1 Corinthians 15:3 meaning, Cross Ref, ai commentary KJV NIV ESV NLT

1 Corinthians 15:3 kjv

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1 Corinthians 15:3 nkjv

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

1 Corinthians 15:3 niv

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

1 Corinthians 15:3 esv

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

1 Corinthians 15:3 nlt

I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.

1 Corinthians 15 3 Cross References

Verse	Text	Reference
1 Cor 15:4	that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,	Fulfilled prophecy concerning Messiah
Luke 24:46	and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,	Prophetic basis of Christ's death and resurrection
John 3:16	"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.	God's plan of salvation
Rom 4:25	who was delivered up for our offenses and raised for our justification.	Vicarious atonement and resurrection
Rom 5:8	but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.	Divine love demonstrated by sacrifice
1 Pet 2:24	He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.	Bearing sin through suffering
Acts 2:23	this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of godless men.	Foreknown and purposeful crucifixion
Acts 2:24	but God raised him up, loosening the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.	God's action in resurrection
Acts 4:10	by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, God raised him from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well.	Authority of Jesus' name for healing and resurrection
Acts 13:29	And when they had fulfilled all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and placed him in a tomb.	Fulfillment of scripture in burial
Acts 13:30	but God raised him from the dead.	God's power in resurrection
Acts 17:3	explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ."	Necessity of suffering and resurrection
Rom 1:4	and declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,	Resurrection as demonstration of Sonship
1 Cor 15:14	And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.	The centrality of the resurrection
1 Cor 15:17	And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.	Faith contingent on resurrection
Gal 1:4	who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,	Purpose of Christ's death
2 Tim 2:8	Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the lineage of David, according to my gospel,	Resurrection as part of the gospel
1 Pet 3:18	For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,	Purpose of Christ's suffering
Gen 3:15	I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.	Protoevangelium: God's promise of redemption
Isa 53:5	But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.	Suffering servant prophesies atonement
Isa 53:10	Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him; he has put him to grief; if he makes his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.	Christ as an offering for sin

1 Corinthians 15 verses

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1 Corinthians 15 3 Meaning

This verse defines the core of the Gospel message, emphasizing Christ's sacrificial death for sins, His burial, and His resurrection on the third day, as predicted in the Scriptures. This is the foundation of Christian faith.

1 Corinthians 15 3 Context

First Corinthians chapter 15 addresses the issue of resurrection denial among some in the Corinthian church. Paul establishes the historicity and theological necessity of Christ's resurrection. This verse serves as the foundational articulation of the core Gospel message Paul had already preached to them and is central to the defense of the bodily resurrection of believers. The surrounding verses in chapter 15, particularly verses 1-2, emphasize that the message Paul delivered is the very message by which they are saved, if they hold fast to it. The verse counters any subtle or overt Gnostic tendencies in Corinth that might downplay the physical reality of Christ's humanity and resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15 3 Word Analysis

"For" (Gk. gar gar): This is a coordinating conjunction indicating a reason or explanation for what precedes or follows. Here, it links back to the established fact of the gospel preached.
"I delivered to you" (Gk. paradidomi paradídōmi): Means to hand over, transmit, or teach. Paul uses it to signify that he faithfully conveyed the apostolic tradition regarding the Gospel.
"first" (Gk. prōton prōton): Emphasizes this is the primary and most important element of the Gospel, the essential core.
"what I also received" (Gk. hōs kai parelabon hōs kai parelábon): Paul stresses his reliance on a received, authoritative tradition, not personal innovation. This points to receiving the Gospel directly from Christ or the apostles (Galatians 1:11-12).
"that" (Gk. hoti hóti): Introduces the content of the received Gospel.
"Christ died" (Gk. Christos apethanen Christós apéthanen): The core event – Christ’s death. Apethanen signifies dying, often implying a finality or passing away.
"for our sins" (Gk. huper ton hamartion hemon hypér tōn hamartiōn hemōn): The crucial prepositional phrase huper means "for the benefit of," "on behalf of," or "instead of." It signifies an atoning sacrifice, vicarious atonement for humanity’s sins. Hamartion is the plural of hamartia (sin), emphasizing the widespread nature of sin for which Christ died.
"according to the Scriptures" (Gk. kata tas graphas katá tas graphás): This crucial phrase grounds Christ’s death in Old Testament prophecy. It affirms that His death was not a random event but a planned, foreseen part of God’s redemptive program, pointing to fulfillment.
"was buried" (Gk. etaphes etaphés): Past passive of thapto (to bury). This confirms the reality of Christ's death and a proper burial, not just a swoon or disappearance.
"that he was raised" (Gk. hoti elegenthrōtō hoti egerthōi): The resurrection. Egerthōi is a subjunctive verb form indicating the fact or certainty of the resurrection.
"on the third day" (Gk. tē trite hemera tē tritē hēméra): A specific timeframe often used in prophecy and a key detail of the resurrection narrative.
"according to the Scriptures" (Gk. kata tas graphas katá tas graphás): Repeats the emphasis that the resurrection, too, was foretold and is integral to the scriptural plan.

Group of words analysis:

"Christ died for our sins": This phrase encapsulates the doctrine of atonement. It means Christ’s death was substitutionary – He died in our place, bearing the penalty for our sins. It is the central act of redemption, making reconciliation with God possible.
"according to the Scriptures": This dual application signifies that both Christ's death and resurrection were divinely ordained and prophesied in the Old Testament. It validates Jesus’ claims and the truth of the Gospel itself.

1 Corinthians 15 3 Bonus Section

The structure of this verse, "died for sins, buried, raised on the third day," provides a precise, historical, and scripturally-validated account of the Gospel. This formula mirrors summaries found elsewhere in the New Testament (e.g., Acts 4:2, 1 Corinthians 15:4, 1 Peter 3:18), indicating a common apostolic teaching. The inclusion of "according to the Scriptures" twice underlines the authorial intent to show that the Christian message is not arbitrary but deeply rooted in God's revealed plan throughout history. This also serves as an early apologetic against those who might dispute the validity of the Gospel. The resurrection is presented as the culminating event that confirms the efficacy of Christ's atoning death.

1 Corinthians 15 3 Commentary

This verse is the bedrock of the Christian faith, often referred to as the "kerygma" or core proclamation. Paul highlights that he preached the essential truth of salvation: Jesus died for our sins, His death atoned for sin, evidenced by His burial, and He was resurrected on the third day, proving His victory over death and validating His claims. All of this aligns with Old Testament prophecy, establishing its divine authority. It emphasizes that the Gospel is not a new philosophy but the fulfillment of God’s long-planned redemptive work. Understanding this verse means grasping that our sins are the reason for Christ's death, and His resurrection guarantees our justification and future resurrection.