Question 1

In verses 1–2, how does Paul describe the Corinthians’ relationship to the gospel over time?

Accepted Answer

Paul describes three stages: he “preached” the gospel to them in the past, they “received” it, and they presently “stand” in it (v. 1). He then adds an ongoing dimension: it is the message “by which” they are being saved, tied to continuing to “hold firmly” to what he preached (v. 2). The warning “unless you believed in vain” suggests that something could make their belief empty or ineffective—either because they stop holding to the message or because their belief was never truly aligned with what Paul preached.

Question 2

What does Paul mean by saying he “delivered” what he also “received” (v. 3), and why does he call it “first importance”?

Accepted Answer

Paul portrays the gospel summary as something he did not invent privately. He “received” it and then “delivered” it—language that implies a recognized chain of transmission and a shared core among early Christian messengers (v. 3). Calling it “first importance” marks it as central, not optional background material. In context, this matters because Paul is about to address confusion about resurrection later in the chapter; he anchors that discussion in what the Corinthians already accepted as foundational: Christ’s death for sins, burial, resurrection on the third day, and subsequent appearances.

Question 3

List the core events in Paul’s summary (vv. 3–4). What role does “according to the Scriptures” play in his phrasing?

Accepted Answer

Paul’s core report is a linked sequence: (1) Christ died “for our sins,” (2) he was buried, (3) he was raised on the third day (vv. 3–4). The burial underlines that death was real; the raising on the third day is the central resurrection claim. By repeating “according to the Scriptures” for both death and resurrection, Paul frames these events as fitting the storyline and promises of Israel’s sacred writings rather than being an unexpected break with them. The passage itself does not specify which texts Paul has in mind.

Question 4

How does the list of appearances in verses 5–8 function in Paul’s argument?

Accepted Answer

The appearance list supports the claim that Christ “was raised” by pointing to multiple witnesses across different settings and times (vv. 5–8). Paul names individuals (Cephas, James), groups (“the twelve,” “all the apostles”), and a large gathering (“over five hundred” at once). He adds that most of the five hundred were still alive, implying that the claim could be checked through living memory and community networks (v. 6). The list also places Paul within the witness sequence (“last of all… he appeared to me”), connecting his authority to the same risen Christ.

Question 5

What is the effect of mentioning that “some have fallen asleep” (v. 6)?

Accepted Answer

“Fallen asleep” is a softened way to speak about death, but in context it does more than avoid harsh language. Paul has just appealed to a large group of witnesses and then notes that “most remain until now,” while some have died (v. 6). This both acknowledges the passage of time and strengthens his point that the witness base was not purely from the distant past. The note also anticipates the chapter’s later focus on resurrection hope, while here it mainly serves the historical point: eyewitness testimony existed within living reach.

Question 6

How does Paul describe his own place among the witnesses and apostles (vv. 8–10), and what tensions does he hold together?

Accepted Answer

Paul calls himself the final witness in the sequence: “last of all… he appeared to me also” (v. 8). He describes this as abnormal (“like a child born at the wrong time”), then calls himself “least” and “not worthy” because he persecuted God’s assembly (vv. 9–10). At the same time, he claims real labor—he “worked more than all of them”—yet refuses to credit himself as the ultimate source: “not I, but the grace of God” with him (v. 10). The tension is humility about past actions alongside confidence in present calling.

Question 7

What does verse 11 add to the passage’s main point about the gospel?

Accepted Answer

Verse 11 emphasizes unity of message across different messengers: “Whether then it is I or they, so we preach, and so you believed.” Paul is not only defending his own role; he is stressing that the Corinthians’ original faith was formed by a consistent proclamation shared among recognized witnesses and apostles. This wraps the passage back to verses 1–2, where he reminded them of what they received and in which they stand. It also sets a baseline for later argument: disagreements in Corinth should be evaluated against this common, earlier gospel.

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Scripture