1 Corinthians 15:20–23: First Fruits of the Resurrection
Paul does not offer resurrection as a hopeful symbol. He argues from an event: Christ has already been raised, and that raising is the first installment of a harvest that includes everyone who belongs to him.
Deuteronomy 26:1–11: First Fruits as Confession
In Deuteronomy 26:1–11 the worshiper brings a basket of first fruits and recites a story that starts with a perishing ancestor and ends in a land flowing with milk and honey. The offering is a confession before it is a transaction.
Proverbs 3:9–10: Giving God Your First Fruits
Proverbs 3:9–10 makes first fruits giving the practical shape of trusting God rather than oneself. The promised plenty sits inside a life that fears the Lord and receives his correction.
1 Corinthians 15:12–20: Why the Resurrection Matters
Paul ties the whole Christian message to one event: Christ raised from the dead. Without it, preaching and faith are empty and sin still stands. With it, his resurrection is the first fruits of a coming harvest.
Did Jesus really rise from the dead? A Biblical Guide
Paul does not treat the resurrection as a nice addition to the Christian message. He makes it the claim that holds up preaching, faith, and forgiveness, then declares that Christ has in fact been raised.