1 Corinthians 15:3 Meaning and Explanation
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →At the very heart of the good news stands one fact handed down to us: Christ died for our sins.
The Context of 1 Corinthians 15:3
Paul is reminding the Corinthians of the gospel he first brought them. The words "received" and "delivered" were the language of carefully passing on a trusted message, and many scholars believe verses 3 to 5 preserve one of the earliest Christian summaries of the faith, repeated long before Paul wrote it down.
What Does 1 Corinthians 15:3 Mean?
Paul tells us he is simply a faithful courier of this message, passing on what was first given to him. He "received" it and then "delivered" it, like a treasure passed from hand to hand. And he names what comes "first of all," the foundation everything else rests on: Christ died for our sins. He died for us, in our place, carrying what we could not carry. Paul adds that this happened "according to the scriptures," so that the cross was no sudden turn but the long promise of God coming true.
This is the sentence the whole faith leans on. Before any teaching about how to live, before any comfort or command, there is this gift already given. Christ has dealt with our sins at the cross, and Paul wants that to be the first thing we know and the last thing we forget. Everything tender and hopeful in the Christian life grows from this single root: He died for us.
1 Corinthians 15:3 in the Original Language
paradidomi (παραδίδωμι), 'delivered' -- to hand over or pass on, the careful entrusting of a tradition to others.
How to Apply 1 Corinthians 15:3 Today
This verse hands us the one thing we most need to hold onto: Christ died for our sins, and that gift was given before we did anything to deserve it. When our faith feels complicated or our failures feel heavy, we can return here, to the foundation that does not move. We were not asked to carry our sins; He carried them for us.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 15:3
What does 1 Corinthians 15:3 mean?
At the very heart of the good news stands one fact handed down to us: Christ died for our sins.
What is the context of 1 Corinthians 15:3?
Paul is reminding the Corinthians of the gospel he first brought them. The words "received" and "delivered" were the language of carefully passing on a trusted message, and many scholars believe verses 3 to 5 preserve one of the earliest Christian summaries of the faith, repeated long before Paul wrote it down.
How can I apply 1 Corinthians 15:3 today?
This verse hands us the one thing we most need to hold onto: Christ died for our sins, and that gift was given before we did anything to deserve it. When our faith feels complicated or our failures feel heavy, we can return here, to the foundation that does not move. We were not asked to carry our sins; He carried them for us.