Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Corinthians 15:19

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

Paul draws additional hypothetical conclusions from the thesis that Christ has not risen from the dead: (1) Faith is not only vain or meaningless (v.14), it is also fruitless (v.17); (2) believers still carry the guilt of their sins and are not justified (v.17b; cf. the converse in Ro 5:1); (3) there is no hope for those who have died in Christ—they have perished (v.18); (4) therefore putting up with persecutions and hardships is futile; and finally, (5) we are most to be pitied among men (v.19).