1 Corinthians 15:20 kjv
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1 Corinthians 15:20 nkjv
But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:20 niv
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:20 esv
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:20 nlt
But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.
1 Corinthians 15 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 15:20 | Christ the firstfruits of them that slept. | 1 Cor 15:20 (Primary Verse) |
| Rom 8:23 | ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit | Rom 8:23 (Spiritually Firstfruits) |
| Col 1:18 | head of the body, the church: who is the beginning | Col 1:18 (Christ as Beginning) |
| John 11:25 | I am the resurrection, and the life | John 11:25 (Christ's Power) |
| Acts 2:24 | it was not possible that he should be holden of it. | Acts 2:24 (Resurrection Secured) |
| Psalm 16:10 | For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; | Psalm 16:10 (Messianic Prophecy) |
| Deut 26:1-2 | when thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee | Deut 26:1-2 (Feast of Firstfruits) |
| Lev 23:10-11 | Bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest | Lev 23:10-11 (Ordinance of Firstfruits) |
| Phil 3:10-11 | that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection | Phil 3:10-11 (Resurrection's Power) |
| 1 Thes 4:14 | For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again | 1 Thes 4:14 (Faith in Resurrection) |
| John 14:19 | because I live, ye shall live also. | John 14:19 (Life Through Christ) |
| Rev 1:5 | the firstborn from the dead. | Rev 1:5 (Christ's Primacy) |
| Rom 6:4-5 | by glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. | Rom 6:4-5 (Resurrection Union) |
| John 20:17 | for I am not yet ascended unto my Father | John 20:17 (Post-Resurrection Interaction) |
| Acts 1:3 | also shewed himself alive after his passion | Acts 1:3 (Evidence of Resurrection) |
| 1 Cor 15:12-19 | But if there be no resurrection of the dead | 1 Cor 15:12-19 (Foundation of Faith) |
| Rom 11:16 | For if the firstfruit be holy, so is the lump also | Rom 11:16 (Firstfruit Principle) |
| Isaiah 53:10 | he shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied | Isaiah 53:10 (Suffering and Reward) |
| 1 Peter 1:3 | begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ | 1 Peter 1:3 (Hope in Resurrection) |
| Song of Solomon 2:3 | as the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved | Song of Solomon 2:3 (Beloved's Excellence) |
| Acts 13:34 | he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, | Acts 13:34 (Resurrection Confirmed) |
1 Corinthians 15 verses
1 Corinthians 15 20 Meaning
Christ the firstfruits of them that slept. This verse declares that Jesus' resurrection is not an isolated event but the inaugural resurrection of all who die in faith. His rising signifies the promise and guarantee of the resurrection for believers. It's the beginning of a harvest, assuring that others will follow.
1 Corinthians 15 20 Context
This verse is part of a crucial chapter in 1 Corinthians where Paul systematically addresses the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. The Corinthian church had issues and doubts about the bodily resurrection, potentially influenced by Greek philosophical ideas that viewed the physical body as inherently bad. Paul's argument is building from verse 12, stating that if Christ is not raised, then the Christian faith is futile. He counters their disbelief by presenting Jesus' resurrection as the undeniable foundation of Christianity and the precursor to the resurrection of believers. He emphasizes that just as Christ overcame death, those who are united with Him through faith will also experience resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15 20 Word Analysis
- Christ (Χριστός - Christos): The Anointed One, Messiah. This title signifies Jesus' unique divine appointment and authority as savior and redeemer.
- the (ο - ho): Definite article, pointing to a specific entity.
- firstfruits (ἀπαρχή - aparchē): The first and best part of a harvest, offered to God as a token of the whole crop. It signifies consecration and the guarantee of the full harvest to come. It was a key element in the Old Testament feasts (Leviticus 23:10-11).
- of (ἐκ - ek): From, out of. Indicates origin or source.
- them (τῶν - tōn): Genitive plural definite article, referring to multiple people.
- that (κεκοιμημένων - kekoimēmenōn): Past participle, perfect passive, from κεῖμαι (keimai), meaning to lie down, to sleep. In the New Testament, "sleeping" is a common euphemism for being dead, indicating a peaceful rest awaiting resurrection.
Phrase/Passage Analysis:
- "Christ the firstfruits": This phrase is central. Christ's resurrection is the "firstfruits" offering of God's resurrection plan. It assures that what happened to Him will eventually happen to all believers who "sleep" in death. It's the guarantee of our future resurrection, a testament that death does not have the final say. This imagery draws directly from the Old Testament feast of Passover and the subsequent Feast of Unleavened Bread and Feast of Weeks, where the first ripe barley and wheat were presented as offerings to God, signifying a new harvest and the promise of the full yield. Jesus, being resurrected on the very day the barley sheaf was waved (Acts 10:40), perfectly embodies this firstfruit.
- "of them that slept": This connects Christ's resurrection to the future resurrection of believers who have died. Their death is portrayed as a peaceful "sleep" from which they will be awakened by the power demonstrated in Christ's resurrection. This is not an isolated resurrection but the initial, representative act of a much larger spiritual harvest.
1 Corinthians 15 20 Bonus Section
The concept of "firstfruits" also carries a spiritual implication beyond just physical resurrection. In Romans 8:23, believers are described as having "the firstfruits of the Spirit," signifying the present, indwelling work of the Holy Spirit in their lives as a down payment or guarantee of their future glorification. Both the physical and spiritual applications of "firstfruits" find their ultimate realization in Jesus Christ. Furthermore, the term "sleeping" for the dead is a tender and hopeful term, contrasting sharply with a grim view of death. It suggests a period of rest and peace before the ultimate awakening. Scholars note the clear polemic nature against any philosophies or beliefs that might deny a physical resurrection, asserting that the body, though transformed, will indeed be raised.
1 Corinthians 15 20 Commentary
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just an event of history; it is the bedrock of the Christian faith. Paul uses the agricultural imagery of "firstfruits" to underscore that Jesus’ rising from the dead is the sure promise that all who are united with Him in faith will also be raised. This theological concept, rooted in Old Testament festivals celebrating the harvest, guarantees that death is not the end for believers. Just as the first part of the harvest was holy and represented the entire harvest, Christ’s resurrection is holy and guarantees our future resurrection. Without this foundational truth, the teachings of Christianity collapse.