1 Corinthians 15:15 – “More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.”

Extended Explanation

Paul is continuing his argument about the absolute necessity of the resurrection. In the previous verses, he made it clear that if Jesus did not rise from the dead, then Christian faith is meaningless. Now, he takes it a step further: if the resurrection isn’t real, then the apostles and other witnesses have been lying about God.

Paul and the other apostles had been boldly preaching that God raised Jesus from the dead. If resurrection isn’t possible, then their entire message would be false, and they would be guilty of misrepresenting God. This is not a small matter—if they were wrong about the resurrection, then they were false witnesses, and their entire ministry was built on a lie.

Paul is forcing the Corinthians to see the logical consequences of denying resurrection. If they reject the idea that people can rise from the dead, then they are also rejecting Jesus’ resurrection. And if Jesus didn’t rise, then the apostles have been preaching deception—not only to the Corinthians but to the entire world.

This verse is not just about the apostles; it is about the truth of Christianity itself. If Jesus did not rise, then Christianity is built on false testimony, and everything the apostles suffered for was in vain.

Historical Context

At the time Paul wrote this letter, many Corinthians struggled with the idea of resurrection. Greek culture, which influenced Corinth, generally rejected the idea of bodily resurrection. They believed in the immortality of the soul but thought the body was a temporary shell that was left behind after death.

Paul, however, was teaching the Jewish and Christian belief that God will raise the dead in a real, physical way. This was not a metaphor or a spiritual idea—it was a concrete event that had already happened with Jesus and would happen again for all who believe in Him.

Paul and the other apostles had been preaching this message at great personal cost. Many of them were beaten, imprisoned, and eventually killed for testifying that Jesus had risen (Acts 5:40-42, 2 Corinthians 11:23-28). If they had been lying, they would have suffered for nothing.

Theological Implications

This verse highlights several major truths:

1. Christianity is based on eyewitness testimony – The apostles were not sharing opinions; they were telling people what they had seen.
2. If the resurrection is false, Christianity is false – The entire faith stands or falls on whether Jesus rose from the dead.
3. God cannot lie – If the apostles had been lying about the resurrection, they would have been misrepresenting God Himself.
4. Faith must be grounded in truth – Christianity is not just a religious system; it is built on the historical reality of Jesus’ resurrection.

Literary Analysis

Paul’s argument is structured with strong logical reasoning. He is building his case step by step:

• In 1 Corinthians 15:13, he stated that if resurrection is impossible, then Jesus didn’t rise.
• In 1 Corinthians 15:14, he argued that if Jesus didn’t rise, then faith is worthless.
• Now, in 1 Corinthians 15:15, he adds another layer: If Jesus didn’t rise, then the apostles are false witnesses.

The phrase “we are then found to be false witnesses about God” is powerful. Paul is making the stakes clear—if resurrection is false, then the apostles are not just mistaken; they are guilty of lying about God.

Paul also repeats “we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead”, reinforcing that resurrection is central to their message. This was not a minor part of their preaching—it was the heart of everything they proclaimed.

Biblical Cross-References

• Acts 4:33 – “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” (The apostles’ message was built on the resurrection.)
• Acts 5:29-32 – The apostles declare that they are witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection and must obey God rather than men.
• John 21:24 – “This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.” (John affirms the truth of his witness.)
• 2 Peter 1:16 – “For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”
• 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – Paul had already stated that Jesus’ resurrection was based on eyewitness testimony.

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

This verse is a reminder that our faith is based on truth, not blind belief. Christianity is not just about feeling good or following religious traditions—it is about trusting in real historical events.

It also challenges modern Christians to be bold in sharing the gospel. The apostles were willing to risk everything because they knew the resurrection was true. If we truly believe that Jesus rose from the dead, we should be willing to stand firm in our faith, even when the world doubts or mocks it.

This verse also warns against false teaching. Many people today try to change or weaken the gospel message, denying the resurrection or treating it as a symbolic event rather than a real, bodily event. But Paul makes it clear: If we deny the resurrection, we are misrepresenting God.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

God’s love is shown in the fact that He gave clear evidence of the resurrection. He did not expect people to believe without proof—He provided eyewitnesses who testified to what they saw. This shows that God’s love is not vague or distant—it is real, historical, and grounded in truth.

God’s love is also seen in how He transformed the apostles’ lives. These men were once fearful and weak, but after seeing the risen Christ, they boldly preached the gospel, even at the cost of their lives. This shows that God’s love is life-changing.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

This verse is all about Jesus because it confirms that He really rose from the dead.

• Jesus’ resurrection is the foundation of the gospel – “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” (Romans 4:25)
• Jesus’ followers were willing to die because they knew He had risen – “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” (Revelation 12:11)
• Jesus Himself declared that He would rise – “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” (John 2:19)

The apostles were not just spreading a religious idea—they were telling the world what they had seen with their own eyes. This verse shows that Christianity stands or falls on the reality of Jesus Christ’s resurrection.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Why is Paul so strong in his argument about the resurrection?
2. What would it mean for Christianity if Jesus had not actually risen from the dead?
3. How does this verse challenge the idea that Christianity is just a “nice moral system” rather than a faith based on real events?
4. How can we be more confident in sharing the gospel, knowing that it is built on eyewitness testimony?
5. What are some modern challenges to the resurrection, and how can we defend the truth of Jesus’ victory over death?