Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 15:14

What does 1 Corinthians 15:14 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 15:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 15:14 means

If Christ has not been raised, Christian preaching is empty noise and faith is baseless. The resurrection is not an add-on to the gospel; it is its heart. Without it, the cross would be defeat, not victory, and trust in Christ would be misplaced. By saying “our preaching” and “your faith,” Paul ties apostolic message and congregational belief together. Both stand or fall with the resurrection. He invites the Corinthians to consider whether they are prepared to call their whole spiritual life a vanity. This stark alternative urges them back to the truth they first received: a crucified and risen Lord.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And if Christ did not come again from the dead, then our good news and your faith in it are of no effect.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and if Christ hath not risen, then void <FI>is<Fi> our preaching, and void also your faith,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

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

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

but if Christ is not raised, then, indeed, vain also [is] our preaching, and vain also your faith.

Context

Building on v. 13, Paul shows the immediate fallout: without Christ’s resurrection, the entire enterprise of Christian proclamation and belief is void (v. 14). He will add that the apostles become false witnesses (v. 15), sin remains unforgiven (v. 17), the dead in Christ are lost (v. 18), and Christians are pitiable (v. 19). The argument is cumulative, pressing the Corinthians to abandon any denial of resurrection as incompatible with their faith.

v.13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been raised:

v.14This passage

v.15Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we witnessed of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead are not raised.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Galatians 2:2

    And I went up by revelation; and I laid before them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles but privately before them who were of repute, lest by any means I should be running, or had run, in vain.

  • Psalms 73:13

    Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocency;

  • Isaiah 49:4

    But I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nought and vanity; yet surely the justice due to me is with Jehovah, and my recompense with my God.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:2

    by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:17

    and if Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

  • James 2:20

    But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren?

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