The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 15:18 Explained

1 Corinthians 15:18

KJV: Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

YLT: then, also, those having fallen asleep in Christ did perish;

Darby: Then indeed also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

ASV: Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then  they also  which are fallen asleep  in  Christ  are perished. 

What does 1 Corinthians 15:18 Mean?

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 15:18

Then also [αρα και]
Inevitable inference. [source]
Have perished [απωλοντο]
Did perish. Second aorist middle indicative of απολλυμι — apollumi to destroy, middle, to perish (delivered up to eternal misery). Cf. 1 Corinthians 8:11. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 15:18

Acts 7:60 Lay not this sin to their charge [μη στησηις αυτοις ταυτην την αμαρτιαν]
First aorist (ingressive) active subjunctive with μη — mē regular Greek idiom, Place not to them or against them (dative αυτοις — autois) this sin. The very spirit of Jesus towards his enemies as he died upon the Cross (Luke 23:34). He fell asleep (εκοιμητη — ekoimēthē). First aorist passive indicative of κοιμαω — koimaō to put to sleep. Old verb and the metaphor of sleep for death is common in all languages, but it is peculiarly appropriate here as Jesus used it of Lazarus. See also Acts 13:36; 1 Corinthians 15:18, etc. Our word cemetery (κοιμητηριον — koimētērion) is the sleeping place of the dead. Knowling calls εκοιμητη — ekoimēthē here “a picture word of rest and calmness which stands in dramatic contrast to the rage and violence of the scene.” [source]
Acts 7:60 He fell asleep [εκοιμητη]
First aorist passive indicative of κοιμαω — koimaō to put to sleep. Old verb and the metaphor of sleep for death is common in all languages, but it is peculiarly appropriate here as Jesus used it of Lazarus. See also Acts 13:36; 1 Corinthians 15:18, etc. Our word cemetery (κοιμητηριον — koimētērion) is the sleeping place of the dead. Knowling calls εκοιμητη — ekoimēthē here “a picture word of rest and calmness which stands in dramatic contrast to the rage and violence of the scene.” [source]
1 Thessalonians 4:14 Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him [καὶ ὁ θεὸς τοὺς κοιμηθέντας διὰ τοῦ Ἱησοῦ ἄξει σὺν αὐτῷ]
(1) Which sleep should be, which have been laid asleep or have fallen asleep, giving the force of the passive. (2) Διὰ τοῦ Ἱησοῦ can by no possibility be rendered in Jesus, which would be ἐν Ἱησοῦ :see 1 Corinthians 15:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:16. It must mean through or by means of Jesus. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
(3) The attempt to construe διὰ τοῦ Ἱησοῦ with τοὺς κοιμηθέντας thosewho have fallen asleep by means of Jesus, gives an awkward and forced interpretation. It has been explained by supposing a reference to martyrs who have died by Jesus; because of their faith in him. In that case we should expect the accusative, διὰ τὸν Ἱησοῦν onaccount of or for the sake of Jesus. Moreover Paul is not accentuating that idea. Κοιμηθέντας would be universally understood by the church as referring to the death of Christians, so that by Jesus would be superfluous. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
(4) Διὰ τοῦ Ἱησοῦ should be construed with ἄξει willbring. Rend. the whole: them also that are fallen asleep will God through Jesus bring with him. Jesus is thus represented as the agent of the resurrection. See 1 Corinthians 15:21; John 5:28; John 6:39, John 6:44, John 6:54. Bring ( ἄξει ) is used instead of ἐγειρεῖ shallraise up, because the thought of separation was prominent in the minds of the Thessalonians. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
[source]

1 Thessalonians 4:13 Them which are asleep [τῶν κοιμωμένων]
Or, who are sleeping. See on Acts 7:60; see on 2 Peter 3:4, and comp. 1 Corinthians 7:39; 1 Corinthians 11:30; 1 Corinthians 15:6, 1 Corinthians 15:18, 1 Corinthians 15:20, 1 Corinthians 15:51; John 11:11, etc. The dead members of the Thessalonian church. [source]
1 Thessalonians 4:14 In Jesus [δια του Ιησου]
Literally, through or by means of Jesus. It is amphibolous in position and can be taken either with τους κοιμητεντας — tous koimēthentas (that are fallen asleep in or through Jesus) like οι κοιμητεντες εν Χριστωι — hoi koimēthentes en Christōi in 1 Corinthians 15:18 and probably correct or with αχει — axei (through Jesus with God). With him (συν αυτωι — sun autōi). Together with Jesus. Jesus is the connecting link (δια — dia) for those that sleep (κοιμητεντας — koimēthentas first aorist passive, but with middle sense) and their resurrection. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 15:18 mean?

Then also those having fallen asleep in Christ have perished
ἄρα καὶ οἱ κοιμηθέντες ἐν Χριστῷ ἀπώλοντο

καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
οἱ  those 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
κοιμηθέντες  having  fallen  asleep 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: κοιμάω  
Sense: to cause to sleep, put to sleep.
Χριστῷ  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
ἀπώλοντο  have  perished 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀπόλλυμι  
Sense: to destroy.