1 Corinthians 15:12 - The Resurrection of the Dead

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead
This phrase emphasizes the core message of the Gospel: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection is a foundational doctrine in Christianity, affirming Jesus as the Son of God and validating His victory over sin and death. The preaching of Christ's resurrection was central to the apostolic message (Acts 2:24, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Historically, the resurrection was a well-attested event, with multiple eyewitness accounts (1 Corinthians 15:5-8). Theologically, it fulfills Old Testament prophecies such as Psalm 16:10 and Isaiah 53:10-12, which speak of the Messiah's triumph over death.

how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
This phrase addresses a specific issue within the Corinthian church, where some members doubted the general resurrection of the dead. In the Greco-Roman world, many philosophical systems, such as Platonism, viewed the physical body as inferior to the spirit, leading to skepticism about bodily resurrection. Paul counters this by affirming that Christ's resurrection is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:20), indicating that believers will also be raised. This belief is consistent with Jewish eschatology, which anticipated a future resurrection (Daniel 12:2). The denial of the resurrection undermines the entire Christian faith, as Paul later argues that if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised, and faith is futile (1 Corinthians 15:13-17).

Persons / Places / Events

1. Paul the Apostle
The author of 1 Corinthians, addressing the church in Corinth. He is emphasizing the importance of the resurrection of Christ as a foundational truth of the Christian faith.

2. The Corinthian Church
A diverse and often troubled congregation in the city of Corinth, grappling with various theological and moral issues, including doubts about the resurrection.

3. Christ
Central to the passage, Jesus Christ's resurrection is the cornerstone of Christian doctrine, affirming His victory over sin and death.

4. Resurrection of the Dead
A key doctrine being questioned by some in Corinth, which Paul defends as essential to the Christian faith.

5. Greek Philosophical Influence
The cultural backdrop of Corinth, where Greek philosophy often denied bodily resurrection, influencing some believers' skepticism.

Teaching Points

The Centrality of the Resurrection
The resurrection of Christ is not just an event but the foundation of Christian hope and faith. Without it, the gospel loses its power and meaning.

Confronting Cultural Skepticism
Just as the Corinthians faced cultural doubts, modern believers must be prepared to defend the truth of the resurrection against contemporary skepticism.

The Hope of Eternal Life
The resurrection assures believers of their future resurrection and eternal life, providing hope and purpose in this life and beyond.

Living in Light of the Resurrection
Understanding the resurrection should transform how Christians live daily, encouraging holiness, perseverance, and a focus on eternal values.

Unity in Essential Doctrine
The resurrection is a non-negotiable tenet of the faith, calling for unity among believers in affirming this core truth.

(12) If Christ be preached that he rose from the dead.--Better, is being preached. It has been proved as a matter of historical fact that a man has risen from the dead; it is therefore illogical to say that there is no resurrection of the dead.

Verses 12-19. - The resurrection of Christ is the basis of our faith in the general resurrection. Verse 12. - Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead. St. Paul sees that if One has risen from the dead, the fact of that miracle, taken in connection with the rest of the gospel, furnishes Christians with a sufficient proof that they shall rise. "For," he had already said to the Thessalonians, "if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him" (see the same argument in Romans 8:11). That there is no resurrection of the dead. These deniers of the resurrection are usually called "the Corinthian Sadducees." After the state of social and moral laxity of which we have been reading, we can scarcely be surprised at the existence of any disorder or anomaly in the Church of Corinth. Yet it comes with something of a shock on our paralyzed sense of astonishment to read that some of these Christians actually denied a resurrection! The fact at once proves two remarkable truths, namely,

(1) that the early Christian Church had none of the ideal purity of doctrine which is sometimes ecclesiastically attributed to it; and

(2) that there was in the bosom of that Church a wide and most forbearing tolerance. We have no data to enable us to determine what were the influences which led to the denial of the resurrection.

1. They can hardly have been Jewish. The mass of Jews at this time shared the views of the Pharisees, who strongly maintained the resurrection (Acts 23:6). If they were Jews at all, they could only have been Sadducees or Essenes. But . . . Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

if
Εἰ (Ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

it is preached
κηρύσσεται (kēryssetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2784: To proclaim, herald, preach. Of uncertain affinity; to herald, especially divine truth.

that
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

Christ
Χριστὸς (Christos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.

has been raised
ἐγήγερται (egēgertai)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1453: (a) I wake, arouse, (b) I raise up. Probably akin to the base of agora; to waken, i.e. Rouse.

from
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

[the] dead,
νεκρῶν (nekrōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3498: (a) adj: dead, lifeless, subject to death, mortal, (b) noun: a dead body, a corpse. From an apparently primary nekus; dead.

how
πῶς (pōs)
Adverb
Strong's 4459: Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!

{can} some
τινες (tines)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

of
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

you
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

say
λέγουσιν (legousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

that
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

there is
ἔστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

no
οὐκ (ouk)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

resurrection
ἀνάστασις (anastasis)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 386: A rising again, resurrection. From anistemi; a standing up again, i.e. a resurrection from death (its author), or a recovery.

of [the] dead?
νεκρῶν (nekrōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3498: (a) adj: dead, lifeless, subject to death, mortal, (b) noun: a dead body, a corpse. From an apparently primary nekus; dead.

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