Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 15:17

What does 1 Corinthians 15:17 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 15:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 15:17 means

If Christ has not been raised, faith is empty and believers remain in their sins. The resurrection is God’s public declaration that Jesus’ atoning death truly satisfied divine justice. Without it, the cross would not be validated, and sin’s penalty would still stand over us. Paul thus ties justification to the resurrection’s reality. The verse confronts any idea that one can keep Christian ethics or sentiments without the historical resurrection. Salvation is not moral inspiration; it is deliverance from sin’s guilt, which the risen Christ alone secures. To deny His rising is to undo the forgiveness believers depend upon.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And if that is so, your faith is of no effect; you are still in your sins.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

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

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And if Christ be not risen again, your faith is vain: for you are yet in your sins.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

but if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins.

Context

Paul advances the consequences: beyond empty preaching and false witness (vv. 14–15), a resurrectionless gospel leaves sinners unforgiven (v. 17). The next verses will treat the fate of deceased believers (v. 18) and the misery of a this-world-only faith (v. 19). The flow is moving from doctrinal to pastoral concerns—what it means for those who died and for the meaning of Christian life now. This intensifies the urgency to affirm the resurrection.

v.16For if the dead are not raised, neither hath Christ been raised:

v.17This passage

v.18Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

Cross references

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

  • 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.

  • Romans 8:33

    Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth;

  • Romans 5:10

    For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life;

  • 1 Peter 1:21

    who through him are believers in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.

  • Romans 4:25

    who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.

  • Acts 13:38

    Be it known unto you therefore, brethren, that through this man is proclaimed unto you remission of sins:

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