1 Corinthians 15 11

1 Corinthians 15:11 kjv

Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

1 Corinthians 15:11 nkjv

Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

1 Corinthians 15:11 niv

Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

1 Corinthians 15:11 esv

Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

1 Corinthians 15:11 nlt

So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message you have already believed.

1 Corinthians 15 11 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Acts 2:24God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.Resurrection as overcoming death
Acts 2:32This Jesus God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.Apostles as witnesses to resurrection
Acts 17:18, 32Some of the Epicureans and Stoics encountered him. ... When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some scoffed.Resurrection as a point of contention
Romans 1:4Who was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the deadResurrection proving Jesus' divinity
Romans 4:25who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.Resurrection for our justification
Romans 6:4We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the deadBaptism linked to Christ's resurrection
Romans 10:9because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the deadConfession of faith tied to resurrection
1 Corinthians 6:14God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power.Future resurrection of believers
2 Corinthians 4:14knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus and bring us into his presence.God as the one who raises the dead
Ephesians 1:19-20and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the operation of his mighty strength, which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the deadPower demonstrated in resurrection
Philippians 3:10that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his deathKnowing the power of resurrection
1 Thessalonians 4:14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.Resurrection central to Christian belief
2 Timothy 2:8Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, a descendant of David, according to my gospelGospel is about the resurrection
Hebrews 11:19He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he also received him back.Abraham's faith in resurrection
1 Peter 1:3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the deadResurrection as the source of hope
Revelation 1:18and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.Christ's victory over death
John 11:25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,Jesus' authority over resurrection
Psalm 16:10For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.Prophecy of resurrection in Psalms
Isaiah 53:10Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.Suffering leading to extended life
Matthew 12:40For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.Jesus likens his burial/resurrection to Jonah

1 Corinthians 15 verses

1 Corinthians 15 11 Meaning

This verse asserts a fundamental truth about the Christian faith: the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just a singular event but the very foundation upon which the Gospel message stands. If Christ has not been raised, then the preaching of the Apostles and the faith of believers are in vain. It emphasizes the non-negotiable importance of the resurrection for the entire Christian worldview and practice.

1 Corinthians 15 11 Context

This verse appears in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, which is the Apostle Paul's most extensive treatment of the resurrection of the dead. The chapter is a direct response to challenges and disbelief within the Corinthian church regarding the bodily resurrection of believers. Some individuals in Corinth were denying this doctrine, likely influenced by Greek philosophical ideas that viewed the material body as inherently corrupt and something to be escaped, not resurrected. Paul systematically argues for the resurrection, beginning with Christ's resurrection as the indispensable proof and guarantee of our own future resurrection. This verse serves as the thesis statement for his entire argument in the chapter.

1 Corinthians 15 11 Word Analysis

  • Εἴπερ (Eiper): "If indeed," "if even." This is a conditional particle introducing a strong, albeit hypothetical, premise. It doesn't question the reality of the resurrection but rather underscores its critical importance as the bedrock of their faith and Paul's preaching. It conveys a sense of "granted that," leading to an inevitable consequence if the premise were false.
  • οὖν (oun): "Therefore," "then." A conjunctive particle that draws a logical conclusion from a preceding thought or premise. Here, it links the statement of his preaching with its fundamental basis.
  • κήρυσσω (kēryssō): "I proclaim," "I preach." Refers to public proclamation, heralding good news, typically with authority. It signifies Paul's active evangelistic work and the core message he conveyed.
  • κἀγώ (kagō): "And I." A compound pronoun combining "and" (καί - kai) and "I" (ἐγώ - egō). It emphasizes Paul's personal involvement and responsibility in this preaching.
  • εἰς κένoν (eis kenos): "In vain," "to no purpose," "empty." Describes something that is futile, useless, or void of effect. If the resurrection didn't happen, all the effort of preaching it would be utterly pointless.
  • κὴν (kēn): A contracted form of "and if" (καὶ ἐάν - kai ean). Continues the conditional and consequential thought.
  • πιστεύουσιν (pisteuousin): "They believe." The present active participle of πιστεύω (pisteuō), "to believe," "to trust," "to have faith." It refers to the ongoing belief of the Corinthians.

Words-group Analysis

  • "If indeed I preach" (Εἴπερ οὖν κηρύσσω): This phrase sets up a clear cause-and-effect relationship. The "if indeed" establishes the premise that Paul's preaching is tied to a verifiable reality.
  • "and you believe" (κὴν πιστεύουσιν): This highlights the consequence for the listeners. Their faith is directly linked to the truth of what is proclaimed.
  • "in vain" (εἰς κένoν): This strongly emphasizes the catastrophic implications of a nonexistent resurrection for both the preacher and the believer. It means all the spiritual benefits, hope, and eternal destiny that flow from faith would be rendered meaningless.

1 Corinthians 15 11 Bonus Section

The Corinthian church was likely wrestling with philosophical ideas prevalent in their Hellenistic culture, which often denigrated the physical body. Some may have considered the idea of bodily resurrection backward or undesirable. Paul counters this by demonstrating that the resurrection of Christ is not merely spiritual but a corporeal, bodily event. He establishes his own resurrection from the dead as the inescapable logical outcome. This emphasis on a bodily resurrection distinguishes Christianity from many other contemporary religions and philosophies of the time, and it remains a distinct cornerstone of Christian theology. The effectiveness of Paul's ministry and the authenticity of the believers' faith are wholly dependent on the historicity of Christ's resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15 11 Commentary

Paul states a crucial, foundational truth: his preaching and the Corinthians' belief are worthless if Christ did not actually rise from the dead. This isn't a theological debate for Paul; it's the core of the Gospel. Without the resurrection, there is no salvific power, no vindication of Christ as Son of God, and no basis for the hope of eternal life for believers. The resurrection of Jesus is the empirical proof of God's acceptance of His sacrifice and the guarantee of our future resurrection. It's the anchor of Christian faith.