1 Corinthians 15 15

1 Corinthians 15:15 kjv

Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

1 Corinthians 15:15 nkjv

Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up?if in fact the dead do not rise.

1 Corinthians 15:15 niv

More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.

1 Corinthians 15:15 esv

We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.

1 Corinthians 15:15 nlt

And we apostles would all be lying about God ? for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can't be true if there is no resurrection of the dead.

1 Corinthians 15 verses

1 Corinthians 15 15 meaning

If the dead are not resurrected, then the claim that God raised Christ is false. This makes the apostles, who consistently proclaimed Christ's resurrection as the cornerstone of their message, nothing less than "false witnesses" regarding the very character and actions of God. The verse starkly presents the theological implications: denying the resurrection of the dead necessitates declaring God a party to a lie and His apostles deceivers.

1 Corinthians 15 15 Context

First Corinthians Chapter 15 is entirely dedicated to the doctrine of resurrection, which some in the Corinthian church apparently denied or questioned. Paul begins by reiterating the core Gospel message: Christ died, was buried, and was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, appearing to many witnesses (vv. 3-8). From verse 12 onwards, Paul uses a logical argument of reductio ad absurdum to demonstrate the catastrophic implications if there is no resurrection of the dead. He presents a series of inevitable consequences, starting with the denial of Christ's resurrection, which invalidates apostolic preaching, renders faith futile, leaves believers unforgiven, and makes those who have died in Christ truly lost. Verse 15 fits centrally into this sequence, specifically focusing on the integrity of the apostles' testimony concerning God Himself. Historically, this argument would have challenged prevalent Hellenistic philosophical views in Corinth that often dismissed or disdained the concept of bodily resurrection, viewing the body as inferior to the spirit or soul.

1 Corinthians 15 15 Word analysis

• And we are found (Greek: εὑρισκόμεθα δέ, heuriskómetha dé): Implies an undeniable, discovered state or conclusion. It's not a possibility but an inevitable truth if the premise (no resurrection) holds. It reveals their true nature under this condition.
• false witnesses (Greek: ψευδομάρτυρες, pseudomártyres): A compound word from pseudos (falsehood) and martys (witness). It's a severe accusation, drawing on Old Testament legal concepts where bearing false witness was a grave sin, breaking one of the Ten Commandments (Exo 20:16). Here, it implies not just a mistake but a deliberate or foundational misrepresentation.
• of God (Greek: τοῦ Θεοῦ, tou Theou): The most critical aspect of the accusation. Their testimony is about God. If it's false, they have lied about God's actions and character, a blasphemous act. This heightens the gravity beyond merely lying about an event or a person.
• because we testified (Greek: ὅτι ἐμαρτυρήσαμεν, hoti emartyrḗsamen): States the basis of the charge. The apostles’ primary mission was to testify (Acts 1:8, 22), specifically to the resurrection of Christ. This word emphasizes their intentional and public declaration.
• of God (Greek: περὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ, peri tou Theou): "Concerning God." Reinforces that the subject of their testimony was God's action.
• that he raised up Christ (Greek: ὅτι ἤγειρεν τὸν Χριστόν, hoti ēgeiren ton Christón): The specific content of the testimony. The Greek word ēgeiren (raised) is an aorist active indicative verb, denoting a definitive, completed action by God in the past. This points to divine initiative and power. "Christ" (the Anointed One, Messiah) signifies Jesus' divine office and significance.
• whom he did not raise up (Greek: ὃν οὐκ ἤγειρεν, hon ouk ēgeiren): The conditional negative. This directly contradicts their central claim. If the dead are not raised, then this negating clause becomes true, shattering their entire message.
• if in fact the dead are not raised (Greek: εἴπερ ἄρα νεκροὶ οὐκ ἐγείρονται, eíper ára nekroì ouk egeírontai): This is the protasis (the "if" clause) that underpins the entire logical sequence from verse 13. Eíper ára is a strong conditional particle often implying "if indeed, as is true/known," though here it is used hypothetically to draw out devastating conclusions from the false premise. "The dead" (nekroi) is plural and generic, signifying a general resurrection. "Are not raised" (ouk egeírontai) is present tense, indicating a fundamental principle or a universal state of being.

• "And we are found false witnesses of God": This phrase highlights the inescapable legal and theological predicament the apostles would be in. It is an unmasking; their proclamation of the Gospel, central to their identity and mission, would be exposed as a lie against the very character and actions of God.
• "because we testified of God that he raised up Christ, whom he did not raise up": This construction emphasizes the direct contradiction inherent in denying the resurrection. The apostles testified of God and His action, specifically raising Christ. If that action didn't happen, then their testimony about God is fundamentally flawed, turning truth into falsehood and making God's power (or lack thereof) the central object of their deceit.
• "if in fact the dead are not raised": This final clause establishes the hypothetical condition for the entire verse (and verses prior). It shows Paul is constructing a robust chain of logic: the general resurrection of all the dead is inextricably linked to Christ's resurrection. Denying the former necessarily pulls down the latter, with all its dire consequences.

1 Corinthians 15 15 Bonus section

The charge of being "false witnesses of God" is particularly devastating because it challenges the very foundation of the apostles' authority and the veracity of their divinely commissioned message. In ancient legal and religious contexts, the witness was paramount for establishing truth. For Paul and the other apostles, their primary role was to be eyewitnesses to the life, death, and especially the resurrection of Jesus. To label them as false witnesses would negate their entire mission and portray God as complicit in, or at least tolerant of, this grave deceit. This highlights how inextricably linked the person of God, the resurrection of Christ, and the integrity of apostolic preaching are in Paul's theological framework.

1 Corinthians 15 15 Commentary

Verse 15 of 1 Corinthians 15 lays bare the most severe theological consequence of denying the resurrection of the dead: it impugns the truthfulness and power of God Himself. Paul argues that if the dead are not raised, then Christ, a dead person, also was not raised. This directly contradicts the apostles' constant proclamation that God did raise Jesus. Thus, the apostles become "false witnesses of God," not just about an event, but about God's very nature and active involvement in history. This consequence makes the resurrection not merely a hope for the future or an optional doctrine, but a foundational truth for understanding who God is, His power to conquer death, and the reliability of His message delivered through His chosen messengers. It’s an urgent defense of divine integrity and apostolic authority.