The Gospel of the Risen Christ (1 Corinthians 15)

(1) English Translation ESV with Greek text

Fronted-verb + Renom+de15:1Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you [Γνωρίζω, make known, δὲ ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ὃ εὐηγγελισάμην, evangelized, ὑμῖν], which you received [ὃ καὶ παρελάβετε], in which you stand [ἐν ᾧ καὶ ἑστήκατε], 15:2 and by which you are being saved [δι’ οὗ καὶ σῴζεσθε], if you hold fast to the word I preached to you [τίνι λόγῳ εὐηγγελισάμην, I evangelized, ὑμῖν εἰ κατέχετε, if you hold fast]—unless you believed in vain [ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ εἰκῇ ἐπιστεύσατε].

Conj Gar15:3For I delivered to you as of first importance [παρέδωκα, handed over, γὰρ ὑμῖν ἐν πρώτοις, in first place] what I also received [ὃ, that which, καὶ παρέλαβον,]: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures [ὅτι Χριστὸς ἀπέθανεν ὑπὲρ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν κατὰ τὰς γραφὰς], 15:4 that he was buried [καὶ ὅτι ἐτάφη], that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures [καὶ ὅτι ἐγήγερται τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ κατὰ τὰς γραφὰς], 15:5 and that he appeared to Cephas [καὶ ὅτι ὤφθη, was seen by, Κηφᾷ], then to the twelve [εἶτα τοῖς δώδεκα·]. 15:6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time [ἔπειτα ὤφθη ἐπάνω πεντακοσίοις ἀδελφοῖς ἐφάπαξ], most of whom are still alive [ἐξ ὧν οἱ πλείονες μένουσιν, remain, ἕως ἄρτι, until now], though some have fallen asleep [τινὲς δὲ ἐκοιμήθησαν·]. 15:7 Then he appeared to James [ἔπειτα ὤφθη, was seen by, Ἰακώβῳ], then to all the apostles [εἶτα τοῖς ἀποστόλοις πᾶσιν·]. 15:8 Last of all, as to one untimely born [ἔκτρωμα, ἐκτρωτος, τό, ἐκτιτρώσκω, I cause or to suffer abortion, an untimely, abortive birth], he appeared also to me [ἔσχατον δὲ πάντων ὡσπερεὶ τῷ ἐκτρώματι ὤφθη, was seen by, κἀμοί].

BiographicalDigression15:9For I am the least of the apostles [Ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι ὁ ἐλάχιστος τῶν ἀποστόλων], unworthy to be called an apostle [ὃς οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς, who is not fit, καλεῖσθαι ἀπόστολος], because I persecuted the church of God [διότι ἐδίωξα τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ θεοῦ·]. 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am [χάριτι δὲ θεοῦ εἰμι ὅ εἰμι], and his grace toward me was not in vain [καὶ ἡ χάρις αὐτοῦ ἡ εἰς ἐμὲ οὐ κενὴ ἐγενήθη]. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them [ἀλλὰ περισσότερον αὐτῶν πάντων ἐκοπίασα, I laboured over and above all of them], though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me [οὐκ ἐγὼ δὲ ἀλλ’ ἡ χάρις τοῦ θεοῦ [ἡ] σὺν ἐμοί]. 15:11 Whether then it was I or they [εἴτε οὖν ἐγὼ εἴτε ἐκεῖνοι], so we preach and so you believed [οὕτως κηρύσσομεν καὶ οὕτως ἐπιστεύσατε].

RhetoricalQuestion+Answers15:12Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead [Εἰ δὲ Χριστὸς κηρύσσεται ὅτι ἐκ νεκρῶν ἐγήγερται], how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead [πῶς λέγουσιν ἐν ὑμῖν τινες ὅτι ἀνάστασις νεκρῶν οὐκ ἔστιν;]? 15:13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead [εἰ δὲ ἀνάστασις νεκρῶν οὐκ ἔστιν], then not even Christ has been raised [οὐδὲ Χριστὸς ἐγήγερται·]. 15:14 And if Christ has not been raised [εἰ δὲ Χριστὸς οὐκ ἐγήγερται], then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain [κενὸν ἄρα [καὶ] τὸ κήρυγμα ἡμῶν, κενὴ καὶ ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν·]. 15:15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God [εὑρισκόμεθα δὲ καὶ ψευδομάρτυρες, false witnesses, τοῦ θεοῦ], because we testified about God that he raised Christ [ὅτι ἐμαρτυρήσαμεν κατὰ τοῦ θεοῦ ὅτι ἤγειρεν τὸν Χριστόν], whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised [ὃν οὐκ ἤγειρεν εἴπερ ἄρα νεκροὶ οὐκ ἐγείρονται]. 15:16 For if the dead are not raised [εἰ γὰρ νεκροὶ οὐκ ἐγείρονται], not even Christ has been raised [οὐδὲ Χριστὸς ἐγήγερται·]. 15:17 And if Christ has not been raised [εἰ δὲ Χριστὸς οὐκ ἐγήγερται], your faith is futile and you are still in your sins [ματαία ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν, ἔτι ἐστὲ ἐν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ὑμῶν,]. 15:18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished [ἄρα καὶ οἱ κοιμηθέντες ἐν Χριστῷ ἀπώλοντο]. 15:19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only [εἰ ἐν τῇ ζωῇ ταύτῃ ἐν Χριστῷ ἠλπικότες ἐσμὲν μόνον], we are of all people most to be pitied [ἐλεεινότεροι πάντων ἀνθρώπων ἐσμέν, most miserable, Greek, ἐλεεινότεροι, comparative adjective of ἐλεεινός or ἐληινος, ή, όν, (ἔλεος), miserable, pitiful, wretched. Substantivally, the miserable person. The comparative is used as superlative, most miserable] of all men.

ConjNuniDe15:20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead [Νυνὶ, now, δὲ Χριστὸς ἐγήγερται ἐκ νεκρῶν], the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep [ἀπαρχὴ, firstfruit singular, τῶν κεκοιμημένων]. 15:21 For as by a man came death [ἐπειδὴ γὰρ δι’ ἀνθρώπου θάνατος], by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead [καὶ δι’ ἀνθρώπου ἀνάστασις νεκρῶν]. 15:22 For as in Adam all die [ὥσπερ γὰρ ἐν τῷ Ἀδὰμ πάντες ἀποθνῄσκουσιν], so also in Christ shall all be made alive [οὕτως καὶ ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ πάντες ζῳοποιηθήσονται]. 15:23 But each in his own order [Ἕκαστος δὲ ἐν τῷ ἰδίῳ τάγματι, τάγμα, ταγματος, τό (τάσσω), right order, appointed position, rank; class, division; order, turn, place in line]: Christ the firstfruits [ἀπαρχὴ, singular, Χριστός], then at his coming those who belong to Christ [ἔπειτα οἱ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐν τῇ παρουσίᾳ αὐτοῦ]. 15:24 Then comes the end [εἶτα τὸ τέλος], when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father [ὅταν παραδιδῷ τὴν βασιλείαν τῷ θεῷ καὶ πατρί, to his God and Father] after destroying every rule and every authority and power [ὅταν καταργήσῃ, when he abolishes, πᾶσαν ἀρχὴν καὶ πᾶσαν ἐξουσίαν καὶ δύναμιν]. 15:25 For he must reign [δεῖ γὰρ αὐτὸν βασιλεύειν] until he has put all his enemies under his feet [ἄχρι οὗ θῇ πάντας τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑπὸ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ]. 15:26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death [ἔσχατος ἐχθρὸς καταργεῖται, to be abolished, ὁ θάνατος]. 15:27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet [πάντα γὰρ ὑπέταξεν ὑπὸ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ].” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection [ὅταν δὲ εἴπῃ ὅτι πάντα ὑποτέτακται],” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him [δῆλον, clear, ὅτι ἐκτὸς, this is besides, τοῦ ὑποτάξαντος αὐτῷ τὰ πάντα]. 15:28 When all things are subjected to him [ὅταν δὲ ὑποταγῇ αὐτῷ τὰ πάντα], then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him [τότε καὶ αὐτὸς ὁ υἱὸς ὑποταγήσεται τῷ ὑποτάξαντι αὐτῷ τὰ πάντα], that God may be all in all [ἵνα ᾖ ὁ θεὸς [τὰ] πάντα ἐν πᾶσιν].

Conjunction15:29Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead [Ἐπεὶ, in that case, τί ποιήσουσιν, what will they do, οἱ βαπτιζόμενοι ὑπὲρ τῶν νεκρῶν;]? If the dead are not raised at all [εἰ ὅλως, actually, νεκροὶ οὐκ ἐγείρονται], why are people baptized on their behalf [τί καὶ βαπτίζονται ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν;]? 15:30 Why are we in danger every hour [Τί καὶ ἡμεῖς κινδυνεύομεν πᾶσαν ὥραν;]? 15:31 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day [καθ’ ἡμέραν ἀποθνῄσκω , νὴ τὴν ὑμετέραν καύχησιν, Every day I die – yes! – my boasting about you, where ὑμέτερος is the possessive pronoun of the 2nd person plural, your, yours; possessed by you, allotted to you, proceeding from you, objectively, glorying in you] [ἀδελφοί], ἣν ἔχω ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ κυρίῳ ἡμῶν! 15:32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus [εἰ κατὰ ἄνθρωπον ἐθηριομάχησα, θηριομαχέω, I fight with wild beasts, ἐν Ἐφέσῳ, τί μοι τὸ ὄφελος;]? If the dead are not raised [εἰ νεκροὶ οὐκ ἐγείρονται], “Let us eat and drink [φάγωμεν καὶ πίωμεν], for tomorrow we die [αὔριον γὰρ ἀποθνῄσκομεν].” 15:33 Do not be deceived [μὴ πλανᾶσθε·]: “Bad company ruins good morals” [Menander (342 -290 BC), Thais, frag. 218, in F G Allinson (ed & trs), Menander, The Principle Fragments, with an English translation: LCL 132 (London: Heinemann, 1921), 356-7; φθείρουσιν ἤθη χρηστὰ ὁμιλίαι κακαί, ‘bad company’, ὁμιλία, ὁμιλίας, ἡ (ὅμιλος), companionship, contact, communion. good, χρηστός, χρηστη, χρηστόν, in LXX for טוב, fit for use, useful, virtuous, good morals, ἦθος, ᾔθεος (ἐθους), τό, custom, usage, morals, character].” 15:34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning [ἐκνήψατε, come back to your senses, ἐκνήφω, I return to myself from drunkenness, become sober, return to soberness of mind, δικαίως καὶ μὴ ἁμαρτάνετε]. For some have no knowledge of God [ἀγνωσίαν γὰρ θεοῦ τινες ἔχουσιν]. I say this to your shame [πρὸς ἐντροπὴν ὑμῖν λαλῶ, ἐντροπή, ἐντροπῆς, ἡ, shame, to arouse your shame, humiliation].

Conjunction15:35But someone will ask [Ἀλλ’ ἐρεῖ, say, τις·], “How are the dead raised [πῶς ἐγείρονται οἱ νεκροί;]? With what kind of body do they come [ποίῳ δὲ σώματι ἔρχονται;]?” 15:36 You foolish person [ἄφρων, stupid, σὺ]! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies [ὃ σπείρεις, οὐ ζῳοποιεῖται ἐὰν μὴ ἀποθάνῃ]. 15:37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be [καὶ ὃ σπείρεις, οὐ τὸ σῶμα τὸ γενησόμενον σπείρεις], but a bare kernel [ἀλλὰ γυμνὸν κόκκον, seed], perhaps of wheat or of some other grain [εἰ τύχοι σίτου ἤ τινος τῶν λοιπῶν, some of the rest of the types of seeds]. 15:38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen [ὁ δὲ θεὸς δίδωσιν αὐτῷ σῶμα καθὼς ἠθέλησεν], and to each kind of seed its own body [καὶ ἑκάστῳ τῶν σπερμάτων ἴδιον σῶμα]. 15:39 For not all flesh is the same [Οὐ πᾶσα σὰρξ ἡ αὐτὴ σὰρξ], but there is one kind for humans [ἀλλ’ ἄλλη μὲν ἀνθρώπων, But, one is of the human type of flesh], another for animals [ἄλλη δὲ σὰρξ κτηνῶν], another for birds [ἄλλη δὲ σὰρξ πτηνῶν], and another for fish [ἄλλη δὲ ἰχθύων]. 15:40 There are heavenly bodies [καὶ σώματα ἐπουράνια] and earthly bodies [καὶ σώματα ἐπίγεια], but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind [ἀλλ’ ἑτέρα, different, μὲν ἡ τῶν ἐπουρανίων δόξα], and the glory of the earthly is of another [ἑτέρα, different, δὲ ἡ τῶν ἐπιγείων]. 15:41 There is one glory of the sun [ἄλλη δόξα ἡλίου], and another glory of the moon [καὶ ἄλλη δόξα σελήνης], and another glory of the stars [καὶ ἄλλη δόξα ἀστέρων]; for star differs from star in glory [ἀστὴρ γὰρ ἀστέρος διαφέρει ἐν δόξῃ].

Conjunction15:42So is it with the resurrection of the dead [Οὕτως καὶ ἡ ἀνάστασις τῶν νεκρῶν]. What is sown is perishable [σπείρεται ἐν φθορᾷ, it is sown in corruption]; what is raised is imperishable [ἐγείρεται ἐν ἀφθαρσίᾳ, it is raised in incorruption]. 15:43 It is sown in dishonour [σπείρεται ἐν ἀτιμίᾳ]; it is raised in glory [ἐγείρεται ἐν δόξῃ]. It is sown in weakness [σπείρεται ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ]; it is raised in power [ἐγείρεται ἐν δυνάμει]. 15:44 It is sown a natural body [σπείρεται σῶμα ψυχικόν, adj, of or belonging to the ψυχή, having the principle of animal life, natural, the sensuous nature, sensual, subject to appetites and passions]; it is raised a spiritual body [ἐγείρεται σῶμα πνευματικόν]. If there is a natural body [Εἰ ἔστιν σῶμα ψυχικόν], there is also a spiritual body [ἔστιν καὶ πνευματικόν]. 15:45 Thus it is written [οὕτως καὶ γέγραπται], “The first man Adam became a living being” [ἐγένετο ὁ πρῶτος ἄνθρωπος Ἀδὰμ εἰς ψυχὴν ζῶσαν, for a living soul/life]; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit [ὁ ἔσχατος Ἀδὰμ εἰς πνεῦμα ζῳοποιοῦν, for a life-giving spirit]. 15:46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural [ἀλλ’ οὐ πρῶτον τὸ πνευματικὸν ἀλλὰ τὸ ψυχικόν], and then the spiritual [ἔπειτα τὸ πνευματικόν]. 15:47 The first man was from the earth [ὁ πρῶτος ἄνθρωπος ἐκ γῆς χοϊκός], a man of dust; the second man is from heaven [ὁ δεύτερος ἄνθρωπος ἐξ οὐρανοῦ]. 15:48 As was the man of dust [οἷος ὁ χοϊκός], so also are those who are of the dust [τοιοῦτοι καὶ οἱ χοϊκοί], and as is the man of heaven [καὶ οἷος ὁ ἐπουράνιος], so also are those who are of heaven [τοιοῦτοι καὶ οἱ ἐπουράνιοι]. 15:49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust [καὶ καθὼς ἐφορέσαμεν τὴν εἰκόνα τοῦ χοϊκοῦ], we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven [φορέσομεν καὶ τὴν εἰκόνα τοῦ ἐπουρανίου].

Renominalisation15:50I tell you this, brothers [Τοῦτο δέ φημι, ἀδελφοί]: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable [ὅτι σὰρξ καὶ αἷμα βασιλείαν θεοῦ κληρονομῆσαι οὐ δύναται οὐδὲ ἡ φθορὰ τὴν ἀφθαρσίαν κληρονομεῖ]. 15:51 Behold! I tell you a mystery [ἰδοὺ μυστήριον ὑμῖν λέγω]. We shall not all sleep [πάντες οὐ κοιμηθησόμεθα], but we shall all be changed [πάντες δὲ ἀλλαγησόμεθα, ἀλλάσσω, I change, cause one thing to cease and another to take its place, I exchange one thing for another], 15:52 in a moment [ἐν ἀτόμῳ], in the twinkling of an eye [ἐν ῥιπῇ ὀφθαλμοῦ], at the last trumpet [ἐν τῇ ἐσχάτῃ σάλπιγγι]. For the trumpet will sound [σαλπίσει γὰρ], and the dead will be raised imperishable [καὶ οἱ νεκροὶ ἐγερθήσονται ἄφθαρτοι], and we shall be changed [καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀλλαγησόμεθα]. 15:53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable [Δεῖ γὰρ τὸ φθαρτὸν τοῦτο ἐνδύσασθαι ἀφθαρσίαν], and this mortal body must put on immortality [καὶ τὸ θνητὸν τοῦτο ἐνδύσασθαι ἀθανασίαν]. 15:54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable [ὅταν δὲ τὸ φθαρτὸν τοῦτο ἐνδύσηται ἀφθαρσίαν], and the mortal puts on immortality [καὶ τὸ θνητὸν τοῦτο ἐνδύσηται ἀθανασίαν], then shall come to pass the saying that is written [τότε γενήσεται ὁ λόγος ὁ γεγραμμένος]: “Death is swallowed up in victory [κατεπόθη ὁ θάνατος εἰς νῖκος].” 15:55 “O death, where is your victory [ποῦ σου, θάνατε, τὸ νῖκος;]? O death, where is your sting [ποῦ σου, θάνατε, τὸ κέντρον ;]?” 15:56 The sting of death is sin [τὸ δὲ κέντρον τοῦ θανάτου ἡ ἁμαρτία], and the power of sin is the law [ἡ δὲ δύναμις τῆς ἁμαρτίας ὁ νόμος]. 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ [τῷ δὲ θεῷ χάρις τῷ διδόντι ἡμῖν τὸ νῖκος διὰ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ].

Conjunction+renominalisation15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers [Ὥστε, ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί,], be steadfast [ἑδραῖοι γίνεσθε, firm, immovable, steadfast, fixed in purpose, also 1 Cor 7:37], immovable [ἀμετακίνητοι], always abounding in the work of the Lord [περισσεύοντες ἐν τῷ ἔργῳ τοῦ κυρίου πάντοτε], knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain [εἰδότες ὅτι ὁ κόπος ὑμῶν οὐκ ἔστιν κενὸς ἐν κυρίῳ].