1 Corinthians 15:34 · Clearspring

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Other translations

WEBBE

Wake up righteously and don’t sin, for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

BSB

Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.

KJV

Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

ASV

Awake to soberness righteously, and sin not; for some have no knowledge of God: I speak [this] to move you to shame.

BBE

Be awake to righteousness and keep yourselves from sin; for some have no knowledge of God: I say this to put you to shame.

Original Greek

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ἐκνήψατε eknēpsate do sober up G1594 δικαίως dikaiōs righteously G1346 καὶ kai and G2532 μὴ mē not G3361 ἁμαρτάνετε hamartanete do sin G264 ἀγνωσίαν agnōsian ignorance G56 γὰρ gar for G1063 θεοῦ theou of God G2316 τινες tines some G5100 ἔχουσιν echousin have G2192 πρὸς pros to G4314 ἐντροπὴν entropēn [the] shame G1791 ὑμῖν humin of you G4771 λαλῶ.¶ lalō I speak G2980

The early church

"Awake up righteously and sin not." As if he were speaking to drunkards and madmen. For suddenly to cast every thing out of their hands, was the part of drunkards and madmen, in not seeing any longer what they saw nor believing what they had before confessed. But what is, "righteously?" with a view to what is profitable and useful. For it is possible to awake up unrighteously, when a man is thoroughly roused up to the injury of his own soul. And well did he add, "sin not," implying that hence were the sins of their unbelief. And in many places he covertly signifies this, that a corrupt life is the parent of evil doctrines; as when he saith, "The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, which some reaching after, have been led astray from the faith." Yea, and many of those who are conscious of wickedness and would fain not pay its penalty are by this fear damaged also in their faith concerning the resurrection: even as they who do very virtuously desire even daily to behold it. "For some have no knowledge of God; I speak this to move you to shame." See how again he transfers his accusations to others. For he said not, "Ye have no knowledge," but, "some have no knowledge." Because disbelieving the resurrection is the temper of one not fully aware that the power of God is irresistable and sufficient for all things. For if out of the things which are not He made the things that are, much more will He be able to raise again those which have been dissolved. And because he had touched them to the quick and exceedingly mocked them, accusing them of gluttony, of folly, of madness; mitigating those expressions, he saith, "I speak to move you to shame," that is, to set upright, to bring back, to make you better, by this shame of yours. For he feared lest if he cut too deep, he should cause them to start away.

John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on 1 Corinthians

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 20–34

All that are by faith united to Christ, are by his resurrection assured of their own. As through the sin of the first Adam, all men became mortal, because all had from him the same sinful nature, so, through the resurrection of Christ, shall all who are made to partake of the Spirit, and the spiritual nature, revive, and live for ever. There will be an order in the resurrection. Christ himself has been the first-fruits; at his coming, his redeemed people will be raised before others; at the last the wicked will rise also. Then will be the end of this present state of things. Would we triumph in that solemn and important season, we must now submit to his rule, accept his salvation, and live to his glory. Then shall we rejoice in the completion of his undertaking, that God may receive the whole glory of our salvation, that we may for ever serve him, and enjoy his favour. What shall those do, who are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Perhaps baptism is used here in a figure, for afflictions, sufferings, and martyrdom, as Mt 20:22, 23. What is, or will become of those who have suffered many and great injuries, and have even lost their lives, for this doctrine of the resurrection, if the dead rise not at all? Whatever the meaning may be, doubtless the apostle's argument was understood by the Corinthians. And it is as plain to us that Christianity would be a foolish profession, if it proposed advantage to themselves by their faithfulness to God; and to have our fruit to holiness, that our end may be everlasting life. But we must not live like beasts, as we do not die like them. It must be ignorance of God that leads any to disbelieve the resurrection and future life. Those who own a God and a providence, and observe how unequal things are in the present life, how frequently the best men fare worst, cannot doubt as to an after-state, where every thing will be set to rights. Let us not be joined with ungodly men; but warn all around us, especially children and young persons, to shun them as a pestilence. Let us awake to righteousness, and not sin.

Read Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 15 →

Cross-references

13

Topics

Blindness Holiness