1 Corinthians 15:13

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does 1 Corinthians 15:13 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been raised:” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been raised:
1 Corinthians 15:13 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Corinthians 15

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been raised:

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But if there be no resurrection of the dead, etc.] If there is no such thing as a resurrection of any, if the thing is not possible, if it never has been, is, or will be true in fact: then is Christ not risen. The apostle argues from a general, to a particular; from the general resurrection of the dead, to the particular resurrection of Christ; and from a negation of the one, to a negation of the other; for what does not agree with the whole, does not agree with the part; and what is true of the whole, is true of the part; but if the resurrection of Christ is not true, many are the absurdities that must follow upon it, and which the apostle next enumerates.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“If there be no general resurrection, which is the consequent, then there can have been no resurrection of Christ, which is the antecedent. The head and the members of the body stand on the same footing: what does not hold good of them, does not hold good of Him either: His resurrection and theirs are inseparably joined (compare Co1 15:20-22; Joh 14:19).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“But if there be no resurrection of the dead - If the whole subject is held to be impossible and absurd, then it must follow that Christ is not “risen,” since there were the same difficulties in the way of raising him up which will exist in any case. He was dead and was buried. He had lain in the grave three days. His human soul had left the body. His frame had become cold and stiff. The blood had ceased to circulate, and the lungs to heave. In his case there was the same difficulty in raising him up to life that there is in any other; and if it is held to be impossible and absurd that the dead should rise, then it must follow that Christ has not been raised. This is the first consequence…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“If there be no resurrection - If it be a thing flatly impossible. 1 Corinthians 15:14”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Co1 15:20; Joh 11:25, Joh 11:26; Act 23:8; Rom 4:24, Rom 4:25, Rom 8:11, Rom 8:23; Co2 4:10-14; Col 3:1-4; Th1 4:14; Ti2 4:8; Heb 2:14, Heb 13:20; Pe1 1:3; Rev 1:18 1 Corinthians 15:14”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification