A frequent misinterpretation of this verse isolates it from its context in Paul's resurrection discourse, portraying the apostle as admitting possible falsehood in the apostles' testimony or expressing uncertainty about Christ's resurrection; in reality, Paul assumes the resurrection's veracity as an established fact witnessed by many, using the hypothetical denial only to expose the absurdity and consequences of rejecting it, thereby strengthening the doctrine rather than questioning it.
I Corinthians 15:15
King James Version (1769)
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
In 1 Corinthians 15:15, Paul employs a reductio ad absurdum argument to defend the resurrection of the dead, stating that denying it would render the apostles false witnesses of God since they testified that He raised Christ, whom skeptics claim was not raised. This underscores the foundational truth that Christ's resurrection is inextricably linked to the future resurrection of all believers, making denial of one tantamount to calling God's testimony through the apostles a lie and undermining the entire Christian hope.