1 Corinthians 15:12-34

1 Corinthians 15:12-34

[12] Now  if  Christ  be preached  that  he rose  from  the dead,  how  say  some  among  that  no  resurrection  of the dead?  [13] But  if  no  resurrection  of the dead,  Christ  not  risen:  [14] And  if  Christ  not  risen,  then  preaching  vain,  and  faith  is  also  vain.  [15] Yea,  and  we are found  false witnesses  of God;  because  we have testified  of  God  that  he raised up  Christ:  whom  not  up,  if  so be  that the dead  rise  not.  [16] For  if  the dead  rise  not,  not  Christ  raised:  [17] And  if  Christ  not  raised,  faith  is vain;  yet  in  sins.  [18] Then  they also  which are fallen asleep  in  Christ  are perished.  [19] If  in  life  only  we have hope  in  Christ,  of all  men  most miserable.  [20] But  now  Christ  risen  from  the dead,  the firstfruits  of them that slept.  [21] For  since  by  man  came death,  by  man  came also  the resurrection  of the dead.  [22] For  as  in  Adam  all  die,  even  so  in  Christ  all  be made alive.  [23] But  every man  in  his own  order:  Christ  the firstfruits;  afterward  they that are  Christ's  at  his  coming.  [24] Then  cometh the end,  when  he shall have delivered up  the kingdom  to God,  even  the Father;  when  he shall have put down  all  rule  and  all  authority  and  power.  [25] For  he  must  reign,  till  all  enemies  under  his  feet.  [26] The last  enemy  that shall be destroyed  is death.  [27] For  he hath put  all things  under  his  feet.  But  when  he saith  all things  are put under  him, it is manifest  that  he is excepted,  all things  under  him.  [28] And  when  all things  shall be subdued  unto him,  then  the Son  also  himself  be subject  all things  under  him,  that  God  all  in  all.  [29] Else  what  shall they do  which are baptized  for  the dead,  if  the dead  rise  not  at all?  why  are they then baptized  for  the dead?  [30] And  why  in jeopardy  every  hour?  [31] I protest by  your  which  I have  in  Christ  Jesus  Lord,  I die  daily.  [32] If  after the manner  of men  I have fought with beasts  at  Ephesus,  what  advantageth it  if  the dead  rise  not?  let us eat  and  drink;  for  to morrow  we die.  [33] not  deceived:  evil  communications  corrupt  good  manners.  [34] Awake  to righteousness,  and  sin  not;  for  some  have  not the knowledge  of God:  this to  shame. 

What does 1 Corinthians 15:12-34 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

In the preceding paragraph Paul firmly established that the gospel the Corinthians had believed contained the fact that God had raised Jesus Christ bodily, along with other equally crucial facts. Next he proceeded to show the consequences of rejecting belief in the resurrection of the body.
"Paul uses reductio ad absurdum: if there is no resurrection (i.e, of believers in the future), then Jesus did not rise ( 1 Corinthians 15:12-13), a point on which he dwells at length ( 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, where Paul provides rhetorical emphasis through a series of seven if-then statements)." [1]