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Godet's Commentary on Selected Books

1 Corinthians 15:18

There is a sharp contrast between the two terms. falling asleep in Christ and having perished. To close the eyes in the joy of salvation, to open them in the torments of perdition! The verb ἀπώλοντο, perished, cannot designate annihilation, for it is explained by the preceding expression: to be yet in sins. It denotes a state of perdition in which the soul remains under the weight of Divine condemnation. Nor does the aorist allow us to explain this idea of perishing proleptically, as the sense of destroying or annihilating would require.

So much for the dead; and what follows for us who still live here below in the faith of that unrisen Christ? The apostle tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:19:

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See also 1 Corinthians 15:18 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 18. _THEY ALSO WHICH ARE FALLEN ASLEEP_] All those who, either by _martyrdom_ or _natural death_, have departed in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, _are perished_; their hope was without _fo...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THEN THEY ALSO ... - This verse contains a statement of another consequence which must follow from the denial of the resurrection - that all Christians who had died had failed of salvation, and were d...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    III. RESURRECTION AND THE HOPE OF THE CHURCH AND CONCLUSION: Chapter S 15-16 1. Resurrection and the Hope of the Church. CHAPTER 15 _ 1. The Gospel and the Resurrection of Christ. (1 Corinthians 1...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    How, in face of this preaching, can any Christian say there is no resurrection? If a resurrection of the dead is out of the question this involves a denial that Christ has been raised. This fact, howe...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    JESUS' RESURRECTION AND OURS (1 Corinthians 15:1-58) 1 Corinthians 15:1-58 is both one of the greatest and one of the most difficult Chapter s in the New Testament. Not only is it in itself difficult...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    If it is continually proclaimed that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some among you say that the resurrection of the dead does not exist? If the resurrection from among the dead does not...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    ARE FALLEN. fell. ARE. Omit. PERISHED. Greek. _apollumi._ See 1 Corinthians 1:18....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ_ See note on ch. 1 Corinthians 7:39. "The word does not apply to the soul, for that does not sleep (Luke 16:22-23; Luke 23:43), but it describes the s...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΚΟΙΜΗΘΈΝΤΕΣ. See note on ch. 1 Corinthians 7:39. ‘The word does not apply to the soul, for that does not sleep (Luke 16:22-23; Luke 23:43), but it describes the state of the bodies of those who sleep...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    1 Corinthians 15:1-58. THE DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION This chapter is one of the deepest and most mysterious in the Bible. It is the one exception to the statement in ch. 3 that St Paul was unable t...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _CONSEQUENCES OF DENYING THE RESURRECTION 1 CORINTHIANS 15:12-19:_ Paul asked, "If we preach that Christ was raised from death, how can some of you say that the dead will not be raised to life?" If th...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΚΟΙΜΗΘΈΝΤΕΣ _aor. pass. part. от_ ΚΟΙΜΆΩ (G2837) спать (_см._ 1 Corinthians 15:6). Part, в роли _subst._ ΆΠΏΛΟΝΤΟ _aor. ind. med. (dep.) от_ ΆΠΌΛΛΥΜΙ (G622) разрушать, уничтожать, губить....

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 1991 THE NECESSITY OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION 1 Corinthians 15:17. _If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins: then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    FALLEN ASLEEP IN CHRIST.— "All deceased Christians, not excepting the most excellent of them, who have died for their religion. They have lost their life and being together, on this supposition, in th...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    BUTLER'S COMMENTS SECTION 2 Its Holiness (1 Corinthians 15:12-34) 12 Now if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13But if th...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. FALLEN ASLEEP IN CHRIST - in communion with Christ as His members. 'In Christ's case the term used is death, to assure us of the reali...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    12 The resurrection is the very fundamental of fundamentals. The death of Christ is essential to the evangel, yet it is not enough. A dead Christ cannot save. The resurrection is not only essential, b...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    DENIAL OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD LOGICALLY INVOLVES THE DENIAL OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION, WHICH WOULD OVERTHROW THE WHOLE CHRISTIAN FAITH. The belief in the resurrection of the dead is bound up w...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    _(F) THE FACT AND THE DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD_ Some Corinthians disbelieved in the resurrection of the dead—not, apparently, in Christ's Resurrection, though St. Paul felt this would...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THEY ALSO WHICH ARE FALLEN ASLEEP] The Apostle here argues from the natural affections of the human heart. It is impossible to believe that those who died in faith in Christ perished utterly. The infe...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    SERVANTS OF CHRIST 1 CORINTHIANS _HILDA BRIGHT_ CHAPTER 15 *RESURRECTION 15:1-58 The reason that Paul was writing about the *resurrection is in verse 12. Some Christians were saying that there i...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 21 THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST I. ITS PLACE IN THE CHRISTIAN CREED PAUL having now settled the minor questions of order in public worship, marriage, intercourse with the heathen, and the othe...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 23 CONSEQUENCES OF DENYING RESURRECTION IN endeavoring to restore among the Corinthians the belief in the resurrection of the body, Paul shows the fundamental place occupied in the Christian...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    1 Corinthians 15:17-18 unfold this latter consequence in a form parl [2326] to the former: εἰ δὲ … ἄρα (1 Corinthians 15:14). For ματαία (syn [2327] with ἀργή, James 2:20; with ἀνωφελεῖς,...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    § 51. IF CHRIST IS NOT RISEN? Paul has intrenched his own position; he advances to demolish that of his opponents. His negative demonstration, taking the form of a destructive hypothetical syllogism,...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    CHRIST'S RESURRECTION ASSURES OURS 1 Corinthians 15:12 The argument here goes to show, first, that our resurrection is intimately connected with Christ's. There must be such a thing, because he, as t...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The last fact of the "spiritualities" is the resurrection, and the apostle first gives the proof of the resurrection of Christ. His final proof was his own experience. It is evident that there were so...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    An Empty Hope Without A Resurrected Lord Since the Corinthian brethren had accepted the fact of Christ's resurrection, as supported by the verses we studied in the last lesson, the apostle wondered wh...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (8) Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. (8) Secondly, unless it is certain that Christ rose again, all those who died in Christ have perished. So then, what profit comes of...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    He brings many reasons to convince them of the resurrection. 1. If there be no resurrection for others, Christ is not risen again: but his resurrection (as he tells them ver. 4) was foretold in the Sc...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? (13) But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: (14)...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    As usual, the introductory words (1 Corinthians 1:1-3) of the epistle give us no little intimation of that which is to follow. The apostle speaks of himself as such "called [to be] an apostle of Jesus...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    18._Then they who are fallen asleep. _Having it in view to prove, that if the resurrection of Christ is taken away, faith is useless, and Christianity (41) is a mere deception, he had said that the _l...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    But other evils had found means to introduce themselves into the midst of the shining gifts which were exercised in the bosom of the flock at Corinth. The resurrection of the dead was denied. Satan is...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THEN THEY ALSO WHICH ARE FALLEN ASLEEP IN CHRIST,.... That is, who are dead, and have died in Christ: death is often represented by a sleep, and that more than once in this chapter; and doubtless with...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. Ver. 18. _Asleep in Christ_] The Germans call the churchyard God's Acre, because the bodies are sowed therein, to be raised again. The G...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Then is our preaching_ In consequence of a commission supposed to be given after his resurrection; _vain_ Without any real foundation, and destitute of truth; _and your faith_ In our preaching; _is v...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    FALLEN ASLEEP IN CHRIST; died believing in Christ's resurrection, and expecting to be saved through him. ARE PERISHED; since no salvation has been provided for them, they have died under the curse of...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The resurrection of Christ basic for the Christian's faith:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THEN THEY ALSO WHICH ARE FALLEN ASLEEP IN CHRIST ARE PERISHED....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    This chapter itself forms a third division of the book, and deals with another most serious matter in Corinth. Some among them denied the resurrection of the dead. But the resurrection of Christ is th...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    THEN THEY ALSO THAT ARE FALLEN ASLEEP IN CHRIST HAVE PERISHED. 'fallen asleep in Christ' -i.e. deceased Christians. 'HAVE PERISHED' -Since no true forgiveness of sins was actually obtained, all dea...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    12-19 Having shown that Christ was risen, the apostle answers those who said there would be no resurrection. There had been no justification, or salvation, if Christ had not risen. And must not faith...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Some think that the term IN CHRIST in this text, is of the same significancy with for the sake of Christ, which would restrain it to martyrs; but I know no reason for that, because what is said is tru...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ have perished....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Corinthians 15:18 Then G686 also G2532 asleep G2837 (G5685) in G1722 Christ G5547 perished G622 (G5639

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    'Then those also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished.' So the preceding suggestion that the dead do not rise, that Christ has not risen, and that they are thus yet in their sins, removes any...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    THEN ALSO (αρα κα). Inevitable inference.HAVE PERISHED (απωλοντο). Did perish. Second aorist middle indicative of απολλυμ, to destroy, middle, to perish (delivered up to eternal misery). Cf. 1 Co...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    1 Corinthians 15:18 I. "Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." They have perished. This does not mean that upon the supposition made they have ceased to exist. The question of...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    1 Corinthians 15:18 Moral Certainty of the True Christian's Resurrection. I. The Apostle means the words of the text to express what is most shocking and most impossible. If they who had lived all th...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    1 Corinthians 15:1. _Moreover, Brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory wh...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    1 Corinthians 15:1. _Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand. By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory wh...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    1 Corinthians 15:1. _Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory wh...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    1 Corinthians 15:1. _Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory wh...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The resurrection of Christ and the resurrection of believers resulting from it. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Paul, Cephas, James, Adam. CONCLUSION: The resurrection of Christ, together with His...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Corinthians 15:1. _I declare unto you the gospel by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you._ We have here an epitome of the whole gospel, comprising essentially the d...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    IT WOULD ALSO MEAN. "The believers in Christ who have died, who thought the sting of death was removed and died happy in that belief, were cruelly deceived - if Christ has not raised to life!...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 CORINTHIANS 15:1 The Futility of Faith If the Dead Are Not Raised. Many people in the ancient Greco-Roman world believed that death ended life completely or led to a permanent but shadowy existence...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 15 SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER He proves the resurrection of the dead against the false teachers who denied it: I. From the fact of Christ's resurrection. Thus (ver. 12) he gives the bearing of...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    _Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished, i.e._, who have died in faith, hope, and charity. If the body is not to rise again, but perishes outright at death, the soul too will pe...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ 1 Corinthians 15:12.—Cf. the strain of 1 Thessalonians 4:14, or Romans 8:11. Also see that it is “_Christ_” [and not first of all facts about Him] who is the burden and substance o

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1 _The doctrine of the resurrection. _This chapter, and the thirteenth, on Christian love, stand out, even among the writings of St. Paul, as pre-eminently beautiful and i...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Let's turn to I Corinthians, chapter 15. The Corinthian church was a real mess. A lot of carnality that led to divisions, a lot of party spirit, a real misunderstanding of the spiritual gifts, a lot o...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 15:6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:14; Revelation 14:13...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL 1 Corinthians 15:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS The Apostle Paul said: "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and where...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    They who sleep in Christ — Who have died for him, or believing in him. Are perished — Have lost their life and being together....

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