1 Corinthians 15
New Testament · English Majority Text Version with Greek parallel
1 Corinthians chapter 15 is given here in full, verse by verse, in the English Majority Text Version (EMTV), with the Byzantine Majority Text set beneath each verse. The text follows the Byzantine textual tradition used in the Orthodox Church.
5 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from Saint John Chrysostom.
1 Corinthians 15
1Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, and in which you stand,Γνωρίζω δὲ ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ὃ εὐηγγελισάμην ὑμῖν, ὃ καὶ παρελάβετε, ἐν ᾧ καὶ ἑστήκατε,
2through which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.δι᾽ οὗ καὶ σῴζεσθε· τίνι λόγῳ εὐηγγελισάμην ὑμῖν, εἰ κατέχετε, ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ εἰκῇ ἐπιστεύσατε.
3For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,Παρέδωκα γὰρ ὑμῖν ἐν πρώτοις, ὃ καὶ παρέλαβον, ὅτι Χριστὸς ἀπέθανεν ὑπὲρ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν κατὰ τὰς γραφάς·
4and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,καὶ ὅτι ἐτάφη· καὶ ὅτι ἐγήγερται τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ κατὰ τὰς γραφάς·
5and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.καὶ ὅτι ὤφθη Κηφᾷ, εἶτα τοῖς δώδεκα·
6Thereafter He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, of whom the majority remain until now, but some have fallen asleep.ἔπειτα ὤφθη ἐπάνω πεντακοσίοις ἀδελφοῖς ἐφάπαξ, ἐξ ὧν οἱ πλείους μένουσιν ἕως ἄρτι, τινὲς δὲ καὶ ἐκοιμήθησαν·
7Thereafter He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.ἔπειτα ὤφθη Ἰακώβῳ, εἶτα τοῖς ἀποστόλοις πᾶσιν·
8And last of all, as of one born out of due time, He appeared to me also.ἔσχατον δὲ πάντων, ὡσπερεὶ τῷ ἐκτρώματι, ὤφθη κἀμοί.
9For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.Ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι ὁ ἐλάχιστος τῶν ἀποστόλων, ὃς οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς καλεῖσθαι ἀπόστολος, διότι ἐδίωξα τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ Θεοῦ.
10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than them all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.Χάριτι δὲ Θεοῦ εἰμι ὅ εἰμι, καὶ ἡ χάρις αὐτοῦ ἡ εἰς ἐμὲ οὐ κενὴ ἐγενήθη, ἀλλὰ περισσότερον αὐτῶν πάντων ἐκοπίασα, οὐκ ἐγὼ δέ, ἀλλ᾽ ἡ χάρις τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡ σὺν ἐμοί.
11Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.Εἴτε οὖν ἐγώ, εἴτε ἐκεῖνοι, οὕτω κηρύσσομεν καὶ οὕτως ἐπιστεύσατε.
12Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?Εἰ δὲ Χριστὸς κηρύσσεται ὅτι ἐκ νεκρῶν ἐγήγερται, πῶς λέγουσί τινες ἐν ὑμῖν ὅτι ἀνάστασις νεκρῶν οὐκ ἔστιν;
13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised.Εἰ δὲ ἀνάστασις νεκρῶν οὐκ ἔστιν, οὐδὲ Χριστὸς ἐγήγερται·
14And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain and your faith also is vain!εἰ δὲ Χριστὸς οὐκ ἐγήγερται, κενὸν ἄρα τὸ κήρυγμα ἡμῶν, κενὴ δὲ καὶ ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν.
15And we are found to be false witnesses of God, because we bore witness concerning God, that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise—if in fact the dead are not raised.Εὑρισκόμεθα δὲ καὶ ψευδομάρτυρες τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅτι ἐμαρτυρήσαμεν κατὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ ὅτι ἤγειρε τὸν Χριστόν, ὃν οὐκ ἤγειρεν, εἴπερ ἄρα νεκροὶ οὐκ ἐγείρονται.
16For if the dead are not raised, then neither has Christ been raised.Εἰ γὰρ νεκροὶ οὐκ ἐγείρονται, οὐδὲ Χριστὸς ἐγήγερται·
17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins!εἰ δὲ Χριστὸς οὐκ ἐγήγερται, ματαία ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν· ἔτι ἐστὲ ἐν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ὑμῶν.
18Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.Ἄρα καὶ οἱ κοιμηθέντες ἐν Χριστῷ ἀπώλοντο.
19If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are to be pitied above all men.Εἰ ἐν τῇ ζωῇ ταύτῃ ἠλπικότες ἐσμὲν ἐν Χριστῷ μόνον, ἐλεεινότεροι πάντων ἀνθρώπων ἐσμέν.
20But now Christ has been raised from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.Νυνὶ δὲ Χριστὸς ἐγήγερται ἐκ νεκρῶν, ἀπαρχὴ τῶν κεκοιμημένων ἐγένετο.
21For since by a man came death, also by a Man came the resurrection of the dead.Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ δι᾽ ἀνθρώπου ὁ θάνατος, καὶ δι᾽ ἀνθρώπου ἀνάστασις νεκρῶν.
22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all will be made alive.Ὥσπερ γὰρ ἐν τῷ Ἀδὰμ πάντες ἀποθνῄσκουσιν, οὕτω καὶ ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ πάντες ζῳοποιηθήσονται.
23But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then those who belong to Christ at His coming.Ἕκαστος δὲ ἐν τῷ ἰδίῳ τάγματι· ἀπαρχὴ Χριστός, ἔπειτα οἱ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐν τῇ παρουσίᾳ αὐτοῦ.
24Then will be the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God, even the Father, when He abolishes every ruler and every authority and power.Εἶτα τὸ τέλος, ὅταν παραδῷ τὴν βασιλείαν τῷ Θεῷ καὶ πατρί, ὅταν καταργήσῃ πᾶσαν ἀρχὴν καὶ πᾶσαν ἐξουσίαν καὶ δύναμιν.
25For He must reign till He puts all His enemies under His feet.Δεῖ γὰρ αὐτὸν βασιλεύειν, ἄχρις οὗ ἂν θῇ πάντας τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑπὸ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ.
26The last enemy that will be abolished is death.Ἔσχατος ἐχθρὸς καταργεῖται ὁ θάνατος.
27For “He has subjected all things under His feet.” But when He says that “all things have been subjected,” it is evident that this is except for Him who subjected all things to Him.Πάντα γὰρ ὑπέταξεν ὑπὸ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ. Ὅταν δὲ εἴπῃ ὅτι Πάντα ὑποτέτακται, δῆλον ὅτι ἐκτὸς τοῦ ὑποτάξαντος αὐτῷ τὰ πάντα.
28Now when all things are made subject to Him, then also the Son Himself will be subjected to Him who subjected all things to Him, in order that God may be all in all.Ὅταν δὲ ὑποταγῇ αὐτῷ τὰ πάντα, τότε καὶ αὐτὸς ὁ υἱὸς ὑποταγήσεται τῷ ὑποτάξαντι αὐτῷ τὰ πάντα, ἵνα ᾖ ὁ Θεὸς τὰ πάντα ἐν πᾶσιν.
29Otherwise, what will they do who are being baptized for the dead, if the dead are not raised at all? Why are they also baptized for the dead?Ἐπεὶ τί ποιήσουσιν οἱ βαπτιζόμενοι ὑπὲρ τῶν νεκρῶν; Εἰ ὅλως νεκροὶ οὐκ ἐγείρονται, τί καὶ βαπτίζονται ὑπὲρ τῶν νεκρῶν;
30And why are we also in danger every hour?Τί καὶ ἡμεῖς κινδυνεύομεν πᾶσαν ὥραν;
31I affirm, by my boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.Καθ᾽ ἡμέραν ἀποθνῄσκω, νὴ τὴν ὑμετέραν καύχησιν, ἣν ἔχω ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ Κυρίῳ ἡμῶν.
32If, in the manner of men, I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what is the benefit to me? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”Εἰ κατὰ ἄνθρωπον ἐθηριομάχησα ἐν Ἐφέσῳ, τί μοι τὸ ὄφελος, εἰ νεκροὶ οὐκ ἐγείρονται; Φάγωμεν καὶ πίωμεν, αὔριον γὰρ ἀποθνῄσκομεν.
33Do not be deceived: “Evil associations corrupts good habits.”Μὴ πλανᾶσθε· Φθείρουσιν ἤθη χρηστὰ ὁμιλίαι κακαί.
34Awake to righteousness, and do not sin! For some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.Ἐκνήψατε δικαίως καὶ μὴ ἁμαρτάνετε· ἀγνωσίαν γὰρ Θεοῦ τινες ἔχουσι· πρὸς ἐντροπὴν ὑμῖν λέγω.
35But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what sort of body do they come?”Ἀλλ᾽ ἐρεῖ τις, Πῶς ἐγείρονται οἱ νεκροί; Ποίῳ δὲ σώματι ἔρχονται;
36Fool, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies.Ἄφρον, σὺ ὃ σπείρεις, οὐ ζῳοποιεῖται ἐὰν μὴ ἀποθάνῃ·
37And what you sow, you do not sow that body that will be, but a bare grain—perhaps wheat or some other grains.καὶ ὃ σπείρεις, οὐ τὸ σῶμα τὸ γενησόμενον σπείρεις, ἀλλὰ γυμνὸν κόκκον, εἰ τύχοι, σίτου ἤ τινος τῶν λοιπῶν·
38But God gives to it a body just as He desired, and to each of the seeds its own body.ὁ δὲ Θεὸς αὐτῷ δίδωσι σῶμα καθὼς ἠθέλησε, καὶ ἑκάστῳ τῶν σπερμάτων τὸ ἴδιον σῶμα.
39All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is a different kind of flesh for men, and another flesh for beasts, another for fish, and another for birds.Οὐ πᾶσα σὰρξ ἡ αὐτὴ σάρξ· ἀλλὰ ἄλλη μὲν ἀνθρώπων, ἄλλη δὲ σὰρξ κτηνῶν, ἄλλη δὲ ἰχθύων, ἄλλη δὲ πτηνῶν.
40And there are heavenly bodies, and earthly bodies; but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another.Καὶ σώματα ἐπουράνια, καὶ σώματα ἐπίγεια· ἀλλ᾽ ἑτέρα μὲν ἡ τῶν ἐπουρανίων δόξα, ἑτέρα δὲ ἡ τῶν ἐπιγείων.
41There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.Ἄλλη δόξα ἡλίου, καὶ ἄλλη δόξα σελήνης, καὶ ἄλλη δόξα ἀστέρων· ἀστὴρ γὰρ ἀστέρος διαφέρει ἐν δόξῃ.
42So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.Οὕτω καὶ ἡ ἀνάστασις τῶν νεκρῶν. Σπείρεται ἐν φθορᾷ, ἐγείρεται ἐν ἀφθαρσίᾳ·
43It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.σπείρεται ἐν ἀτιμίᾳ, ἐγείρεται ἐν δόξῃ· σπείρεται ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ, ἐγείρεται ἐν δυνάμει·
44It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.σπείρεται σῶμα ψυχικόν, ἐγείρεται σῶμα πνευματικόν. Ἔστι σῶμα ψυχικόν, καὶ ἔστι σῶμα πνευματικόν.
45Thus also it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being;” the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.Οὕτω καὶ γέγραπται, Ἐγένετο ὁ πρῶτος ἄνθρωπος Ἀδὰμ εἰς ψυχὴν ζῶσαν. Ὁ ἔσχατος Ἀδὰμ εἰς πνεῦμα ζῳοποιοῦν.
46However, that which is spiritual is not first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual.Ἀλλ᾽ οὐ πρῶτον τὸ πνευματικόν, ἀλλὰ τὸ ψυχικόν, ἔπειτα τὸ πνευματικόν.
47The first man was from earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.Ὁ πρῶτος ἄνθρωπος ἐκ γῆς, χοϊκός· ὁ δεύτερος ἄνθρωπος ὁ Κύριος ἐξ οὐρανοῦ.
48Like the man made of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly.Οἷος ὁ χοϊκός, τοιοῦτοι καὶ οἱ χοϊκοί, καὶ οἷος ὁ ἐπουράνιος, τοιοῦτοι καὶ οἱ ἐπουράνιοι·
49And just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, let us also bear the image of the heavenly Man.καὶ καθὼς ἐφορέσαμεν τὴν εἰκόνα τοῦ χοϊκοῦ, φορέσωμεν καὶ τὴν εἰκόνα τοῦ ἐπουρανίου.
50Now this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor can corruption inherit incorruption.Τοῦτο δέ φημι, ἀδελφοί, ὅτι σὰρξ καὶ αἷμα βασιλείαν Θεοῦ κληρονομῆσαι οὐ δύνανται, οὐδὲ ἡ φθορὰ τὴν ἀφθαρσίαν κληρονομεῖ.
51Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—Ἰδού, μυστήριον ὑμῖν λέγω· πάντες μὲν οὐ κοιμηθησόμεθα, πάντες δὲ ἀλλαγησόμεθα,
52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.ἐν ἀτόμῳ, ἐν ῥιπῇ ὀφθαλμοῦ, ἐν τῇ ἐσχάτῃ σάλπιγγι· σαλπίσει γάρ, καὶ οἱ νεκροὶ ἐγερθήσονται ἄφθαρτοι, καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀλλαγησόμεθα.
53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.Δεῖ γὰρ τὸ φθαρτὸν τοῦτο ἐνδύσασθαι ἀφθαρσίαν, καὶ τὸ θνητὸν τοῦτο ἐνδύσασθαι ἀθανασίαν.
54So when this corruptible should put on incorruption, and this mortal should put on immortality, then will come to pass the word which was written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”Ὅταν δὲ τὸ φθαρτὸν τοῦτο ἐνδύσηται ἀφθαρσίαν, καὶ τὸ θνητὸν τοῦτο ἐνδύσηται ἀθανασίαν, τότε γενήσεται ὁ λόγος ὁ γεγραμμένος, Κατεπόθη ὁ θάνατος εἰς νῖκος.
55“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”Ποῦ σου, Θάνατε, τὸ κέντρον; Ποῦ σου, ᾍδη, τὸ νῖκος;
56Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.Τὸ δὲ κέντρον τοῦ θανάτου ἡ ἁμαρτία· ἡ δὲ δύναμις τῆς ἁμαρτίας ὁ νόμος·
57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.τῷ δὲ Θεῷ χάρις τῷ διδόντι ἡμῖν τὸ νῖκος διὰ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.
58So then, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.Ὥστε, ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί, ἑδραῖοι γίνεσθε, ἀμετακίνητοι, περισσεύοντες ἐν τῷ ἔργῳ τοῦ Κυρίου πάντοτε, εἰδότες ὅτι ὁ κόπος ὑμῶν οὐκ ἔστι κενὸς ἐν Κυρίῳ.
The Fathers on 1 Corinthians 15
Saint John Chrysostom comments on this chapter. Each excerpt below is drawn from the full text held in the Fathers Library; follow the link on any entry to read the whole work.
On 1 Corinthians 15:1–2Saint John ChrysostomNow I make known unto you, brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received, wherein also ye stand; by which also ye are saved: in what words I preached it unto you.[249]
Read Homilies on the First Epistle to the Corinthians →
On 1 Corinthians 15:11Saint John ChrysostomWhether then it be I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
Read Homilies on the First Epistle to the Corinthians →
On 1 Corinthians 15:29Saint John ChrysostomElse what shall they do which are baptized for the dead? if the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for the dead?
Read Homilies on the First Epistle to the Corinthians →
On 1 Corinthians 15:35–36Saint John ChrysostomBut some one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what manner of body do they come? Thou foolish one, that which thou thyself sowest is not quickened, except it die.
Read Homilies on the First Epistle to the Corinthians →
On 1 Corinthians 15:47Open 1 Corinthians 15 in the interactive reader Switch translations, hear the chapter read aloud, tap any verse for its patristic commentary, and study the Greek word by word.Saint John ChrysostomThe first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
Read Homilies on the First Epistle to the Corinthians →