Meaning, commentary and cross references
1 Corinthians 15:3
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
NIV · New International Version
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
WEB · World English Bible
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
What does 1 Corinthians 15:3 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on 1 Corinthians 15:3
For I delivered unto you first of all,.... Not only in the first place as to order; but among the chief and principal things, as the words will bear to be rendered, this was insisted on in his ministry; this was one he after relates, even a crucified Christ, or the doctrine of his dying for the sins of his people; and which he mentions to lead on to his resurrection; which he meant to improve, and does improve, in a very strong manner, in favour of the resurrection of the saints. This doctrine of a crucified Saviour, which he at first determined only to make known among them, and did make known, was what he fully and faithfully delivered to them, as he had received it: that which also I…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on 1 Corinthians 15:1–11
It was a doctrine of the first rank, a most necessary truth, That Christ died for our sins, and was buried, and rose again: or, in other words, that he was delivered for our offences and rose again for our justification (Rom 4:25), that he was offered in sacrifice for our sins, and rose again, to show that he had procured forgiveness for them, and was accepted of God in this offering. Note, Christ's death and resurrection are the very sum and substance of evangelical truth. Hence we derive our spiritual life now, and here we must found our hopes of everlasting life hereafter. III.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on 1 Corinthians 15:1–10
3. For I delivered to you first of all He now confirms what he had previously stated, by explaining that the resurrection had been preached by him, and that too as a fundamental doctrine of the gospel. First of all, says he, as it is wont to be with a foundation in the erecting of a house. At the same time he adds to the authority of his preaching, when he subjoins, that he delivered nothing but what he had received, for he does not simply mean that he related what he had from the report of others, but that it was what had been enjoined upon him by the Lord. [11] For the word [12] must be explained in accordance with the connection of the passage.
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: 1 Corinthians 15:1–6 (WEB)
1Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand, 2by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep.
Cross references
- 1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. You were healed by his wounds.
- Galatians 1:4
who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father—
- Isaiah 53:1–12
Who has believed our message? To whom has the LORD’s arm been revealed?
- 1 John 2:2
And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.
- Acts 26:22–23
Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would happen,
- Daniel 9:24–26
“Seventy weeks are decreed on your people and on your holy city, to finish disobedience, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.
- Galatians 1:12
For I didn’t receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.
- Revelation 1:5
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood—