1 Corinthians 15:20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

◄ 1 Corinthians 15:20 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

English Standard Version
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

New American Standard Bible
But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.

King James Bible
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

International Standard Version
But at this moment the Messiah stands risen from the dead, the first one offered in the harvest of those who have died.

American Standard Version
But now hath Christ been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of them that are asleep.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But now Christ is risen from the dead, the firstfruits of them that sleep :

Darby Bible Translation
(But now Christ is raised from among the dead, first-fruits of those fallen asleep.

Young's Literal Translation
And now, Christ hath risen out of the dead -- the first-fruits of those sleeping he became,

Cross References

Acts 2:24
Whom God has raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be held of it.

Acts 26:23
That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light to the people, and to the Gentiles.

1 Corinthians 15:6
After that, he was seen of above five hundred brothers at once; of whom the greater part remain to this present, but some are fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:23
But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

1 Thessalonians 4:16
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Revelation 1:5
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. To him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Revelation 14:13
And I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from now on: Yes, said the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

15:20-34 All that are by faith united to Christ, are by his resurrection assured of their own. As through the sin of the first Adam, all men became mortal, because all had from him the same sinful nature, so, through the resurrection of Christ, shall all who are made to partake of the Spirit, and the spiritual nature, revive, and live for ever. There will be an order in the resurrection. Christ himself has been the first-fruits; at his coming, his redeemed people will be raised before others; at the last the wicked will rise also. Then will be the end of this present state of things. Would we triumph in that solemn and important season, we must now submit to his rule, accept his salvation, and live to his glory. Then shall we rejoice in the completion of his undertaking, that God may receive the whole glory of our salvation, that we may for ever serve him, and enjoy his favour. What shall those do, who are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Perhaps baptism is used here in a figure, for afflictions, sufferings, and martyrdom, as Mt 20:22,23. What is, or will become of those who have suffered many and great injuries, and have even lost their lives, for this doctrine of the resurrection, if the dead rise not at all? Whatever the meaning may be, doubtless the apostle's argument was understood by the Corinthians. And it is as plain to us that Christianity would be a foolish profession, if it proposed advantage to themselves by their faithfulness to God; and to have our fruit to holiness, that our end may be everlasting life. But we must not live like beasts, as we do not die like them. It must be ignorance of God that leads any to disbelieve the resurrection and future life. Those who own a God and a providence, and observe how unequal things are in the present life, how frequently the best men fare worst, cannot doubt as to an after-state, where every thing will be set to rights. Let us not be joined with ungodly men; but warn all around us, especially children and young persons, to shun them as a pestilence. Let us awake to righteousness, and not sin.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

20. now—as the case really is.

and become—omitted in the oldest manuscripts.

the first-fruits—the earnest or pledge, that the whole resurrection harvest will follow, so that our faith is not vain, nor our hope limited to this life. The time of writing this Epistle was probably about the Passover (1Co 5:7); the day after the Passover sabbath was that for offering the first-fruits (Le 23:10, 11), and the same was the day of Christ's resurrection: whence appears the appropriateness of the image.