1 Corinthians 15 · Verse 3

1 Corinthians 15:3

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1 Corinthians 15:3, King James Version

1 Corinthians 15:3 in other translations

BSBFor what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
WEBFor I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
ASVFor I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
YLTfor I delivered to you first, what also I did receive, that Christ died for our sins, according to the Writings,
DARBYFor I delivered to you, in the first place, what also I had received, that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures;
BBEFor I gave to you first of all what was handed down to me, how Christ underwent death for our sins, as it says in the Writings;
WebsterFor 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?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. I delivered unto you--A short creed, or summary of articles of faith, was probably even then existing; and a profession in accordance with it was required of candidates for baptism (Ac 8:37). first of all--literally, "among the foremost points" (He 6:2). The atonement is, in Paul's view, of primary importance. which I ... received--from Christ Himself by special revelation (compare 1Co 11:23). died for our sins--that is, to atone FOR them; for taking away our sins (1Jo 3:5; compare Ga 1:4): "gave Himself for our sins" (Is 53:5; 2Co 5:15; Tit 2:14). The "for" here does not, as in some passages, imply vicarious substitution, but "in behalf of" (He 5:3; 1Pe 2:24). It does not, however, mean merely "on account of," which is expressed by a different Greek word (Ro 4:25), (though in English Version translated similarly, "for"). according to the scriptures--which "cannot be broken." Paul puts the testimony of Scripture above that of those who saw the Lord after His resurrection [Bengel]. So our Lord quotes Is 53:12, in Lu 22:37; compare Psa 22:15, &c.; Da 9:26.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 3. For I delivered unto you. 1Cor 11:23.

First of all. Among the first doctrines which I preached. As the leading and primary doctrines of Christianity.

That which I also received. Which had been communicated to me. Not doctrines of which I was the author, or which were to be regarded as my own. Paul here refers to the fact that he had received these doctrines from the Lord Jesus by inspiration. 1Cor 11:23. Gal 1:12. This is one instance in which he claims to be under the Divine guidance, and to have received his doctrines from God.

How that Christ died for our sins. The Messiah, the Lord Jesus, died as an expiatory offering on account of our sins. They caused his death; for them he shed his blood; to make expiation for them, and to wipe them away, he expired on the cross. This passage is full proof that Christ did not die merely as a martyr, but that his death was to make atonement for sin. That he died as an atoning sacrifice, or as a vicarious offering, is here declared by Paul to be among the first things that he taught; and the grand fundamental truth on which the church at Corinth had been founded, and by which it had been established, and by which they would be saved. It follows that there can be no true church, and no well-founded hope of salvation, where the doctrine is not held that Christ died for sin.

According to the Scriptures. The writings of the Old Testament. Jn 5:39. It is, of course, not certain to what parts of the Old Testament Paul here refers. He teaches simply that the doctrine is contained there that the Messiah would die for sin; and, in his preaching, he doubtless adduced and dwelt upon the particular places. Some of the places where this is taught are the following: Ps 22, Isa 53, Dan 9:26, Zech 12:10, Lk 24:26,46. See also Hengstenberg's Christology of the Old Test., vol. i., pp. 187, 216, translated by Keith.

(*) "first of all" "Among the chief things" (f) "according to the scriptures" Gen 3:15, Ps 22, Dan 9:26, Zech 13:7 Lk 24:26,46

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 For I delivered unto you first of all - Εν προτοις· As the chief things, or matters of the greatest importance; fundamental truths. That which I - received - By revelations from God himself, and not from man. That Christ died for our sins - The death of Jesus Christ, as a vicarious sacrifice for sin, is εν πρωτοις; among the things that are of chief importance, and is essential to the Gospel scheme of salvation. According to the Scriptures - It is not said any where in the Scriptures, in express terms, that Christ should rise on the third day; but it is fully implied in his types, as in the case of Jonah, who came out of the belly of the fish on the third day; but particularly in the case of Isaac, who was a very expressive type of Christ; for, as his being brought to the Mount Moriah, bound and laid on the wood, in order to be sacrificed, pointed out the death of Christ; so his being brought alive on the third day from the mount was a figure of Christ's resurrection. Bishop Pearce and others refer to Mat 12:40; Mat 16:21; and Luk 9:22; "which two Gospels, having been written at the time when Paul wrote this epistle, were properly called by the name of the Sacred Scriptures." It might be so; but I do not know of one proof in the New Testament where its writings, or any part of them, are called the Scriptures.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Chapter Outline The apostle proves the resurrection of Christ from the dead. (1-11) Those answered who deny the resurrection of the body. (12-19) The resurrection of believers to eternal life. (20-34) Objections against it answered. (35-50) The mystery of the change that will be made on those living at Christ's second coming. (51-54) The believer's triumph over death and the grave, An exhortation to diligence…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 →

1 Corinthians 15:3 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

παρέδωκαparedōkaI deliveredG3860
γὰρgarforG1063
ὑμῖνhuminto youG4771
ἐνeninG1722
πρώτοιςprōtois[the] foremostG4413
ὃhowhatG3739
καὶkaialsoG2532
παρέλαβονparelabonI receivedG3880
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ΧριστὸςChristosChristG5547
ἀπέθανενapethanendiedG599
ὑπὲρhuperforG5228
τῶνtōntheG3588
ἁμαρτιῶνhamartiōnsinsG266
ἡμῶνhēmōnof usG3165
κατὰkataaccording toG2596
τὰςtastheG3588
γραφὰςgraphasScripturesG1124

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 15:3

  • 1 Peter 2:24

    Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

  • Galatians 1:4

    Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

  • Isaiah 53:1-12

    Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. …

  • 1 John 2:2

    And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

  • Acts 26:22-23

    Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

  • Daniel 9:24-26

    Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

  • Galatians 1:12

    For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

  • Revelation 1:5

    And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

  • Romans 4:25

    Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

  • Luke 24:46-47

    And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

  • Ephesians 5:2

    And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21

    For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I delivered.
4:1,2; 11:2,23; Eze 3:17; Mt 20:18,19; Mr 16:15,16; Lu 24:46,47
Ga 1:12
Christ.
Mt 26:28; Ro 3:25; 4:25; 2Co 5:21; Ga 1:4; 3:13; Eph 1:7; 5:2
Heb 10:11,12; 1Pe 2:24; 3:18; 1Jo 2:2; Re 1:5
according.
Ge 3:15; Ps 22:1-31; 69:1-36; Isa 53:1-12; Da 9:24-26; Zec 13:7
Lu 24:26,27,46; Ac 3:18; 26:22,23; 1Pe 1:11; 2:24

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 15:2

    By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:3

    For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

  • 1 Corinthians 15:4

    And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Read all of 1 Corinthians 15

1 Corinthians 15:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque primeramente os he enseñado lo que asimismo recibí: Que Cristo fué muerto por nuestros pecados, conforme á las Escrituras;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car je vous ai communiqué avant toutes choses ce que j’ai aussi reçu, que Christ est mort pour nos péchés, selon les écritures,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn ich habe euch zuerst überliefert, was ich auch empfangen habe: daß Christus gestorben ist für unsere Sünden, nach den Schriften;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Tradidi enim vobis in primis quod et accepi: quoniam Christus mortuus est pro peccatis nostris secundum Scripturas: