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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1Co_15:1-2
1Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
1Co_15:1
NASB "Now I make known to you"
NKJV "Moreover. . .I declare to you"
NRSV "Now I would remind you"
TEV "And now I want to remind you"
NJB "I want to make clear to you"
Paul has structured his letter around several questions that the church at Corinth had sent him (cf. 1Co_7:1; 1Co_7:25; 1Co_8:1; 1Co_12:1; 1Co_16:1) with the phrase "now concerning" (i.e., peri de). Chapter 15 begins with de. Is it possible that this discussion concerning the resurrection was not a question which the church asked, but a situation that Paul was made aware of and also wanted to address?
This is a present active indicative form of gnôrizô, which means to make known, reveal, or declare. However, Paul was not giving new information (cf. 1Co_12:3), but a doctrinal summary organizing the gospel he had earlier preached to them.
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▣ "brethren" Paul often uses this word to denote a new aspect of his topic or a change of subject, as he does here (cf. 1Co_1:10; 1Co_2:1; 1Co_3:1; 1Co_4:6; 1Co_8:12; 1Co_10:1; 1Co_11:33; 1Co_12:1; 1Co_14:6; 1Co_14:20; 1Co_14:26; 1Co_15:1; 1Co_15:58; 1Co_16:12; 1Co_16:15).
▣ "the gospel" Paul parallels the concept of "gospel" with "the word I preached to you" (1Co_15:2). In Hebrew thought there was a power to the divine word (e.g., Gen_1:3; Gen_1:6; Gen_1:9; Gen_1:11; Gen_1:14; Gen_1:20; Gen_1:24; Psa_33:6; Psa_33:9; Isa_55:11; Joh_1:1). This then is a metaphor for the content of Paul's preaching, not simply a way of referring to vocalization.
This verse has a cognate accusative, literally "the gospel which I gospeled to you."
These are my comments on "gospel" from my commentary, Gospel According to Peter, Vol. 2 (see online at hyperlink
"With Mark probably being the first written Gospel, this is the first use of the term euangelion (cf. Mar_1:14-15; Mar_8:35; Mar_10:29; Mar_13:10; Mar_14:9) by a Gospel writer (Paul's use in Gal_2:2 and 1Th_2:9 would be chronologically earlier). It is literally "the good news" or "the good message." This obviously reflects Isa_61:1 and possibly Isa_40:9; Isa_52:7. Its grammatical form can be understood as (1) the message given by Jesus or (2) the message about Jesus. Number 2 is probably the intended meaning. However, the Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, published by IVP, says "The genitive ('of') is probably both subjective and objective: Jesus proclaims the gospel and it proclaims his story" (p. 285). The Jerome Biblical Commentary says "Mark's use of the word 'gospel' is akin to that in Paul where it can mean either the act of proclaiming or the content of what is proclaimed."
▣ "which also you received" This term is used by the Jews of "passed on traditions" (cf. 1Co_15:3; 1Co_11:23; 1Co_15:3; Mar_7:4; Php_4:9; 1Th_4:10; 2Th_3:6). Paul was passing on what he received (i.e., the gospel, cf. 1Co_15:3) from Christ (cf. Gal_1:12; Gal_1:16; Act_9:1-22; Act_22:3-16; Act_26:7-18). Before Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles, he was a receiver of the gospel himself. This is an aorist active indicative. Although Jesus died for all human sin, it is obvious from this passage and others (cf. Joh_1:12; Joh_3:16; Rom_10:9-13) that each person must personally receive God's free offer (cf. 1Co_15:11) of salvation. The gospel involves (1) the welcoming of a person; (2) believing truths about that person; and (3) living a life in emulation of that person.
▣ "in which also you stand" This is a perfect active indicative, which denotes completed action in past time that has become a permanent state. It speaks of the necessity of perseverance (see Special Topic at 1Co_1:21).
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1Co_15:2 "you are saved" This is the present passive indicative, "being saved" (cf. 1Co_1:18; 2Co_2:15; 1Pe_3:21; 1Pe_4:18). Salvation is a process toward Christlikeness.
See hyperlink at 1Co_3:15.
▣ "if" This is a First class conditional sentence, which implies that they would "hold fast" to the truth of the gospel, which he preached to them, but it adds a note of contingency by a second "ei" (i.e., unless). This seems to parallel Jesus' Parable of the Soils (cf. Matthew 13) and John's discussion in 1Jn_2:19 of those who were in the fellowship, but left.
There were those factions in Corinth who by their actions, attitudes, and theology showed they were never believers! They rejected (1) Paul's gospel; (2) Paul's apostolic authority; and (3) merged the gospel into Roman culture, whereby the culture became dominant! Cultural Christianity is always weak and sometimes not Christian!
However, please note that contextually Paul is asserting his confidence that he has that the Corinthian believers are true believers.
1. Aorist tense, 1Co_15:1, "received"
2. Perfect tense, 1Co_15:1, "in which also you stand"
3. First class conditional sentence, 1Co_15:2, "since you hold fast"
▣ "unless you believed in vain" "If you hold fast. . .in vain." The word "vain" (eikç) means "to no purpose" (cf. Gal_3:4; Gal_4:11). It is obvious from Mat_13:1-9; Mat_13:18-23, and Joh_8:31-59 that false professions are a reality of religious life (see hyperlink at 1Co_6:9). This phrase forms the fourth in a series which describes necessary elements of the Christian life: acceptance, position, progress, and continuance. Salvation is a process which involves repentance, faith, obedience (both initially and ongoing), as well as perseverance. See Special Topic: The Need to Persevere at 1Co_1:21.