Bible Strands
1 Corinthians 15:16
For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Corinthian congregation to dismantle a theological error regarding bodily resurrection. He places this statement within a conditional argument designed to prove that Christ's resurrection cannot be isolated from the general resurrection of the dead.
The words — The perfect tense verb ἐγήγερται (egēgertai) denotes a completed raising with permanent results. Combined with οὐδὲ (oude), it forms an absolute negative: Christ has been raised.
The thread — The text's conditional structure links directly to 1 Corinthians 15:15, where denying the general resurrection makes apostolic testimony false, and to 1 Corinthians 15:17, where denying Christ's resurrection renders faith futile.
Why it lands — The text states that the resurrection of the dead is a necessary condition for the truth of Christ's resurrection. It requires a reader to maintain logical consistency in resurrection claims, treating the two events as inseparable.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: