Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Corinthians 15:13

"But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been raised:" — 1 Corinthians 15:13 (ASV)

But if there be no resurrection of the dead. If the whole subject is considered impossible and absurd, then it must follow that Christ has not risen, since the same difficulties were involved in raising him as exist in any other case.

He was dead; and was buried. He had lain in the grave three days. His human soul had left the body. His frame had become cold and stiff. The blood had ceased to circulate, and the lungs to breathe. In his case, there was the same difficulty in raising him to life as there is in any other; and if it is considered impossible and absurd that the dead should rise, then it must follow that Christ has not been raised.

This is the first consequence that Paul states results from denying this doctrine, and this consequence is inevitable. Paul thus shows them that denying the doctrine, or maintaining the general proposition "that the dead would not rise," also led to denying the fact that the Lord Jesus had risen. Consequently, it led to the denial of Christianity altogether, and the annihilation of all their hopes. Moreover, there was such a close connection between Christ and his people that the resurrection of the Lord Jesus made their resurrection certain. See 1 Thessalonians 4:14 .