Paul now expresses positively what follows from belief in the resurrection of Christ. But in fact marks this transition emphatically; the same words were translated “as it is” in 12.18, 20. This phrase may also be rendered as “But the truth is that” (Good News Bible).

Christ has been raised from the dead: here and in other places in this chapter, the agent in the event of “raising” is God. In many languages an active statement is preferable; for example, “God has raised Christ from death,” or “God has caused Christ to come alive” or “… Christ to live again.”

The first fruits: Paul uses here the image of the first sample from a crop. This fruit or grain was offered to God, especially on the day following the Passover sabbath. The first installment of the crop was understood as a symbol of God’s promise and the people’s hope that the rest of the harvest would follow. Thus Good News Bible‘s “guarantee” is a good English rendering.

Those who have fallen asleep: “in death” (Good News Bible) is implied; see verse 18 and the comments on 7.39. The tense of the verb indicates the state of being dead, not the event of their dying.

It is possible to restructure this verse as follows:
• “But the truth is that God did raise Christ from death, as the guarantee that he will also raise those who have died.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .