1 Corinthians 15 3

1 Corinthians 15:3

ESV: For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

KJV: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

NIV: For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

NKJV: For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

NLT: I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.

Meaning

This verse states the fundamental truth of the Christian gospel as delivered by Paul: the divinely purposed death of Christ for the forgiveness of human sins. It underscores that this central event was not an accident but a fulfillment of ancient prophecies found in the Old Testament, thus rooting the gospel message firmly in God's eternal plan and revealed word. Paul emphasizes he received this truth as a sacred trust and passed it on with paramount importance to the Corinthian believers, forming the bedrock of their faith and the broader apostolic tradition.

Cross References

Context

1 Corinthians 15 opens Paul's decisive argument against a specific false teaching circulating among some believers in Corinth: the denial of a bodily resurrection. This denial was likely influenced by prevailing Greek philosophical thought which often looked down upon the physical body, viewing it as a temporary prison for the immortal soul. To counteract this, Paul does not immediately launch into a theological discourse on resurrection but instead reminds the Corinthians of the gospel itself – the foundational message upon which their entire faith, including belief in resurrection, rested. Verse 3 begins this crucial recap of the gospel, presenting its core elements as an apostolic tradition he both received and delivered, establishing its authority and pre-eminence before connecting it to the broader resurrection of Christ.

Word analysis

• For (γὰρ - gar): This conjunction introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding statement, specifically that their salvation is rooted in the gospel Paul preached. It signals a continuity and foundation.

• I delivered (παρέδωκα - paredōka): The Greek verb "paradidōmi" denotes a formal act of handing over or transmitting something, often a tradition, doctrine, or truth. Here, it implies Paul's authoritative role in conveying the gospel and its essential nature.

• to you (ὑμῖν - hymin): Refers to the Corinthian believers, indicating Paul's direct personal communication and teaching. It emphasizes the pastoral nature of his relationship with the church.

• as of first importance (ἐν πρώτοις - en prōtois): Not simply "first in chronological order," but "foremost in rank, pre-eminent, supremely important." This designates the subsequent statements as the irreducible core and foundation of Christian belief, a non-negotiable truth.

• what I also received (ὃ καὶ παρέλαβον - ho kai parelabon): The Greek verb "paralambanō" signifies taking over or accepting something formally. This highlights Paul's role as a faithful recipient and steward, not an originator, of the gospel message. He received it from Christ and the apostolic tradition (Gal 1:11-12, 1 Cor 11:23), underscoring its divine origin and universal authority.

• that Christ died:

  • that (ὅτι - hoti): Introduces the content of the delivered and received message.
  • Christ (Χριστὸς - Christos): The title "Christ" (Messiah, Anointed One) signifies Jesus' divine office as the promised deliverer. His death is not just that of a man, Jesus, but of the prophesied Anointed King, making it historically and salvifically significant.
  • died (ἀπέθανεν - apethanen): A definitive, historical, and physical death. It signifies the ultimate sacrifice and the reality of his human experience. It is not an illusion but an undeniable, irreversible event for humanity.

• for our sins (ὑπὲρ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν - hyper tōn hamartiōn hēmōn):

  • for (ὑπὲρ - hyper): This preposition indicates substitution or representation ("on behalf of," "instead of"). Christ died for the sake of or as a substitute for our sins.
  • our sins (τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν - tōn hamartiōn hēmōn): Refers to humanity's transgressions, rebellion against God, and moral failings. This phrase defines the explicit purpose and effect of Christ's death: to address and atone for the problem of human sinfulness.

• in accordance with the Scriptures (κατὰ τὰς γραφάς - kata tas graphas):

  • in accordance with (κατὰ - kata): This preposition signifies "according to," "in agreement with," "in fulfillment of."
  • the Scriptures (τὰς γραφάς - tas graphas): Refers to the Old Testament. This crucial phrase declares that Christ's death was not a random event but a pre-ordained part of God's redemptive plan, foretold and prefigured in the Jewish sacred texts (e.g., Isa 53, Psa 22, the sacrificial system). It confirms the divine necessity and historical truthfulness of the gospel message.

• "I delivered... what I also received": This phrase highlights Paul's faithful transmission of an established truth, acting as a link in a chain of apostolic tradition originating from God. It grounds the gospel in a lineage of revelation and testimony.

• "Christ died for our sins": This group of words succinctly captures the substitutionary atonement, identifying Jesus as the Christ, whose death directly addresses and resolves the human problem of sin. It defines the heart of the redemptive act.

• "died... in accordance with the Scriptures": Emphasizes the historical reality of Christ's death while simultaneously affirming its divine planning and prophetic fulfillment, thus combining the empirical with the theological.

Commentary

Verse 3 presents the unadulterated essence of the gospel that forms the core of Christian belief and serves as the foundation for every subsequent doctrine, including the resurrection Paul addresses in the chapter. Paul underscores the authoritative nature of this message by stating he both "received" it and "delivered" it "as of first importance." This isn't Paul's own innovation, but an apostolic tradition, supernaturally revealed and carefully passed on. The content, "that Christ died for our sins," identifies Jesus as the Messiah whose voluntary and vicarious death effectively atones for human transgression. This is not merely a historical event, but a salvific one, demonstrating God's justice and love. Crucially, this redemptive act was "in accordance with the Scriptures," meaning it was foreseen and predestined in the Old Testament. This divine pre-planning elevates Christ's death from an unfortunate incident to a climactic fulfillment of God's eternal plan to save humanity.

Bonus section

This verse (along with v. 4 which mentions His burial and resurrection) is widely recognized as one of the earliest summaries or creedal statements of the Christian faith. Its terse, structured form, often referred to as a "kerygma" (proclamation), suggests it was a standardized piece of teaching recited and taught in the early church from its inception, perhaps even before Paul's letter was written. The "delivered/received" language suggests a formal teaching and learning process, reflecting how the early church guarded and propagated its core truths. This passage not only presents what the gospel is but also models how it was preserved and transmitted through apostolic authority and faithfulness. The phrase "in accordance with the Scriptures" implies a direct continuity with Israel's history and prophecy, asserting that Christianity is the true culmination of God's work with Israel, rather than a departure from it.

Explore 1 corinthians 15 images, wallpapers, art, audio, video, maps, infographics and timelines