1 Corinthians 15:14 Meaning and Explanation
“And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →If Christ is not risen, then both the apostles' preaching and the Corinthians' faith are empty.
What Does 1 Corinthians 15:14 Mean?
Paul presses the argument further. Suppose Christ did not rise. Then the apostles' preaching is hollow and the believers' faith rests on nothing. The whole gospel would be a message about a dead man, with no power to save.
The word 'vain' means empty, void, without substance. Paul lays bare what is at stake. If the tomb still held a body, there would be no good news at all. But the very force of this 'if' points toward its opposite, which he will declare in verse twenty. For now, the reader feels the weight: everything depends on whether Christ truly rose.
1 Corinthians 15:14 in the Original Language
kenos (κενός), 'vain' -- empty, hollow, without content or power.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 15:14
What does 1 Corinthians 15:14 mean?
If Christ is not risen, then both the apostles' preaching and the Corinthians' faith are empty.