Believing in Vain?

 

“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 what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.”
(1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:1-2‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

 

“Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.” (‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NASB)

 

Many people misunderstand what 1 Corinthians 15:2 means when it says “believed in vain.” Does it indicate someone can believe the gospel and not be saved? Does it mean if someone has stopped believing that they aren’t saved? What does it mean?

 

It’s important to look at the historical context of what’s going on during this time.  As with all of Paul’s letters, there is a reason he is writing the letters. 2 Thessalonians was written because they were deceived into believing they were in the Tribulation. Galatians was written because Judaism was on the rise again. In Corinth, a heresy was beginning to arise that rejected the bodily resurrection of Jesus. Paul here is stating that to reject the bodily resurrection eviscerated the gospel and made faith vain (eikē , “without cause” or “without success”; cf. vv. 14, 17) because it had an unworthy object. Believing the gospel includes holding firmly to beliefs in Christ’s resurrection.

 

Paul’s not saying that his readers could lose their salvation by believing a false gospel after they believed the true gospel. However, the Corinthians that denied the Resurrection may have never really believed the true Gospel, that contains Christ’s bodily resurrection, and thus their faith is in vain.

 

Even without relying on Historical Context, we can deduce solely from scripture this same idea. In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul writes:

 

“But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.”
(1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:13-14‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NASB)

 

Here Paul is giving the readers what he means by “believing in vain.” He’s stating that of Christ did not rise from the dead, as some had stated, then our belief is in vain.

 

Furthermore, pay attention to Paul’s writings at the beginning of 1 Corinthians 15:

 

“and that he [Jesus] was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.” ‭‭(1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:4-8‬ ‭KJV)

“and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.”
‭‭(1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬-‭8‬ ‭NASB)

 

Paul states “he [Jesus] rose again the third day.” Succeeding that statement, Paul gives 6 pieces of evidence that He rose:

 

•Cephas saw Jesus (v. 5)

 

•The Twelve saw Jesus (v. 5)

 

•500 saw Jesus (v. 6)

 

•James saw Jesus (v. 7)

 

•All of the Apostles saw Jesus (v. 7)

 

•Finally, Paul himself saw Jesus (v. 8)

 

Therefore, it’s obvious Paul is trying to prove the resurrection which hints at what he means proceeding verse 3 by “believing in vain.”