Most evangelical Christians identify the author of 1 Corinthians — and therefore the speaker of 1 Corinthians 15:1, 3–4 — as the Apostle Paul.
Who Paul was (brief)
– A Jewish Pharisee from Tarsus (Philippians 3:5; Acts 22:3), trained under Gamaliel.
– Converted after an encounter with the risen Jesus on the Damascus road (Acts 9).
– Called as an apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13; Galatians 2:7–8).
– A missionary, church planter, letter-writer and pastor whose ministry is described in Acts and whose letters shaped the New Testament and Christian doctrine.
– Traditionally believed to have been martyred in Rome under Nero (evangelical tradition).
Why evangelicals attribute 1 Corinthians to Paul
– The letter itself names Paul as the author (1 Corinthians 1:1; 16:21).
– Internal style, theology and concern for church order match Paul’s other letters.
– Early church testimony and canonical acceptance consistently attribute 1 Corinthians to Paul.
Context and dating
– 1 Corinthians was written to the church in Corinth to address divisions, moral and worship problems, and doctrinal questions.
– Most evangelicals date it in the mid-50s AD (around AD 53–57), during Paul’s ministry (likely from Ephesus).
About 1 Corinthians 15:1, 3–4 (evangelical perspective)
– The verses read (ESV): “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you… For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”
– Evangelicals highlight two things:
1. Paul is summarizing the core gospel message: substitutionary death for sins, burial (confirming death), and bodily resurrection on the third day.
2. Verses 3–4 are widely understood as a creedal or liturgical formula that Paul “received” and passed on — probably an early, concise statement of the gospel used in the early church. Many evangelical scholars date that creed to within a few years of Jesus’ death, which supports the claim that the gospel is rooted in very early and historical proclamation.
Why this passage matters for evangelicals
– It places the death and bodily resurrection of Jesus at the center of the gospel — not merely teachings or moral example.
– It ties Jesus’ death and resurrection to Scripture (OT fulfillment) and to the forgiveness of sins (substitutionary atonement).
– Paul treats the resurrection as historical and decisive: if Christ has not been raised, Christian faith and hope collapse (see 1 Corinthians 15:12–19).
– The mention of eyewitnesses in 1 Corinthians 15:5–8 (Peter/Cephas, the Twelve, over 500 brothers, James, and Paul himself) is used to support the historical, eyewitness character of the resurrection accounts.
How evangelicals typically use this passage
– As the clearest early summary of the gospel to be preached and believed.
– As a theological anchor for doctrines of justification, substitutionary atonement, and bodily resurrection.
– As evidence that the Christian proclamation is rooted in early, apostolic testimony rather than later legend.
If you want, I can:
– Provide a short exegesis of 1 Corinthians 15:1–11.
– Summarize evangelical scholarly arguments for the creedal/formula origin of verses 3–4.
– Recommend evangelical commentaries or resources for deeper study.
