1 Corinthians 15:6

15:6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters ¹  at one time, most of whom are still alive, ²  though some have fallen asleep. ³ 

1 Corinthians 15:18

15:18 Furthermore, those who have fallen asleep ⁴  in Christ have also perished.

1 Corinthians 15:20

15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

---

¹ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:10.

² tn Grk “most of whom remain until now.”

³ tn The verb κοιμάω (koimaw) literally means “sleep,” but it is often used in the Bible as a euphemism for death when speaking of believers. This metaphorical usage by its very nature emphasizes the hope of resurrection: Believers will one day “wake up” out of death. Here the term refers to death, but “sleep” was used in the translation to emphasize the metaphorical, rhetorical usage of the term.

⁴ tn See the note on the word “asleep” in 15:6. This term is also used in v. 20.