1 Corinthians 15:3-5
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This verse isn't just stating facts; it's highlighting the priority Paul places on this message. The phrase "as of first importance" tells us that this core truth about Christ's death for our sins is the absolute bedrock of the Christian faith, the non-negotiable foundation everything else is built upon.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is addressing a serious issue in the Corinthian church: some people were denying the resurrection of the dead. He immediately reminds them of the core gospel message he first shared, which he himself received from others. This foundational truth, that Christ died for our sins and was raised, is the bedrock upon which their faith and hope rest, making the denial of resurrection a direct attack on the gospel itself.
Paul kicks off his explanation of the resurrection with a bold claim: some truths are of 'first importance.' What makes a truth so crucial?
Paul uses the phrase "of first importance" (Greek: protos) to highlight the absolute priority of the message he's about to share. This isn't just another point in Christian belief; it's the foundational cornerstone.
The Core Message:
This dual focus – the what (death for sins) and the why (Scriptural plan) – forms the absolute bedrock of the Christian faith.
The phrase 'died for our sins' is packed with meaning. It points to a profound spiritual transaction that happened on the cross.
This is the essence of substitutionary atonement. Jesus, who was sinless, took the penalty for our sins upon himself.
The Exchange:
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This wasn't just a symbolic death; it was a divine exchange that reconciles us to God, removing the barrier our sin created.
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.
egeirō · Greek Verb
The act of being raised from the dead. It signifies the defeat of death, the vindication of Christ’s divinity, and the promise of the believer’s future resurrection.
Kēphas · Greek Noun
The Aramaic name given to Simon Peter by Jesus, meaning 'rock'. It emphasizes his prominent role among the apostles.
This verse highlights the foundational message Paul preached, which was the death and resurrection of Christ as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, a message delivered just decades after the events themselves in a dynamic period of early Christian expansion.
c. 30-33 AD— this verse
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth is crucified in Jerusalem under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. His followers believe this event is the fulfillment of prophecy regarding the Messiah.
c. 30-33 AD
Resurrection of Jesus
According to the New Testament, Jesus is raised from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. This event becomes central to the Christian faith.
c. 30-40s AD
Apostolic Preaching Begins
The apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, begin preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout Judea and surrounding regions.
c. 40s-60s AD
Paul's Missionary Journeys
The Apostle Paul undertakes extensive missionary journeys, establishing churches in major cities throughout the Roman Empire, including Corinth.
c. 50-52 AD
Founding of the Corinthian Church
Paul spends significant time in Corinth, establishing a Christian community there. He later writes letters to address issues within this church.
c. 55 AD
Writing of 1 Corinthians
Paul writes his first letter to the church in Corinth, likely from Ephesus. In this letter, he addresses doctrinal and practical problems, including profound questions about the resurrection.
This Old Testament prophecy vividly describes a suffering servant who is 'pierced for our transgressions' and 'crushed for our iniquities,' directly foreshadowing the atoning death of Christ mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:3.
Luke 24:46Jesus himself confirms that the Scriptures foretold his suffering and resurrection, stating, 'Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,' echoing the 'in accordance with the Scriptures' phrase.
Romans 4:25This passage highlights that Jesus 'was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification,' directly paralleling the concept of Christ's death being for our sins and His resurrection validating its purpose.
1 Peter 2:24Peter explicitly connects Jesus' suffering on the cross to our sins, stating that He 'himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness,' reinforcing the substitutionary atonement.
Genesis 3:15Often called the 'protoevangelium' or first gospel, this promise of a descendant who would crush the serpent's head points to a future savior whose victory would overcome the effects of sin, a victory ultimately achieved through Christ's death.
This verse isn't just stating facts; it's highlighting the priority Paul places on this message. The phrase "as of first importance" tells us that this core truth about Christ's death for our sins is the absolute bedrock of the Christian faith, the non-negotiable foundation everything else is built upon.
Paul is addressing a serious issue in the Corinthian church: some people were denying the resurrection of the dead. He immediately reminds them of the core gospel message he first shared, which he himself received from others. This foundational truth, that Christ died for our sins and was raised, is the bedrock upon which their faith and hope rest, making the denial of resurrection a direct attack on the gospel itself.
Paul is addressing a serious issue in the Corinthian church: some people were denying the resurrection of the dead. He immediately reminds them of the core gospel message he first shared, which he himself received from others. This foundational truth, that Christ died for our sins and was raised, is the bedrock upon which their faith and hope rest, making the denial of resurrection a direct attack on the gospel itself.
"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he app…" — This verse isn't just stating facts; it's highlighting the priority Paul places on this message. The phrase "as of first importance" tells us that this core truth about Christ's death for our sins…
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Last reviewed October 2026
