1 Corinthians 15:1-11

¹ “Now I make known to you, brothers and sisters, the gospel which I preached to you, which you also received, in which you also stand, ² by which you also are saved, if you hold firmly to the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.³ For I handed down to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,⁵ and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. ⁶ After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; ⁷ then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; ⁸ and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. ⁹ For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. ¹¹ Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”

Verse 1: Paul starts by reminding the Corinthians of the gospel he preached to them, which they received and are standing in. The gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. It is not about our efforts or works, but about what Christ has done for us. We receive this gospel by faith and it becomes the foundation on which we stand.

Verse 2: Paul emphasizes that the Corinthians are saved through the gospel if they hold fast to the word he preached to them. This does not mean that their salvation is dependent on their ability to hold on or maintain their faith. Rather, it highlights the reality of true faith being a faith that lasts. Believers have an obedient heart (Romans 6:17). Therefore, true believers will hold fast to the gospel.

Verse 3: Paul reminds the Corinthians of the central message of the gospel: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. It is through His death that our sins are forgiven and we are reconciled to God.

Verse 4: Paul continues by emphasizing the resurrection of Christ, which is another essential aspect of the gospel. Jesus was buried and then raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures had foretold. His resurrection is a powerful demonstration of His victory over sin and death, and it is through His resurrection that we have new life in him.

Verse 5: Paul mentions the appearances of Jesus after His resurrection, starting with Peter (Cephas) and then to the twelve disciples. These appearances served as further evidence of His resurrection and solidified the disciples’ faith in him.

Verse 6: Paul highlights that Jesus appeared to a large group of over five hundred believers at once. This was a significant event that many eyewitnesses could testify to. While some of these believers have passed away (fallen asleep), the majority were still alive at the time of Paul’s writing, providing further evidence of the reality of Christ’s resurrection.

Verse 7: Paul mentions that Jesus appeared to James, who is believed to be the brother of Jesus, and then to all the apostles. These appearances served to strengthen the faith of those who encountered the risen Christ and solidify their understanding of His resurrection.

Verse 8: Paul concludes by sharing his own personal encounter with the risen Christ. He refers to himself as one untimely born, highlighting the unexpected nature of his encounter with Jesus. This encounter transformed Paul’s life and led him to become a devoted follower and preacher of the gospel.