη ἐπάνω πεντακοσίοις ἀδελφοῖς ἐφάπαξ, ἐξ ὧν οἱ πλείονες μένουσιν ἕως ἄρτι, τινὲς δὲ ἐκοιμήθησαν·

1 Corinthians 15:7 Then (He was) seen (by) James, then all (of) the Apostles.

1 Corinthians 15:7 ἔπειτα ὤφθη Ἰακώβῳ εἶτα τοῖς ἀποστόλοις πᾶσιν·

1 Corinthians 15:8 And last (of) all, (He was) seen (by) me, as though (like I was) the aborted fetus.

1 Corinthians 15:8 ἔσχατον δὲ πάντων ὡσπερεὶ τῷ ἐκτρώματι ὤφθη κἀμοί.

This is probably a controversial translation of what Paul was saying, but I think it fits the Greek well. While we could be more orthodox and translate it as "untimely birth" or "abnormal birth", this is contradicted down in verse 10 where Paul outright states he became born through the Grace of God. Therefore changing state from an abortion to actually being born.

1 Corinthians 15:9 For I, I am the least (of) the Apostles, which I am not adequate (to) be named (an) Apostle, because (I) zealously-persecuted the Church of {the} God.

1 Corinthians 15:9 ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι ὁ ἐλάχιστος τῶν ἀποστόλων, ὃς οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς καλεῖσθαι ἀπόστολος, διότι ἐδίωξα τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ θεοῦ·

1 Corinthians 15:10 But (by the) Grace (of) God, I am what I am, and the Grace of Him into me (was not) in vain (to) become born, except excessive labour (than) all (of) them, not me but the Grace (of) {the} God with me.

1 Corinthians 15:10 χάριτι δὲ θεοῦ εἰμι ὅ εἰμι, καὶ ἡ χάρις αὐτοῦ ἡ εἰς ἐμὲ οὐ κενὴ ἐγενήθη, ἀλλὰ περισσότερον αὐτῶν πάντων ἐκοπίασα, οὐκ ἐγὼ δὲ ἀλλὰ ἡ χάρις τοῦ θεοῦ σὺν ἐμοί.

For some reason all translations completely ignore "ἐγενήθη" as if it didn't exist. I'm guessing this is to obscure verse 8's meaning?

Regardless, even Danker has it as the primary meaning: "come into being by birth or natural process’, be born, be produced"

1 Corinthians 15:11 Therefore whether if (it's) me (or) them, so preached and so believed.

1 Corinthians 15:11 εἴτε οὖν ἐγὼ εἴτε ἐκεῖνοι, οὕτως κηρύσσομεν καὶ οὕτως ἐπιστεύσατε.

1 Corinthians 15:12 But if Christ, (it is) preached, that out from (the) dead (He) rose, how (is it) some among you (are) saying that (the) ressurection (of the) dead never happened?

1 Corinthians 15:12 Εἰ δὲ Χριστὸς κηρύσσεται ὅτι ἐγήγερται ἐκ νεκρῶν, πῶς λέγουσιν ἐν ὑμῖν τινες ὅτι ἀνάστασις νεκρῶν οὐκ ἔστιν;

1 Corinthians 15:13 But if (the) ressurection (of the) dead never happened, (then) Christ wasn't raised up.

1 Corinthians 15:13 εἰ δὲ ἀνάστασις νεκρῶν οὐκ ἔστιν, οὐδὲ Χριστὸς ἐγήγερται·

1 Corinthians 15:14 And if Christ wasn't raised up, therefore the preaching (of) ours (is) worthless, and the belief (of) yours (is) worthless.

1 Corinthians 15:14 εἰ δὲ Χριστὸς οὐκ ἐγήγερται, κενὸν ἄρα τὸ κήρυγμα ἡμῶν, κενὴ καὶ ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν·

Some manuscripts add another kai, e.g. "κενὸν ἄρα [καὶ] τὸ κήρυγμα", I don't believe it should be there as it's not present in Papyrus 46 and thelogically the change in meaning would seem to agree less with the verse. I could be wrong but until someone meters the Greek this is what I'm going with for now.

1 Corinthians 15:15 And even (we're) discovered (to be) false witnesses to {the} God, because (we) testified according {the} God since (He) raised up Christ, Who if (He) not raised up, then the dead (are) not raised up.

1 Corinthians 15:15 εὑρισκόμεθα δὲ καὶ ψευδομάρτυρες τοῦ θεοῦ, ὅτι ἐμαρτυρήσαμεν κατὰ τοῦ θεοῦ ὅτι ἤγειρεν τὸν Χριστόν, ὃν οὐκ ἤγειρεν εἴπερ ἄρα νεκροὶ οὐκ ἐγείρονται.

1 Corinthians 15:16 For if the dead (are) not raised up, neither (is) Christ raised up.

1 Corinthians 15:16 εἰ γὰρ νεκροὶ οὐκ ἐγείρονται, οὐδὲ Χριστὸς ἐγήγερται·

1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ's not raised up, the faith (of) yours (is) worthless, (and) you are still in your sins.

1 Corinthians 15:17 εἰ δὲ Χριστὸς οὐκ ἐγήγερται, ματαία ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν, ἔτι ἐστὲ ἐν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ὑμῶν,

1 Corinthians 15:18 Then also they (who are) "asleep" in Christ (are) ruined (from existence)

1 Corinthians 15:18 ἄρα καὶ οἱ κοιμηθέντες ἐν Χριστῷ ἀπώλοντο.

1 Corinthians 15:19 If in this one life, in Christ alone we (have) confidence, we (of) all men (become) most miserable.

1 Corinthians 15:19 εἰ ἐν τῇ ζωῇ ταύτῃ ἐν Χριστῷ ἠλπικότες ἐσμὲν μόνον, ἐλεεινότεροι πάντων ἀνθρώπων ἐσμέν.

1 Corinthians 15:20 But as a matter of fact Christ (is) raised up from (the) dead, (being the) firstfruit of (those) "asleep".

1 Corinthians 15:20 Νυνὶ δὲ Χριστὸς ἐγήγερται ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀπαρχὴ τῶν κεκοιμημένων.

1 Corinthians 15:21 For because through man came death, and through Man (also comes) ressurection (of the) dead.

1 Corinthians 15:21 ἐπειδὴ γὰρ δι᾽ ἀνθρώπου θάνατος, καὶ δι᾽ Ἀνθρώπου ἀνάστασις νεκρῶν.

While the original Koine Greek would have been all capitalized, I changed the second anthropos to have a capital A to reflect the emphasis on Christ (which no manuscripts will do, which seems weird to me).

1 Corinthians 15:22 For just as in {the} Adam all die, and thus in {the} Christ all live.

1 Corinthians 15:22 ὥσπερ γὰρ ἐν τῷ Ἀδὰμ πάντες ἀποθνῄσκουσιν, οὕτως καὶ ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ πάντες ζῳοποιηθήσονται.

1 Corinthians 15:23 And each one in their own position in the ranking: (the) firstfruit Christ, then the {the} Christ in the presence (of) Him.

1 Corinthians 15:23 ἕκαστος δὲ ἐν τῷ ἰδίῳ τάγματι· ἀπαρχὴ Χριστός, ἔπειτα οἱ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐν τῇ παρουσίᾳ αὐτοῦ,

This is a tough one. Most English translations add way more words that aren't present in the Greek since they have to be added on assumed context, which for the most part appear to be accurate? But I'm leaving it as a more literal translation.

1 Corinthians 15:24 Then the end (comes), when the kingdom (is) handed over (to) {the} God the Father, when (He) abolishes all rulers and all authorities and all power.

1 Corinthians 15:24 εἶτα τὸ τέλος, ὅταν παραδιδῷ τὴν βασιλείαν τῷ θεῷ καὶ πατρί, ὅταν καταργήσῃ πᾶσαν ἀρχὴν καὶ πᾶσαν ἐξουσίαν καὶ δύναμιν.

1 Corinthians 15:25 For it is expected (for) Him to reign until all the enemies (are) placed under the feet (of) His.

1 Corinthians 15:25 δεῖ γὰρ Αὐτὸν βασιλεύειν ἄχρι οὗ θῇ πάντας τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑπὸ τοὺς πόδας Αὐτοῦ.

Most conventional translations use "must" for δεῖ, but I don't think that's correct as it implies God is restricted by His own systems. But if you say it's expected or necessary for *something else*, in this case reigning, then that's more sensical.

1 Corinthians 15:26 (The) last enemy abolished (is) the death.

1 Corinthians 15:26 ἔσχατος ἐχθρὸς καταργεῖται ὁ θάνατος·

1 Corinthians 15:27 For all things subject-under under the feet (of) His. But when saying (He) because all things subject-under, (it's) evident that because the subject-under (of) Him, {the} all things.

1 Corinthians 15:27 πάντα γὰρ ὑπέταξεν ὑπὸ τοὺς πόδας Αὐτοῦ. ὅταν δὲ εἴπῃ ὅτι πάντα ὑποτέτακται, δῆλον ὅτι ἐκτὸς τοῦ ὑποτάξαντος αὐτῷ τὰ πάντα.

This is another tough one because ὑπέταξεν and ὑπὸ are separate words, and translations are melting them just as "ὑπὸ" ignoring ὑπέταξεν. And translations are also adding a lot of words the Greek doesn't have (because it's 'almost' completely nonsensical when you translate it literally). It's possible ὑπέταξεν could also be referring to Christ (ὑπόστασις) making it refer to multiple things which can't really be translated.

Leaving this real bad literal translation like this for now until I can get back to correcting it.

1 Corinthians 15:28 And when {the} all things subject-under Him, then He the Son subject-under {the} subject-under Him {the} all things, in order that {the} God all in all things.

1 Corinthians 15:28 ὅταν δὲ ὑποταγῇ Αὐτῷ τὰ πάντα, τότε καὶ αὐτὸς ὁ υἱὸς ὑποταγήσεται τῷ ὑποτάξαντι αὐτῷ τὰ πάντα, ἵνα ᾖ ὁ θεὸς τὰ πάντα ἐν πᾶσιν.

Unfortunately this verse is 'another one' with some words being different between manuscripts. Some omit the first καὶ, and some add τὰ at the very end. Even more annoying the Papyrus 46 leaf has this section torn up so we don't really know what it had. I've omitted them for now until I figure out what should be there (and the way Paul wrote it is no less confusing that the prior verse).

1 Corinthians 15:29 Otherwise what (will they) make the baptism on behalf of the dead? If altogether (the) dead aren't raised up, and for what baptize on behalf of them?

1 Corinthians 15:29 Ἐπεὶ τί ποιήσουσιν οἱ βαπτιζόμενοι ὑπὲρ τῶν νεκρῶν; εἰ ὅλως νεκροὶ οὐκ ἐγείρονται, τί καὶ βαπτίζονται ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν;

1 Corinthians 15:30 And why (are) we (at) risk every hour?

1 Corinthians 15:30 Τί καὶ ἡμεῖς κινδυνεύομεν πᾶσαν ὥραν;