The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 15:15 Explained

1 Corinthians 15:15

KJV: Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

YLT: and we also are found false witnesses of God, because we did testify of God that He raised up the Christ, whom He did not raise if then dead persons do not rise;

Darby: And we are found also false witnesses of God; for we have witnessed concerning God that he raised the Christ, whom he has not raised if indeed those that are dead are not raised.

ASV: Yea, we are found false witnesses of God; because we witnessed of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead are not raised.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Yea,  and  we are found  false witnesses  of God;  because  we have testified  of  God  that  he raised up  Christ:  whom  he raised  not  up,  if  so be  that the dead  rise  not. 

What does 1 Corinthians 15:15 Mean?

Verse Meaning

If there were no resurrection of the body, the apostles would not just be in error, they would be false witnesses against God. They would be saying something untrue about God, namely, that He raised Jesus Christ when He really had not. This would be a serious charge to make against the man who had founded their church and claimed to represent God. Really by denying the resurrection the unbelieving Corinthians were the false witnesses.

Context Summary

1 Corinthians 15:12-28 - Christ's Resurrection Assures Ours
The argument here goes to show, first, that our resurrection is intimately connected with Christ's. There must be such a thing, because he, as the representative of humanity, arose from the dead, in a human body which, though more ethereal in its texture, was easily recognizable by those who had known Him previously. Mary was recalled by the well-known intonations of her Master's voice. Thomas was compelled to believe, in spite of his protestations to the contrary. In fact, all of our Lord's friends were convinced against themselves. They credited the tidings of the risen Lord as idle tales. Therefore, says the Apostle, it is far easier to admit that man will rise than to face the difficulties of a still buried Christ, a vain faith, a vain gospel, and a false testimony from so many accredited witnesses.
What a burst of music breaks forth in 1 Corinthians 15:20-28! The first fruit sheaf is the forerunner and specimen of all the harvest. In Christ the whole Church was presented to God, and we may judge of the whole by Him. Note the divine order in 1 Corinthians 15:23 : first, Christ; then, His own; lastly, the end, when death itself shall be destroyed, all enemies conquered, and the kingdom of an emancipated universe finally handed back by the Mediator to the Father. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 15

1  By Christ's resurrection,
12  he proves the necessity of our resurrection,
16  against all such as deny the resurrection of the body
21  The fruit,
35  and the manner thereof;
51  and of the resurrection of those who shall be found alive at the last day

Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 15:15

False witnesses of God [πσευδομαρτυρες του τεου]
Late word, but πσευδομαρτυρεω — pseudomartureō to bear false witness, old and common. The genitive Either makes good sense. [source]
Because we witnessed of God [οτι εμαρτυρησαμεν κατα του τεου]
Vulgate has adversus Deum. This is the more natural way to take κατα — kata and genitive, against God not as equal to περι — peri (concerning). He would indeed make God play false in that case, if so be that the dead are not raised Condition of first class, assumed as true. Note both περ — per intensive particle indeed and αρα — ara inferential particle therefore. [source]
against God []
not as equal to περι — peri (concerning). He would indeed make God play false in that case, if so be that the dead are not raised Condition of first class, assumed as true. Note both περ — per intensive particle indeed and αρα — ara inferential particle therefore. [source]
if so be that the dead are not raised [ειπερ αρα νεκροι ουκ εγειρονται]
Condition of first class, assumed as true. Note both περ — per intensive particle indeed and αρα — ara inferential particle therefore. [source]
indeed []
and αρα — ara inferential particle therefore. [source]
therefore []
. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 15:15

Romans 3:30 If so be that God is one [ειπερ εις ο τεος]
Correct text rather than επειπερ — epeiper It means “if on the whole.” “By a species of rhetorical politeness it is used of that about which there is no doubt” (Thayer. Cf. 1 Corinthians 8:5; 1 Corinthians 15:15; Romans 8:9. [source]
Galatians 2:17 Are found [εὑρέθημεν]
More correctly, were found: were discovered and shown to be. See Romans 6:10; 1 Corinthians 15:15; 2 Corinthians 5:3; Philemon 2:8; Philemon 3:9. [source]
1 Timothy 2:6 To be testified in due time [τὸ μαρτύριον καιροῖς ἰδίοις]
Lit. (gave himself a ransom) the testimony in its own times. That is, the gift of Christ as a ransom was to be the substance or import of the testimony which was to be set forth in its proper seasons. Thus μαρτύριον testimonyis in apposition with the whole preceding sentence, and not with ransom only. Μαρτύριον is used sometimes simply as witness or testimony (Matthew 8:4; Mark 6:11): sometimes specially of the proclamation of the gospel, as Matthew 24:14; Acts 4:33; 1 Thessalonians 1:10. The apostles are said, μαρτυρεῖν tobear witness, as eye or ear witnesses of the sayings, deeds, and sufferings of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:15). In 1 Corinthians 1:6, μαρτύριον τοῦ Χριστοῦ is practically = the gospel. In 2 Thessalonians 1:10, τὸ μαρτύριον ἡμῶν ἐφ ' ὑμᾶς ourtestimony among you is our public attestation of the truth of the gospel. The idea of witness is a favorite one with John. See John 1:7. The exact phrase καιροῖς ἰδίοις inits own times, only in the Pastorals, here, 1 Timothy 6:15; Titus 1:3. In Galatians 6:9 καιρῷ ἰδίῳ indue time. Comp. Galatians 4:4. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 15:15 mean?

We are found then also false witnesses - of God because we have witnessed concerning God that He raised up - Christ whom not He has raised if then [the] dead are raised
εὑρισκόμεθα δὲ καὶ ψευδομάρτυρες τοῦ Θεοῦ ὅτι ἐμαρτυρήσαμεν κατὰ Θεοῦ ὅτι ἤγειρεν τὸν Χριστόν ὃν οὐκ ἤγειρεν εἴπερ ἄρα νεκροὶ ἐγείρονται

εὑρισκόμεθα  We  are  found 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Plural
Root: εὑρίσκω  
Sense: to come upon, hit upon, to meet with.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ψευδομάρτυρες  false  witnesses 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ψευδόμαρτυς  
Sense: a false witness.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεοῦ  of  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
ὅτι  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἐμαρτυρήσαμεν  we  have  witnessed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: μαρτυρέω  
Sense: to be a witness, to bear witness, i.e. to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, or that he knows it because taught by divine revelation or inspiration.
κατὰ  concerning 
Parse: Preposition
Root: κατά 
Sense: down from, through out.
Θεοῦ  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἤγειρεν  He  raised  up 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐγείρω  
Sense: to arouse, cause to rise.
τὸν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Χριστόν  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
ὃν  whom 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
ἤγειρεν  He  has  raised 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐγείρω  
Sense: to arouse, cause to rise.
νεκροὶ  [the]  dead 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: νεκρός  
Sense: properly.
ἐγείρονται  are  raised 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἐγείρω  
Sense: to arouse, cause to rise.