1 Corinthians 15:32

1 Corinthians 15:32 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
• New International Version (NIV)If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."
• New King James Version (NKJV)If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

Context of 1 Corinthians 15:32

30Why are we in danger every hour? 31I face death every day, as surely as I may boast about you, brothers and sisters, in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus as a mere man, what good did that do me? If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. 33Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 34Come to your senses and stop sinning; for some people are ignorant about God. I say this to your shame.

1 Corinthians 15:32 word by word

εἰ κατὰ ἄνθρωπον ἐθηριομάχησα ἐν Ἐφέσῳ, τί μοι τὸ ὄφελος; εἰ νεκροὶ οὐκ ἐγείρονται, φάγωμεν καὶ πίωμεν, αὔριον γὰρ ἀποθνῄσκομεν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Ifεἰei · ifG1487
• after the mannerκατάkata · according toG2596
• of menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• I have fought with beastsθηριομαχέωthēriomacheō · to fight beastsG2341
• atἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• EphesusἜφεσοςEphesos · EphesusG2181
• whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• advantageth itὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• advantageth itὄφελοςophelos · gainG3786
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• the deadνεκρόςnekros · deadG3498
• riseἐγείρωegeirō · to ariseG1453
• notοὐou · noG3756
• let us eatφαγεῖνphagō · to eatG5315
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• drinkπίνωpinō piō poō · to drinkG4095
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• to morrowαὔριονaurion · tomorrowG839
• we dieἀποθνήσκωapothnēskō · to dieG599

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 15:32

• Romans 6:19I am using a human analogy because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification.
• Galatians 3:15Brothers and sisters, I’m using a human illustration. No one sets aside or makes additions to a validated human will.
• 2 Peter 2:12But these people, like irrational animals — creatures of instinct born to be caught and destroyed — slander what they do not understand, and in their destruction they too will be destroyed.
• Jude 1:10But these people blaspheme anything they do not understand. And what they do understand by instinct — like irrational animals — by these things they are destroyed.
• Acts 19:1While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples
• 2 Corinthians 1:8We don’t want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of our affliction that took place in Asia. We were completely overwhelmed — beyond our strength — so that we even despaired of life itself.
• Job 35:3For you ask, “What does it profit you, and what benefit comes to me, if I do not sin?”
• Psalms 73:13Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?
• Malachi 3:14You have said, “It is useless to serve God. What have we gained by keeping his requirements and walking mournfully before the Lord of Armies?
• Luke 9:25For what does it benefit someone if he gains the whole world, and yet loses or forfeits himself?
• Ecclesiastes 2:24There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand,
• Ecclesiastes 11:9Rejoice, young person, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. And walk in the ways of your heart and in the desire of your eyes; but know that for all of these things God will bring you to judgment.
• Isaiah 22:13But look: joy and gladness, butchering of cattle, slaughtering of sheep and goats, eating of meat, and drinking of wine — “Let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
• Isaiah 56:12“Come, let me get some wine, let’s guzzle some beer; and tomorrow will be like today, only far better!”
• Luke 12:19Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 15:32

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 32If, after the manner of men, etc. - Much learned criticism has been employed on this verse, to ascertain whether it is to be understood literally or metaphorically. Does the apostle mean to say that he had literally fought with wild beasts at Ephesus? or, that he had met with brutish, savage men, from whom he was in danger of his life? That St. Paul did not fight with wild beasts at Ephesus, may be argued, From his own silence on this subject, when…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 32If after the manner of men - Margin, “To speak after the manner of men” ( ̀ ̓́ kata anthrōpon). There has been a great difference of opinion in regard to the meaning of these words. The following are some of the interpretations proposed: (1) If I have fought after the manner of people, who act only with reference to this life, and on the ordinary principles of human conduct, as people fought with wild beasts in the amphitheater. (2) or if, humanly…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-34Verses 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 32If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus: Paul uses this phrase to describe his struggles with opponents in Ephesus (see 16:8; Acts 19:23–41; 2 Corinthians 1:8; 4:8–12; 11:23–28). Watching condemned prisoners fight wild beasts and get mauled to death was common entertainment in the Roman world.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3232. Punctuate thus: "If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me? If the dead rise not, let us eat and drink," &c. [Bengel]. If "merely as a man" (with the mere human hope of the present life; not with the Christian's hope of the resurrection; answering to "If the dead rise not," the parallel clause in the next sentence), I have fought with men resembling savage beasts. Heraclitus, of Ephesus, had termed his…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 15:32

• Animals
• Body
• Epicureans
• Games
• Gladiator
• Gluttony
• Immortality
• Quotations and Allusions
• Resurrection
• Sensuality
• Worldliness
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Ephesus
• Ephesus, Ephesian
• Adam
• Awake
• Beast
• Corrupt
• Corruptible
• Die
• Differ
• Flesh

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings