1 Corinthians 15:14

Authorized King James Version

And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

Word-by-Word Analysis

εἰ

G1487

if, whether, that, etc

δὲ

G1161

And

but, and, etc

Χριστὸς

G5547

Christ

anointed, i.e., the messiah, an epithet of jesus

οὐκ

G3756

not

the absolute negative (compare g3361) adverb; no or not

ἐγήγερται

G1453

to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e., rouse (literally, from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively, from

κενὴ

G2756

vain

empty (literally or figuratively)

ἄρα

G686

then

a particle denoting an inference more or less decisive (as follows)

τὸ

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

κήρυγμα

G2782

preaching

a proclamation (especially of the gospel; by implication, the gospel itself)

#10

ἡμῶν

G2257

is our

of (or from) us

#11

κενὴ

G2756

vain

empty (literally or figuratively)

#12

δὲ

G1161

And

but, and, etc

#13

καὶ

G2532

also

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

#14

ἡ

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

#15

πίστις

G4102

faith

persuasion, i.e., credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of god or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon christ

#16

ὑμῶν·

G5216

your

of (from or concerning) you

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing faith central to epistemology and the means by which humans receive divine revelation and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

In what ways does this verse's emphasis on faith address religious pluralism and questions about the necessity of Christ, and how should the church respond?
How does the salvation theme in this verse connect to the overarching narrative of Scripture, and what does this reveal about God's character and purposes?
How does this passage contribute to our understanding of from physical deliverance in the Old Testament to spiritual redemption in the New, and what implications does this have for Christian discipleship?

Related Resources

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