The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 15:58 Explained

1 Corinthians 15:58

KJV: Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

YLT: so that, my brethren beloved, become ye stedfast, unmovable, abounding in the work of the Lord at all times, knowing that your labour is not vain in the Lord.

Darby: So then, my beloved brethren, be firm, immovable, abounding always in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

ASV: Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Therefore,  my  beloved  brethren,  be ye  stedfast,  unmoveable,  always  abounding  in  the work  of the Lord,  forasmuch as ye know  that  your  labour  is  not  in vain  in  the Lord. 

What does 1 Corinthians 15:58 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Paul concluded his discussion of the resurrection with an exhortation to be faithful in the present (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:16-17; 1 Corinthians 5:13; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Corinthians 7:40; 1 Corinthians 10:31-33; 1 Corinthians 11:33-34; 1 Corinthians 12:31; 1 Corinthians 14:39-40).
"Despite the magnificent crescendo with which Paul brings the argument of chap15 to its climax, the last word is not the sure word of future hope and triumph of 1 Corinthians 15:50-57; rather, in light of such realities, the last word is an exhortation to Christian living ( 1 Corinthians 15:58). Thus, eschatological salvation, the great concern of the epistle, includes proper behavior or it simply is not the gospel Paul preaches." [1]
"Eschatology has moral implications ( 1 Corinthians 6:13-14; 1 Corinthians 15:30-32; 1 Corinthians 15:58)." [2]
Specifically, Paul"s exhortation does not just call for ethical behavior (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:33-34) but for continued involvement in fulfilling the Great Commission, which is the work of the gospel.
This chapter began with a review of the gospel message from which some in the Corinthian church were in danger of departing by denying the resurrection. The charge to remain steadfast ( 1 Corinthians 15:58) therefore probably means to remain steadfast in the gospel as the Lord and the apostles had handed it down. Paul"s readers should not move away from it but should remain immovable in it. They should also increase their efforts to serve the Lord even as Paul had done ( 1 Corinthians 15:10). Rather than living for the present ( 1 Corinthians 15:32) believers should live in the present with the future clearly in view (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 9:26). One day we will have to give an account of our stewardship ( 1 Corinthians 3:12-15).
No one except Jesus Christ has come back from the dead to tell us what is on the other side. However, His testimony through His apostles is sufficient to give us confidence that there is life and bodily resurrection after death. We will live that life in a changed body that will be incapable of perishing. It is therefore imperative that we make sure that we and all around us enter that phase of our existence with our sins covered by the sacrifice of Christ. [3]

Context Summary

1 Corinthians 15:42-58 - Victory Over Sin And Death
Life on the other side will be as real and as earnest as here. We shall not dissolve into thin mist or flit as bodiless ghosts. We shall each be provided with a body like that which our Lord had after, He arose from the dead. It will be a spiritual body, able to go and come at a wish or a thought; a body that will be perfectly adapted to its spiritual world environment. The last Adam, our Lord, will effect this for us. But we must in the meanwhile be content to make the best use of the discipline of mortality, keeping our body pure and sweet as the temple and vehicle of the Holy Spirit until we are born into the next stage of existence. Always the physical before the psychical and the psychical before the spiritual.
What triumph rings through those last four verses! As generations of Christians have stood around the mortal remains of their beloved, they have uttered these words of immortal hope. The trumpet's notes will call those who have died and the saints that are still alive on the earth, into one mighty host of transfigured and redeemed humanity. Oh, happy day! Then we shall be manifested, rewarded, and glorified with Christ. All mysteries solved, all questions answered! Till then let us abound always in the work of the Lord. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 15

1  By Christ's resurrection,
12  he proves the necessity of our resurrection,
16  against all such as deny the resurrection of the body
21  The fruit,
35  and the manner thereof;
51  and of the resurrection of those who shall be found alive at the last day

Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 15:58

Be ye steadfast, unmovable [εδραιοι γινεστε αμετακινητοι]
“Keep on becoming steadfast, unshaken.” Let the sceptics howl and rage. Paul has given rational grounds for faith and hope in Christ the Risen Lord and Saviour. Note practical turn to this great doctrinal argument. [source]
Work [κοπος]
The best answer to doubt is work. [source]
labour [kopos toil)]
The best answer to doubt is work. [source]
Steadfast, unmovable []
The former refers to their firm establishment in the faith; the latter to that establishment as related to assault from temptation or persecution. Fixedness is a condition of abounding in work. All activity has its center in rest. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 15:58

Colossians 4:13 Zeal [ζῆλον]
Read πόνον laborwhich occurs elsewhere only in Revelation 16:10, Revelation 16:11; Revelation 21:4, in the sense of pain. Πονος laboris from the root of πένομαι towork for one's daily bread, and thence to be poor. Πόνος toil πένης onewho works for his daily bread, and πονηρός wickedhave a common root. See on wickedness, Mark 7:22. In their original conceptions, κόπος labor(1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Corinthians 6:5) emphasizes the fatigue of labor: μόχθος hardlabor (2 Corinthians 11:27; 1 Thessalonians 2:9), the hardship: πόνος theeffort, but πόνος has passed, in the New Testament, in every instance but this, into the meaning of pain. [source]
Colossians 1:23 Moved away [μετακινούμενοι]
The present participle signifying continual shifting. Compare 1 Corinthians 15:58. [source]
Colossians 1:23 Grounded and settled [τεθελεωμένοι καὶ ἑδραῖοι]
For grounded, see on settle, 1 Peter 5:10; compare Luke 6:48, Luke 6:49; Ephesians 3:17. Settled, from ἕδρα aseat. Rev., steadfast. See 1 Corinthians 7:37; 1 Corinthians 15:58, the only other passages where it occurs. Compare ἑδραίωμα ground 1 Timothy 3:15. Bengel says: “The former is metaphorical, the latter more literal. The one implies greater respect to the foundation by which believers are supported; but settled suggests inward strength which believers themselves possess.” [source]
Colossians 1:23 Pistei []
is in the locative case (in faith). Grounded (τετεμελιωμενοι — tethemeliōmenoi). Perfect passive participle of τεμελιοω — themelioō old verb from τεμελιος — themelios (adjective, from τεμα — thema from τιτημι — tithēmi laid down as a foundation, substantive, 1 Corinthians 3:11.). Picture of the saint as a building like Ephesians 2:20. Steadfast Old adjective from εδρα — hedra (seat). In N.T. only here, 1 Corinthians 7:37; 1 Corinthians 15:58. Metaphor of seated in a chair. Not moved away (μη μετακινουμενοι — mē metakinoumenoi). Present passive participle (with negative μη — mē) of μετακινεω — metakineō old verb, to move away, to change location, only here in N.T. Negative statement covering the same ground. From the hope of the gospel Ablative case with απο — apo The hope given by or in the gospel and there alone. Which ye heard (ου ηκουσατε — hou ēkousate). Genitive case of relative either by attraction or after ηκουσατε — ēkousate The Colossians had in reality heard the gospel from Epaphras. Preached First aorist passive participle of κηρυσσω — kērussō to herald, to proclaim. In all creation (εν πασηι κτισει — en pasēi ktisei). Κτισις — Ktisis is the act of founding (Romans 1:20) from κτιζω — ktizō (Colossians 1:16), then a created thing (Romans 1:25), then the sum of created things as here and Revelation 3:14. It is hyperbole, to be sure, but Paul does not say that all men are converted, but only that the message has been heralded abroad over the Roman Empire in a wider fashion than most people imagine. A minister General term for service Our “deacon” is this word transliterated and given a technical meaning as in Philemon 1:1. [source]
Colossians 1:23 Steadfast [εδραιοι]
Old adjective from εδρα — hedra (seat). In N.T. only here, 1 Corinthians 7:37; 1 Corinthians 15:58. Metaphor of seated in a chair. Not moved away (μη μετακινουμενοι — mē metakinoumenoi). Present passive participle (with negative μη — mē) of μετακινεω — metakineō old verb, to move away, to change location, only here in N.T. Negative statement covering the same ground. From the hope of the gospel Ablative case with απο — apo The hope given by or in the gospel and there alone. Which ye heard (ου ηκουσατε — hou ēkousate). Genitive case of relative either by attraction or after ηκουσατε — ēkousate The Colossians had in reality heard the gospel from Epaphras. Preached First aorist passive participle of κηρυσσω — kērussō to herald, to proclaim. In all creation (εν πασηι κτισει — en pasēi ktisei). Κτισις — Ktisis is the act of founding (Romans 1:20) from κτιζω — ktizō (Colossians 1:16), then a created thing (Romans 1:25), then the sum of created things as here and Revelation 3:14. It is hyperbole, to be sure, but Paul does not say that all men are converted, but only that the message has been heralded abroad over the Roman Empire in a wider fashion than most people imagine. A minister General term for service Our “deacon” is this word transliterated and given a technical meaning as in Philemon 1:1. [source]
1 Thessalonians 1:3 Work - labor - patience [ἔπργου - κόπου - ὑπομονῆς]
Ἔργον workmay mean either the act, the simple transaction, or the process of dealing with anything, or the result of the dealing, - as a book or a picture is called a work. Κόπος laborfrom κόπτειν tostrike or hew; hence, laborious, painful exertion. Ὑπομονὴ patiencepatient endurance and faithful persistence in toil and suffering. See on 2 Peter 1:6; see on James 5:7. The genitives, of faith, love, hope, mark the generating principles of the work and labor and patience, which set their stamp upon each; thus, work which springs from faith, and is characteristic of faith. The phrase patience of hope is found only here; but see Romans 5:4; Romans 8:25; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 8:7; Hebrews 7:11, Hebrews 7:12. ὑπομονὴ in lxx, see 1 Chronicles 29:15; Job 14:19; Psalm 9:18; Psalm 38:7; Jeremiah href="/desk/?q=jer+4:8&sr=1">Jeremiah 4:8. We have here the great triad of Christian graces, corresponding to 1 Corinthians 8:1-13. Hope is prominent throughout the two Epistles. The triad appears, 1 Thessalonians 5:8; Galatians 5:5, Galatians 5:6; 1 Corinthians 8:13; Ephesians 4:2-5; Colossians 1:4, Colossians 1:5; Hebrews 10:22-24; 1 Peter 1:21-22. Comp. 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; 2 Thessalonians 3:5, 2 Thessalonians 3:8; 1 Corinthians 15:10, 1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Corinthians 11:27; Revelation 2:2. [source]
1 Timothy 3:15 Pillar and ground of the truth [στύλος καὶ ἑδραίωμα τῆς ἀληθείας]
Στύλος pillar, in Paul only Galatians 2:9. In Revelation 3:12; Revelation 10:1. Ἑδραίωμα stayprop, better than ground. N.T.oolxx, oClass. The kindred adjective ἑδαῖος firmstable, 1 Corinthians 7:37; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Colossians 1:23. These words are in apposition with church. The idea is that the church is the pillar, and, as such, the prop or support of the truth. It is quite beside the mark to press the architectural metaphor into detail. By giving to ἑδραίωμα the sense of stay or prop, the use of the two words for the same general idea is readily explained. The church is the pillar of the truth, and the function of the pillar is to support. [source]
Hebrews 6:9 Beloved [ἀγαπητοί]
Only here in the epistle. It often suggests an argument. See 1 Corinthians 10:14; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Corinthians 7:1. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 15:58 mean?

Therefore brothers of me beloved steadfast be immovable abounding in the work of the Lord always knowing that the toil of you not is in vain [the] Lord
Ὥστε ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί ἑδραῖοι γίνεσθε ἀμετακίνητοι περισσεύοντες ἐν τῷ ἔργῳ τοῦ Κυρίου πάντοτε εἰδότες ὅτι κόπος ὑμῶν οὐκ ἔστιν κενὸς Κυρίῳ

ἀδελφοί  brothers 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀδελφός  
Sense: a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother.
μου  of  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἀγαπητοί  beloved 
Parse: Adjective, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀγαπητός  
Sense: beloved, esteemed, dear, favourite, worthy of love.
ἑδραῖοι  steadfast 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἑδραῖος  
Sense: sitting, sedentary.
ἀμετακίνητοι  immovable 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀμετακίνητος  
Sense: not to be moved from its place, unmoved.
περισσεύοντες  abounding 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: περισσεύω  
Sense: to exceed a fixed number of measure, to be left over and above a certain number or measure.
ἔργῳ  work 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: ἔργον  
Sense: business, employment, that which any one is occupied.
τοῦ  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Κυρίου  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
πάντοτε  always 
Parse: Adverb
Root: πάντοτε  
Sense: at all times, always, ever.
εἰδότες  knowing 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
κόπος  toil 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: κόπος  
Sense: a beating.
ὑμῶν  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
κενὸς  in  vain 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: κενός  
Sense: empty, vain, devoid of truth.
Κυρίῳ  [the]  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.