1 Corinthians 15:20 (ASV)

Passage

But now hath Christ been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of them that are asleep.

Nearby Context

1 Corinthians 15:18 Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

1 Corinthians 15:19 If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now hath Christ been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of them that are asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:21 For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "hath", "christ", "been", "raised", "dead", "firstfruits", and "asleep". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "hath" and "christ", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "If we have only hoped in Christ..." into verse 21's "For since by man came death by...", so "hath" and "christ" belong inside that flow. In 1 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "hath" and "christ" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.