THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS - Chapter 15 - Verse 3

Verse 3. For I delivered unto you. See Barnes "1 Co 11:23".

First of all. Among the first doctrines which I preached. As the leading and primary doctrines of Christianity.

That which I also received. Which had been communicated to me. Not doctrines of which I was the author, or which were to be regarded as my own. Paul here refers to the fact that he had received these doctrines from the Lord Jesus by inspiration. See Barnes "1 Co 11:23".

See Barnes "Ga 1:12".

This is one instance in which he claims to be under the Divine guidance, and to have received his doctrines from God.

How that Christ died for our sins. The Messiah, the Lord Jesus, died as an expiatory offering on account of our sins. They caused his death; for them he shed his blood; to make expiation for them, and to wipe them away, he expired on the cross. This passage is full proof that Christ did not die merely as a martyr, but that his death was to make atonement for sin. That he died as an atoning sacrifice, or as a vicarious offering, is here declared by Paul to be among the first things that he taught; and the grand fundamental truth on which the church at Corinth had been founded, and by which it had been established, and by which they would be saved. It follows that there can be no true church, and no well-founded hope of salvation, where the doctrine is not held that Christ died for sin.

According to the Scriptures. The writings of the Old Testament. See Barnes "Joh 5:39".

It is, of course, not certain to what parts of the Old Testament Paul here refers. He teaches simply that the doctrine is contained there that the Messiah would die for sin; and, in his preaching, he doubtless adduced and dwelt upon the particular places. Some of the places where this is taught are the following: Ps 22; Isa 53; Da 9:26; Zec 12:10; Lu 24:26,46.

See also Hengstenberg's Christology of the Old Test., vol. i., pp. 187, 216, translated by Keith.

{*} "first of all" "Among the chief things" {f} "according to the scriptures" Ge 3:15; Ps 22; Da 9:26; Zec 13:7

Lu 24:26,46