1 Corinthians 15:18 Meaning and Explanation
“Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →If there is no resurrection, then believers who have died in Christ have simply perished.
What Does 1 Corinthians 15:18 Mean?
Paul turns to those who have already died trusting in Christ. He has called death a sleep, but now he tests the doubters' logic to its end. If there is no resurrection, then these who 'fell asleep in Christ' have not merely slept; they have perished, lost forever.
This is the hardest consequence of all. It would mean that the faithful dead, who trusted the Lord to the last, gained nothing. Such a thought is unbearable, and Paul means it to be. For the reader, the verse makes the stakes personal. Our hope for departed loved ones in Christ rests entirely on the certainty that he is risen.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 15:18
What does 1 Corinthians 15:18 mean?
If there is no resurrection, then believers who have died in Christ have simply perished.