1 Corinthians 15

1 Corinthians 15:1-58 . THE RESURRECTION PROVED AGAINST THE DENIERS OF IT AT CORINTH.

Christ's resurrection rests on the evidence of many eye-witnesses, including Paul himself, and is the great fact preached as the groundwork of the Gospel: they who deny the resurrection in general, must deny that of Christ, and the consequence of the latter will be, that Christian preaching and faith are vain.

1. Moreover--"Now" [ALFORD and ELLICOTT].
I declare--literally, "I make known": it implies some degree of reproach that it should be now necessary to make it known to them afresh, owing to some of them "not having the knowledge of God" ( 1 Corinthians 15:34 ). Compare Galatians 1:11 .
wherein ye stand--wherein ye now take your stand. This is your present actual privilege, if ye suffer not yourselves to fall from your high standing.

2. ye are saved--rather, "ye are being saved."
if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you--Able critics, BENGEL and others, prefer connecting the words thus, "I declare unto you the Gospel ( 1 Corinthians 15:1 ) in what words I preached it unto you." Paul reminds them, or rather makes known to them, as if anew, not only the fact of the Gospel, but also with what words, and by what arguments, he preached it to them. Translate in that case, "if ye hold it fast." I prefer arranging as English Version, "By which ye are saved, if ye hold fast (in memory and personal appropriation) with what speech I preached it unto you."
unless--which is impossible, your faith is vain, in resting on Christ's resurrection as an objective reality.

3. I delivered unto you--A short creed, or summary of articles of faith, was probably even then existing; and a profession in accordance with it was required of candidates for baptism ( Acts 8:37 ).
first of all--literally, "among the foremost points" ( Hebrews 6:2 ). The atonement is, in Paul's view, of primary importance.
which I . . . received--from Christ Himself by special revelation (compare 1 Corinthians 11:23 ).
died for our sins--that is, to atone FOR them; for taking away our sins ( 1 John 3:5 ; compare Galatians 1:4 ): "gave Himself for our sins" ( Isaiah 53:5 , 2 Corinthians 5:15 , Titus 2:14 ). The "for" here does not, as in some passages, imply vicarious substitution, but "in behalf of" ( Hebrews 5:3 , 1 Peter 2:24 ). It does not, however, mean merely "on account of," which is expressed by a different Greek word ( Romans 4:25 ), (though in English Version translated similarly, "for").
according to the scriptures--which "cannot be broken." Paul puts the testimony of Scripture above that of those who saw the Lord after His resurrection [BENGEL]. So our Lord quotes Isaiah 53:12 , in Luke 22:37 ; compare Psalms 22:15 , &c. Daniel 9:26 .

4. buried . . . rose again--His burial is more closely connected with His resurrection than His death. At the moment of His death, the power of His inextinguishable life exerted itself ( Matthew 27:52 ). The grave was to Him not the destined receptacle of corruption, but an apartment fitted for entering into life ( Acts 2:26-28 ) [BENGEL].
rose again--Greek, "hath risen": the state thus begun, and its consequences, still continue.

5. seen of Cephas--Peter ( Luke 24:34 ).
the twelve--The round number for "the Eleven" ( Luke 24:33 Luke 24:36 ). "The Twelve" was their ordinary appellation, even when their number was not full. However, very possibly Matthias was present ( Acts 1:22 Acts 1:23 ). Some of the oldest manuscripts and versions read, "the Eleven": but the best on the whole, "the Twelve."