1 Corinthians 15:58 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

NIV: Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

NASB: Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

CSB: Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord's work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

NLT: So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

KJV: Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

NKJV: Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Having completed the main thrust of his letter, Paul brings his instruction and teaching to a formal conclusion. In the following, final chapter of 1 Corinthians, he will turn his attention to several assorted issues. Considering all he has written to them, he urges the Corinthians to be strong and faithful. More specifically, he tells them he loves them, referring to them as beloved brothers. Then he gives them several quick, uplifting commands.

"Be steadfast." Paul wants them to be faithful to the Lord and to his teaching about the Lord, to keep going.

Be "immovable." Paul is very concerned about the Corinthians' tendency to compromise their behavior and even their beliefs for the sake of the culture in which they live (1 Corinthians 10:13–14).

Be "always abounding in the work of the Lord." Paul has been clear that God gives each believer ways in which to serve Him, by serving each other in the church (1 Corinthians 12:4–11). The Corinthians should be doing so with enthusiasm. This work they do for the Lord is guaranteed to continue to matter for eternity, compared to so much of life that will cease to have meaning in years, days, or even minutes.

Even after all the issues Paul has tackled in this letter, including all the varied ways the Christians in Corinth were misunderstanding God's will and mistreating each other, Paul identifies them as belonging to the Lord. At no time is their salvation cast in doubt because of these misconceptions. Paul is convinced they are in Christ. They will one day be resurrected to new, glorified bodies in which they will spend eternity with the Father. Paul remains confident in the grace of God, because of the Corinthians' faith in Christ, and despite their failings.

First Corinthians 15:50–58 powerfully concludes Paul's teaching on the resurrection of Christians: when the last trumpet blasts and Christ returns for those who belong to Him. In that moment, all believers in Jesus, living and dead, will be transformed into the glorified, eternal bodies God has promised us. Death will be defeated forever, never to hurt anyone again. Sin brings death, and the law is the power of sin, but God has given us the victory over death by forgiving our sin through faith in Jesus and by His grace.

Paul provides thorough teaching about the resurrection of Christians from the dead. This is a direct counter to some group of Corinthians who did not believe in such a resurrection. He shows that natural death is not the end of life for Christians; it is the last step before receiving a glorified, resurrected body like that of the risen Christ. That ''spiritual'' body will be as different from our current bodies as a star is from a fish. In that moment, for all who have believed in Christ, living and dead, death will be defeated for good.

In chapters 12, 13, and 14, Scripture focused on the concept of spiritual gifts and how best to use them. This follows several other ideas where Paul corrected errors in the Corinthians' thinking. Chapter 15 contains extensive teaching on one last issue about which some Corinthians were confused or misled. Apparently, they harbored some doubts about the physical resurrection of Christians from the dead. After clearing up these confusions, Paul will address various other items, of a less doctrinal nature, and close out his letter.

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.