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Epiphany · Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany · Year C

1 Corinthians 15:(1-11) 12-20

The Resurrection of the Dead

February 13, 2028

The Resurrection, Piero della Francesca
The Resurrection, Piero della Francesca, c. 1463–1465Museo Civico, Sansepolcro
Christ steps from the tomb with one foot still on its edge, while four soldiers sleep below. Piero puts the dead winter trees on one side of him and leaves in bud on the other.Paul argues that Christ has been raised as the firstfruits, and Piero paints the seasons changing across a single figure to say it.Piero della FrancescaA painter and mathematician of the early Italian Renaissance (c. 1415-1492) who wrote treatises on perspective and painted with a stillness nobody has imitated successfully.Museo Civico, SansepolcroThe civic museum of Piero della Francesca's own town in Tuscany, which holds the works he painted for it.Museo Civico, Sansepolcro
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelLuke 6:17-26Lk 6:17-26
Epistle1 Cor. 15:(1-11) 12-201 Cor 15:(1-11) 12-20
Old TestamentJer. 17:5-8Jer 17:5-8
PsalterPs. 1Ps 1

Overview & Insights

“Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20)

After solidly grounding the resurrection in the soil of history, Paul moves on to establish its theological significance. His theological argument moves through three stages. He begins with a theological restatement of his Scripture and eyewitness argument (15:12–18). From here he draws a direct connection between the resurrection of Christ and the resurrection of his followers (15:19–28), before concluding that this has significant ethical implications (15:29–34). Those rejecting the resurrection do not simply oppose Paul; they deny the cornerstone of the Christian message.

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Take it further: 1 Corinthians 15:(1-11) 12-20

Commentary

BibleHub: Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 15:12BibleHub: Commentaries on 1 Cor 15:12 BibleHub

Gathers classic commentaries on Paul's if-Christ-is-not-raised argument.

Enduring Word: 1 Corinthians 15Enduring Word: 1 Cor 15 Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse-by-verse notes on the resurrection chapter.

Precept Austin: 1 Corinthians 15 CommentaryPrecept Austin: 1 Cor 15 Commentary Precept Austin

Word studies and gathered quotations on the resurrection argument.

Working Preacher: Commentary on 1 Corinthians 15:12-20Working Preacher: Commentary on 1 Cor 15:12-20 Working Preacher

Lutheran exegesis on resurrection as the foundation of present hope, not just a future claim.

CEP: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20CEP: 1 Cor 15:12-20 Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching commentary on why every human hope hinges on the resurrection.

Background & Word Study

BibleHub Interlinear: 1 Corinthians 15:12BibleHub Interlinear: 1 Cor 15:12 BibleHub

Greek text with parsing for firstfruits and the resurrection vocabulary.

BibleProject: Book of 1 Corinthians OverviewBibleProject: Book of 1 Cor Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of how the resurrection anchors Paul's argument in the letter.

The Church Fathers

Catena: 1 Corinthians 15Catena: 1 Cor 15 Catena

Patristic comment chain gathering the Fathers on the resurrection chapter.

Questions preachers ask

What does Paul say about Christ’s reign?

Christ, risen as the firstfruits, must reign until every enemy, last of all death, is destroyed; then he hands the kingdom to the Father, “that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:20–28). It crowns the feast of Christ the King.

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