Lord’s Library editors offer this 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 meaning (the Gospel of Jesus Christ) with key King James Bible verses and commentary.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 is the essential presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; the Bible’s salvation message and core of the Christian faith. In writing to the church at Corinth, the Apostle Paul clarifies the Gospel he was commanded to preach—Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection on the Cross according to the Scriptures.
The verses read: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
The Gospel is the Good News of salvation through the Blood Atonement of Jesus Christ. Paul begins the passage by reminding the Corinthians of the message they had received and on which faith in Christ is founded. This Gospel is not only the message by which we are saved but also one they must hold fast to avoid a belief “in vain.” The predication Paul refers to is not the act of working to maintain salvation but an exhortation against a lukewarm faith.
Paul summarizes the contents of the Gospel truth in verse 3: “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.” This statement describes the sacrificial nature of Jesus’ death and points back to Old Testament prophecies like seen in Isaiah 53:5: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
The fulfillment of Scripture is a key aspect of the Gospel, showing that Christ’s death was a part of God’s Perfect Will.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Meaning
In verse 4, Paul emphasizes two additional components of the Gospel: Christ was buried, and He rose again on the third day, “according to the scriptures.” The burial of Jesus affirms the reality of His death as a man by His being laid in a tomb. The resurrection on the third day is paramount because it demonstrates Christ’s victory over death and the grave, the same which is promised to those who believe.
Paul would later write in 1 Corinthians 15:17: “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” The resurrection is the cornerstone of the Christian’s hope, as seen in verses like Romans 4:25: “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”
Paul’s repeated use of the phrase “according to the scriptures” in verses 3 and 4 is of the utmost importance.
It reflects how deeply rooted the Gospel is in the prophecies and promises of the Old Testament. Passages like Psalm 16:10, which says, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” and Hosea 6:2, which hints at a resurrection on the third day, align with the events Paul describes: “After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.”
By grounding the Gospel in Scripture, Paul describes perfectly an “if this, then that” scenario which represents conditional logic.
The 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 meaning extends beyond a historical recounting of events. It serves as the basis for Christian doctrine and the hope of eternal life for us. As Paul indicates, the Gospel must be “received” and “stood upon” in verse 1. Romans 10:9-10 reinforces this, stating, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
The Bible presents the Gospel Message that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures. A true belief in this offers eternal life; no works required. Do you believe it?
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