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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
1 Cor C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16
1 Cor 15 V1 V3 V5 V7 V9 V11 V13 V15 V17 V19 V21 V23 V25 V27 V29 V31 V33 V35 V37 V39 V41 V43 V45 V47 V49 V51 V53 V55 V57
OET (OET-LV) But right_now chosen_one/messiah has_been_raised from the_dead, first-fruit of_the ones having_been_fallen_asleep.
OET (OET-RV) But Messiah has indeed come back to life from the dead, leading the way for those who have passed away,
In this section Paul reminded the Corinthian believers about the gospel and showed them that the resurrection from the dead was an important part of the gospel. First (15:1–11) he wrote about the evidence showing that God raised Christ from the dead. Then (15:12–34) he taught that God will raise believers from the dead. Finally (15:35–58) he taught about what the resurrection body will be like.
Here are some other possible section headings:
The resurrection
People who die will live again
Christ has risen and his people will rise also
In this paragraph Paul wrote about how God will conquer death. God will rule over everything and everyone.
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,
¶ But Christ has in fact come back to life.
¶ However, God really has raised Christ from the dead.
But…indeed: The phrase But…indeed introduces a contrast with the previous verses. In 15:12–19 Paul wrote about what it would be like if Christ had not been raised from the dead. In 15:20–33 Paul wrote about the actual situation: Christ has been raised from the dead.
Here are some other ways to introduce this contrast:
But the truth is (GNT)
In fact, however (NJB)
Christ has…been raised from the dead: Paul wrote about the true situation. For this phrase, see the notes on 15:12a.
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
He is the first dead person to rise, like the first produce of the harvest.
He is the first one that God raised. Because of him we know that all those who have died will be raised.
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep: Paul used a metaphor to describe Christ. The word firstfruits refers to the first grain that is harvested, or the first grapes that are picked from the vine. In this verse, firstfruits is used figuratively to refer to Christ as the first person who will be raised from the dead.
Here are some ways to translate this word:
Keep the metaphor. For example:
firstfruits (NJB) If you do this, be sure that it is clear to readers that this is used in a figurative sense. It may be helpful to say:
Christ is like the firstfruits
Christ is like the rice/corn that is the first to be harvested
Translate the meaning of the metaphor.
There are two aspects to the meaning of this metaphor:
It means first. For example:
But now Christ has come back from the dead. He is the very first person of those who have died to come back to life. (GW) (GW, NLT)
It means guarantee or proof. For example:
Christ has been raised from death, as the guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised. (GNT) (GNT, CEV)
Another option is to include both the meanings:
But Christ has truly been raised from the dead—the first one and proof that those who sleep in death will also be raised. (NCV)
because Christ was the first one to be raised, we know that all the dead people will be raised
fallen asleep: The expression fallen asleep refers to people who have died. See the notes on 15:6b and 15:18. Use the expression that is appropriate in your language to refer to those who have died.
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast
νυνὶ δὲ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: νυνί Δέ Χριστός ἐγήγερται ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀπαρχή τῶν κεκοιμημένων)
Here, But now introduces what is true in contrast with the false situations Paul has discussed in the previous verses ([15:13–19](../15/13.md)). The word now does not refer to time here, but introduces his conclusion. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express But now with a word or phrase that introduces reality in contrast to what is not true. Alternate translation: [In reality, though,] or [As it really is,]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
Χριστὸς ἐγήγερται
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: νυνί Δέ Χριστός ἐγήγερται ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀπαρχή τῶν κεκοιμημένων)
If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Paul uses the passive here to focus on Christ, who was raised, rather than focusing on the one doing the “raising.” If you must state who did the action, Paul implies that “God” did it. Alternate translation: [God raised Christ]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj
νεκρῶν
˓the˒_dead
Paul is using the adjective dead as a noun in order to refer to people who are dead. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this with a noun phrase. Alternate translation: [the dead people] or [the corpses]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ἀπαρχὴ τῶν κεκοιμημένων
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: νυνί Δέ Χριστός ἐγήγερται ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀπαρχή τῶν κεκοιμημένων)
Here, firstfruits refers to what farmers first gathered from their fields. Often, these firstfruits were offered to God to thank him for providing food. What Paul emphasizes here is that firstfruits implies that there will be more “fruits”, that is, crops or produce. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express that Paul uses firstfruits to emphasize that Jesus’ resurrection implies more resurrections with an analogy or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [and he is like the firstfruits, since his resurrection means that more of those who have fallen asleep will be raised] or [the guarantee that those who have fallen asleep will be raised]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / euphemism
τῶν κεκοιμημένων
˱of˲_the_‹ones› ˓having_been˒_fallen_asleep
Here Paul is referring to people who have died as the ones having fallen asleep. This is a polite way of referring to something unpleasant. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the ones having fallen asleep with a different polite way of referring to those who have died, or you could express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [those who have passed away] or [those who are dead]
15:20 In the Old Testament, the first crop was dedicated to God (see Exod 23:19). Christ’s resurrection is the first of a great harvest of God’s people who will be resurrected (see Col 1:18).
OET (OET-LV) But right_now chosen_one/messiah has_been_raised from the_dead, first-fruit of_the ones having_been_fallen_asleep.
OET (OET-RV) But Messiah has indeed come back to life from the dead, leading the way for those who have passed away,
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.