1 Corinthians 15:12-19

1 Corinthians 15:12-19

[12] Now  if  Christ  be preached  that  he rose  from  the dead,  how  say  some  among  that  no  resurrection  of the dead?  [13] But  if  no  resurrection  of the dead,  Christ  not  risen:  [14] And  if  Christ  not  risen,  then  preaching  vain,  and  faith  is  also  vain.  [15] Yea,  and  we are found  false witnesses  of God;  because  we have testified  of  God  that  he raised up  Christ:  whom  not  up,  if  so be  that the dead  rise  not.  [16] For  if  the dead  rise  not,  not  Christ  raised:  [17] And  if  Christ  not  raised,  faith  is vain;  yet  in  sins.  [18] Then  they also  which are fallen asleep  in  Christ  are perished.  [19] If  in  life  only  we have hope  in  Christ,  of all  men  most miserable. 

What does 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Paul first appealed to the Corinthians" logic. In this form of logic, called modus tollens, Paul"s argument was that since Christ was raised there is a resurrection of believers. That Paul had believers in view, rather than all people, seems clear in that he was discussing the hope of believers. Other passages teach the resurrection of other groups of people, even all others (e.g, Daniel 12:2; Revelation 20:4-5; Revelation 20:12; et al.). Here it becomes clear for the first time in the chapter that some of the Corinthians were saying that there is no resurrection of the dead. If they were correct, Christ did not arise, and they had neither a past nor a future.