My God and My Country

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Church at Corinth

Chapter 15:12-19

12 Now if it be preached, that Christ is risen from the dead, how say some among you, that there is no resurrection of the dead?

13 For if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

15 And we are found also false witnesses of God: for we have testified of God, that he hath raised up Christ: whom he hath not raised up, if so be the dead be not raised.

16 For if the dead be not raised, then is Christ not raised.

17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain: ye are yet in your sins.

18 And so they which are asleep in Christ, are perished.

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most miserable.

Related Scripture:

Verse 12 - 1 Thessalonians 4:14

Verse 17 - Romans 4:25

Verse 18 - Job 14:12; Psalm 13:3

Verse 19 - 1 Corinthians 4:9; 2 Timothy 3:12

“ Having confirmed the truth of our Saviour’s resurrection, the apostle goes on to refute those among the Corinthians who said there would be none: If Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? It seems from this passage, and the course of the argument, there were some among the Corinthians who thought the resurrection an impossibility. This was a common sentiment among the heathens. But against this the apostle produces an incontestable fact, namely, the resurrection of Christ; and he goes on to argue against them from the absurdities that must follow from their principle. If there be (can be) no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not risen; and again, "If the dead rise not, cannot be raised or recovered to life, then is Christ not raised. And yet it was foretold in ancient prophecies that he should rise; and it has been proved by multitudes of eye-witnesses that he had risen. And will you say, will any among you dare to say, that is not, cannot be, which God long ago said should be, and which is now undoubted matter of fact?’’It would follow hereupon that the preaching and faith of the gospel would be vain: If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith vain.” - Matthew Henry