1 Corinthians 15:17
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
Original Language Analysis
ἐγήγερται
be
G1453
ἐγήγερται
be
Strong's:
G1453
Word #:
5 of 15
to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e., rouse (literally, from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively, from
ματαία
is vain
G3152
ματαία
is vain
Strong's:
G3152
Word #:
6 of 15
empty, i.e., (literally) profitless, or (specially), an idol
ἡ
G3588
ἡ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
7 of 15
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πίστις
faith
G4102
πίστις
faith
Strong's:
G4102
Word #:
8 of 15
persuasion, i.e., credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of god or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon christ
Cross References
Romans 4:25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.1 Peter 1:3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,1 Corinthians 15:14And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.1 Peter 1:21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.Romans 5:10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.1 Corinthians 15:2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
Historical Context
Jewish sacrificial system required priestly acceptance of offerings. Christ's resurrection is divine acceptance of his sacrifice (Romans 4:25: 'raised for our justification'). Without it, Christ's death is just another Roman crucifixion—brutal, tragic, meaningless. Resurrection declares: the sacrifice worked, sin is atoned, death is defeated.
Questions for Reflection
- How does resurrection validate the atonement—why isn't Christ's death alone sufficient?
- What does 'yet in your sins' mean practically—what would be different without resurrection?
- How does Paul's argument show that cross and resurrection are inseparable—why can't we have one without the other?
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Analysis & Commentary
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain (εἰ δὲ Χριστὸς οὐκ ἐγήγερται, ματαία ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν)—Paul uses mataia (ματαία, "vain, futile, empty") instead of v. 14's kenē. While kenē means "empty of content," mataia means "worthless, without result or purpose." Faith in a dead messiah accomplishes nothing—it's not merely empty but useless, impotent, futile.
Ye are yet in your sins (ἔτι ἐστὲ ἐν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ὑμῶν)—This is the devastating punchline. Without resurrection, atonement is incomplete. Christ's death without vindication would mean sin won, death conquered, God failed. The resurrection is God's "Amen" to the cross—divine certification that the sacrifice was accepted, sin defeated, new covenant ratified. The phrase en tais hamartiais ("in your sins") indicates remaining under sin's dominion, guilt, and penalty.