1 Corinthians 15:3

ἐν πρώτοις. Not first in order of time, but in order of importance ‘as a truth of the first magnitude.’ Chrysostom takes it as equivalent to ‘at the first.’ See however Plat. Pol. VII. 522 C ὃ καὶ παντὶ ἐν πρώτοις�.

ὃ καὶ παρέλαβον. The close resemblance of this passage to the Apostles’ Creed shews that this summary of the doctrines of our faith is actually what it professes to be, a short compendium of Apostolic teaching. Irenaeus, a writer in the second century, and a careful observer of Apostolic tradition, gives a very similar summary in his treatise against Heresies, Book III. ch. 4. St Paul does not state here from whom he received his doctrine, but he must have acquired some elementary instruction in the first principles of the Christian faith from his intercourse with the disciples (Acts 9:19), and even at his admission into the Christian body. And what he had received from others he tested by examination of the Scriptures, by prayer and silent communing with God, till it became his own, by revelation and by that inward conviction which none but God can give. See Galatians 1:12; Galatians 1:16.

ὑπὲρ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν. Cf. ch. 1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Corinthians 8:11. Also Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; Romans 5:8-10; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; 1 Timothy 2:6; 1 Peter 1:19, &c.

κατὰ τὰς γραφάς. What Scriptures? Those of the O. T., clearly. Those of the New (see ch. 1 Corinthians 4:6 and note) were hardly any of them in existence. If it be asked what Scriptures of the O. T. are meant, we may refer to Psalms 22; Isaiah 53, as well as to Genesis 22; Deuteronomy 9:24-26; Zechariah 12:10. For the same words in the next verse see Psalms 16:10; Isaiah 53:10; Hosea 6:2; Jonah 2:10. This latter passage having been applied to the Resurrection by Christ Himself (Matthew 12:40; Matthew 16:4), may not unnaturally be conceived to be among those St Paul had in his mind here.