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Robertson's Word Pictures of the NT

1 Corinthians 15:19

We have hoped

(ηλπικοτες εσμεν). Periphrastic perfect active indicative. Hope limited to this life even if "in Christ."Only

(μονον) qualifies the whole clause.Most pitiable

(ελεεινοτερο). Comparative form, not superlative, of old adjective ελεεινος, to be pitied, pitiable. If our hope is limited to this life, we have denied ourselves what people call pleasures and have no happiness beyond. The Epicureans have the argument on us. Paul makes morality turn on the hope of immortality. Is he not right? Witness the breaking of moral ties today when people take a merely animal view of life.

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See also 1 Corinthians 15:19 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 19. _IF IN THIS LIFE ONLY WE HAVE HOPE_] It would be better to translate and _point_ this verse as follows:- _And, if in this life we have hoped in Christ only, we are more_ _to be pitied than...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    IF IN THIS LIFE ONLY WE HAVE HOPE IN CHRIST - If our hope in Christ shall not be followed by the resurrection of the dead and future glory, and if all our hopes shall be disappointed. WE ARE ... - Dod...

  • 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

    LIFE. Greek. _zoe._ App-170. HAVE HOPE. are having our hope. OF ALL MEN, &C.. more to be pitied than all men. MEN. Greek. _anthropos._ App-123. be _ PUT DOWN_is death [Satan]....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _we are of all men most miserable_ Literally, MORE TO BE PITIED THAN ALL MEN. Because of the sufferings and labours and persecutions they endured for a creed which was false after all. See notes on ch...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἨΛΠΙΚΌΤΕΣ ἘΣΜΈΝ. The meaning of this form differs to a certain extent from that of the simple perfect. The latter relates to the action of the persons referred to. The participle with ἐσμέν refers to...

  • 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

    ΉΛΠΙΚΌΤΕΣ _perf. act. part. от_ ΕΛΠΊΖΩ (G1679) надеяться (EH, 270-71). Part, может использоваться как перифр. perf., подчеркивающий длительное состояние надежды (RWP), или же может быть в _знач._ сущ....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    WE ARE OF ALL MEN MOST MISERABLE.— _Most pitiable._ Doddridge. It is quite foreign to the purpose to argue from this text, as some have done, that if there were no future state, holiness and virtue wo...

  • 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

    If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. If our hopes in Christ were limited to this life only, we should be, of all men, most robe pitied-namely, because, whi...

  • 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

    IF IN THIS LIFE ONLY WE HAVE HOPE IN CHRIST] If our hope in Him does not reach beyond this life, we are most miserable (RV 'pitiable'), because the hope of future joy and blessing which inspires our t...

  • 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...

  • 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 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 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 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,...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    expresses the infinite bitterness of such a deception. In the right order of words (see txtl. note), μόνον is attached to ἠλπικότες (_cf._ Luke 24:21): “If in this life we have _only_ had _hope_ in Ch...

  • 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

    (9) If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (9) The third argument which is also taken from an absurdity: for unless there is another life, in which those who t...

  • 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...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    I. WITH THE FACT OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY CHRISTIAN SALVATION RISES OR FALLS. VERS. 1-34. The apostle's first care is to establish firmly the fact of the resurrection of Jesus, on which rests...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    CONCLUSIONS REGARDING THE PASSAGE. 1 CORINTHIANS 15:12-28. On this passage we find _four principal views: _ 1. Some, like Reuss, think that it applies throughout only to believers, and that it conta...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    ....

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    “If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” Rückert makes the adverb _only_ apply to the regimen _in Christ:_ “If we have rested all our hopes here below on Chris...

  • 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...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _THE ARGUMENT OF COMMON SENSE_ ‘If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.’ 1 Corinthians 15:19 Let me seek to show to any one who has any heart-love for the Lor...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    19._But if in this life _Here is another absurdity — that we do not merely by believing lose our time and pains, inasmuch as the fruit of it perishes at our death, but it were better for us not to bel...

  • 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

    IF IN THIS LIFE ONLY WE HAVE HOPE IN CHRIST,.... The object of a believer's hope is not any creature, man, or angel; nor any creature enjoyment, as gold and silver; nor any creature righteousness, mor...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. Ver. 19. _Most miserable_] Because none out of hell ever suffered more than the saints have done....

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

    _If in this life only we have hope in Christ_ We, who are exposed to such a variety of dangers and sufferings, for his sake; _we are of all men most miserable_ Ελεεινοτεροι, _most to be pitied;_ that...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    MOST MISERABLE; because we have exposed ourselves to all manner of sufferings and hardships to no purpose, and all our hopes are destined to end in disappointment....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    IF IN THIS LIFE ONLY WE HAVE HOPE IN CHRIST, WE ARE OF ALL MEN MOST MISERABLE. All the Corinthians had to admit that in the doctrine of the resurrection of Christ (as in all other doctrines of the Chr...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

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

  • 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

    IF WE HAVE ONLY HOPED IN CHRIST IN THIS LIFE, WE ARE OF ALL MEN MOST PITIABLE. 'we' -Paul, the other Apostles, AND THE CORINTHIANS! 'ONLY HOPED IN CHRIST' -'if our hope in Christ were limited to th...

  • 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

    The apostle here argueth the resurrection of believers from a new head. It is not reasonable for any to imagine, that those who believe in Jesus Christ should of all others be the most miserable; but...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable. [2 Corinthians 1:5-9; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32; 2 Timothy 3:12. If, as the rationalists affirmed, there was no such thing

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Tertullian On the Resurrection of the Flesh now heard, except it be, forsooth, in the entertainments of the heretics? For, allowing that the word of the gospel may be called "the trump of God," since...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Corinthians 15:19 If G1487 in G1722 this G5026 life G2222 only G3440 hope G1679 (G5761) G2070 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    'If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.' For the fact is that in spite of all that He brought men, without the gift of eternal life which He promised, and whic...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    1 Corinthians 15:19. IF IN THIS LIFE ONLY WE HAVE HOPED IN CHRIST, WE ARE OF ALL MEN MOST PITIABLE building our hope of a future resurrection on a mere delusion, to die at length as a fool dieth....

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    1 Corinthians 15:19 What is the exact hope respecting the future that we owe to our risen Lord? Is it the hope that we shall exist for ever? Is our continuous existence hereafter altogether dependent...

  • 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...

  • 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

    IF OUR HOPE IN CHRIST. This means: (1) "If Christ has not been raised, and death truly ends it all, then we Christians who have given up everything hoping to gain eternal life, deserve more pity than...

  • 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

    _If in this life only we have hope in Christ._ 1. The word "hope" here signifies, not the act of hope, for this exists in this life only, but the object of hope or the thing hoped for. If our only hop...

  • 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 4:9; 1 Corinthians 6:3; 1 Corinthians 6:4; 1 Peter 1:21;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Only. To be taken with the whole clause, at the end of which it stands emphatically. If in this life we are hopers in Christ, and if that is all. If we are not such as shall have hope in Christ after...

  • 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

    If in this life only we have hope — If we look for nothing beyond the grave. But if we have a divine evidence of things not seen, if we have "a hope full of immortality," if we now taste of "the power...

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Old Testament