1 Corinthians 15:3
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It's easy to skim over "what I also received," but Paul is highlighting that the Gospel he's preaching isn't his own invention; it's a message passed down to him, making its authority come from God and an unbroken tradition of faith, not Paul's personal insights. This grounding in divine transmission underscores the absolute reliability and ancient origins of the core Christian message.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is directly addressing a significant problem in the Corinthian church: some people were denying the resurrection of believers. He's reminding them of the core truths of the gospel he first taught them, emphasizing that Christ's death and resurrection are the absolute foundation of their faith, a truth he received from earlier believers and then passed on. This foundational teaching is crucial because without the resurrection, their faith would be meaningless and their hope in Christ would be lost.
Paul doesn't hold back here. He calls something 'of first importance.' What is it, and why does it hold such supreme value?
Paul is crystal clear in 1 Corinthians 15:3: the central, non-negotiable truth he passed on – and that he himself received – is the death of Christ for our sins. This isn't just a truth; it's the truth, the bedrock upon which everything else in the Christian faith stands. Everything Paul taught, everything we believe, hinges on this one, foundational event. It’s the gospel in a nutshell, declared as the absolute priority.
The verse says Christ died 'for our sins.' This isn't just a historical fact; it's a profound statement about rescue and reconciliation.
The phrase 'for our sins' unpacks the salvific purpose of Jesus' death. It means His sacrifice was a substitutionary atonement – He took the penalty we deserved for our wrongdoing upon Himself. Our sins created a separation from God, a debt that could not be paid by us. Jesus, being both fully God and fully human, offered the perfect, atoning sacrifice that satisfies God's justice and makes our forgiveness possible. This is the heart of God's redemptive plan.
Christ's death wasn't a sudden, unplanned event. It was divinely orchestrated, fulfilling ancient promises.
Paul anchors Christ's death not just in his own teaching or the disciples' experience, but in the Old Testament Scriptures. This connection is crucial. It shows that Jesus' suffering and death were not a deviation from God's plan but its central fulfillment. From the earliest promises in Genesis to the prophecies of the suffering servant in Isaiah, God had foreshadowed this redemptive act. This grounds the Christian faith in historical reality and divine foreknowledge, proving Jesus as the promised Messiah and His sacrifice as the intended means of salvation.
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Understand the original words
Christos · Greek Noun
The long-awaited 'Anointed One' of God. As the Messiah, He serves as the ultimate Prophet, Priest, and King, fulfilling all Old Testament types and prophecies.
hamartia · Greek Noun
The transgression of God’s law, or falling short of His glory, resulting in separation from God and requiring an atonement. Christ’s death serves as the propitiation for these offenses.
graphē · Greek Noun
The sacred, inspired writings of the Old Testament. They testify to the character of God and the necessity and nature of the Messiah's mission.
The Apostle Paul is writing to a specific church he founded, reminding them of the absolute core message of the faith he taught them. This verse underscores the foundational nature of Christ's death for sins as understood and proclaimed in the earliest days of Christianity.
c. 30-33 AD— this verse
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth is executed by crucifixion in Jerusalem under the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate. This event is central to Christian belief.
c. 30-33 AD
Resurrection of Jesus
According to Christian tradition, Jesus is resurrected from the dead three days after his crucifixion. This event affirms his divine nature and the efficacy of his sacrifice.
c. 30-50 AD
Apostolic Preaching Begins
The apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, begin boldly preaching the gospel message of Jesus' death and resurrection throughout Judea and beyond.
c. 48-52 AD
Paul's Ministry in Corinth
The Apostle Paul establishes a church in the bustling Roman city of Corinth during his second missionary journey. He spends about 18 months there.
c. 53-57 AD
Writing of 1 Corinthians
Paul writes this letter to the church in Corinth from Ephesus, addressing various issues of doctrine, practice, and unity within the community.
This Old Testament prophecy directly foreshadows the suffering and death of the Servant of the Lord for the sins of His people, echoing the core message Paul emphasizes.
Luke 24:44-47Jesus Himself explains to His disciples that His suffering, death, and resurrection were all part of God's plan, as written in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms, aligning with Paul's statement about 'the Scriptures'.
Romans 4:25This passage highlights that Jesus was 'delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification,' directly paralleling the theological significance of Christ's death for sins that Paul stresses in Corinthians.
1 Peter 2:24Peter explicitly states that Jesus 'himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness,' reinforcing the idea of Christ's atoning sacrifice for our sins.
It's easy to skim over "what I also received," but Paul is highlighting that the Gospel he's preaching isn't his own invention; it's a message passed down to him, making its authority come from God and an unbroken tradition of faith, not Paul's personal insights. This grounding in divine transmission underscores the absolute reliability and ancient origins of the core Christian message.
Paul is directly addressing a significant problem in the Corinthian church: some people were denying the resurrection of believers. He's reminding them of the core truths of the gospel he first taught them, emphasizing that Christ's death and resurrection are the absolute foundation of their faith, a truth he received from earlier believers and then passed on. This foundational teaching is crucial because without the resurrection, their faith would be meaningless and their hope in Christ would be lost.
Paul is directly addressing a significant problem in the Corinthian church: some people were denying the resurrection of believers. He's reminding them of the core truths of the gospel he first taught them, emphasizing that Christ's death and resurrection are the absolute foundation of their faith, a truth he received from earlier believers and then passed on. This foundational teaching is crucial because without the resurrection, their faith would be meaningless and their hope in Christ would be lost.
"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures," — It's easy to skim over "what I also received," but Paul is highlighting that the Gospel he's preaching isn't his own invention; it's a message passed down to him, making its authority come from God a…
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Last reviewed October 2026
