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Trinity/After Pentecost · The Eleventh Sunday after Trinity

1 Corinthians 15:1-10

The Resurrection of Christ

August 16, 2026

The Resurrection of Christ, Raphael
The Resurrection of Christ, Raphael, c. 1499–1502Museu de Arte de São Paulo, São Paulo
Raphael's earliest surviving altarpiece, painted in his teens while still working with Perugino. Christ steps from the tomb with a banner while four guards reel away.1 Corinthians 15 is Paul reciting the list of witnesses, and Acts 10 is Peter saying the same thing to a Roman household; this is the event they are both reporting.RaphaelRaphael Sanzio of Urbino (1483-1520), the youngest of the three who defined the High Renaissance. He died on Good Friday at thirty-seven.Museu de Arte de São Paulo, São PauloA modernist landmark raised on red concrete beams, famous for displaying its pictures on glass easels in open space.Museu de Arte de São Paulo, São Paulo
Historic One-Year Lectionary
GospelLuke 18:9-14Lk 18:9-14
Epistle1 Cor. 15:1-101 Cor 15:1-10Alt. EpistleEph. 2:1-10Eph 2:1-10
Old TestamentGen. 4:1-15Gn 4:1-15
PsalterPs. 50:7-23Ps 50:7-23

Overview & Insights

“Christ died for our sins… he was buried… he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

Chapter 15 functions both as a crescendo of this letter and as the high-water mark of Paul’s theological exposition. It provides the theological key that reveals Paul’s mind to his audience and explains the structure of his ethics. For Paul, everything he has said in this letter hinges on the historical reality of Christ’s bodily resurrection from the dead. Christ’s resurrection stands as the climactic point, without which his suffering and death have no significance, and because of which God’s restorative grace toward his creation is now revealed. Because of Christ’s resurrection, Christ’s followers have hope for eternal life in God’s presence—a life that has already begun and has proved its power in Christ’s community. Believers who have become parts of Christ’s body and recipients of his Spirit have assurance that they will be raised from the dead with Christ.

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Take it further: 1 Corinthians 15:1-10

Commentary

Commentary on 1 Corinthians 15:1-11Commentary on 1 Cor 15:1-11 Working Preacher

Lectionary commentary keyed to this exact passage on the gospel of first importance.

Word Pictures in the New Testament: 1 Corinthians 15Word Pictures in the New Testament: 1 Cor 15 Blue Letter Bible (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's philological commentary on the resurrection chapter's opening.

Background & Word Study

1 Corinthians 15:3 Commentaries1 Cor 15:3 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregates classic commentators on the creedal summary Paul delivered first of all.

1 Corinthians Commentaries & Sermons1 Cor Commentaries & Sermons Precept Austin

Collected verse-by-verse resources on the letter, including this opening resurrection passage.

The Church Fathers

1 Corinthians 15:3 Patristic Commentary1 Cor 15:3 Patristic Commentary Catena Bible

Fathers on the primitive creed Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.

Homily 38 on First Corinthians NewAdvent (Chrysostom)

Chrysostom's homily covers 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, matching this exact pericope.

Sermons & Reflections

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (Easter Sunday: Series A)Epistle: 1 Cor 15:1-11 (Easter Sunday: Series A) 1517.org

A Lutheran preaching essay on this exact pericope.

Study Hub

1 Corinthians video1 Cor video BibleProject

Overview video covering the letter, including its resurrection argument.

Questions preachers ask

What is the gospel Paul delivers in 1 Corinthians 15?

Paul sets down the earliest creed, that Christ died, was buried, and rose, appearing to Cephas, the Twelve, and to Paul himself, the last of all.

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