Of first importance is literally “in (the) first [plural],” an expression used only here in the New Testament. The phrase can mean “first in time” or “first in importance.” It seems likely that Paul intended both meanings here “first and foremost” (Revised English Bible); “of first importance” is another possibility.

What I also received: verse 3a may mean either “I delivered the gospel that I had first received” or “I, like you, received the gospel.” However, also is clearly linked in the Greek with received, not with I, and the parallel with verses 1-2 suggests the former. In many languages it will be good to expand this clause to “the message that I also received.”

A translator may restructure the first part of this verse as follows:
• “I received a message of the greatest importance and passed it on to you. It was that….”

In the remainder of the verse the summary of the Christian faith now begins. Good News Bible indicates this by a colon. The word “that” following the colon can be understood here as equivalent to opening quotation marks.

For in for our sins has a very general meaning as its English equivalent: “concerning,” “with reference to,” or “in order to deal with” (Barrett).

Here and in verse 4 it is uncertain whether in accordance with the scriptures refers to the simple fact that Christ died and “was raised” (verse 4), or whether the phrases for our sins and “on the third day” (verse 4) are also supposed by Paul to have been foretold in the Old Testament. This raises the further question, which does not immediately affect the translator, of whether these phrases formed part of the primitive creed, or were inserted by Paul as his own interpretation. The order in the Greek, however, suggests that in accordance with the scriptures, both in verse 3 and in verse 4, refers to the entire preceding clause. Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible interpret the meaning in this way, making a smoother translation.

In accordance with the scriptures may be rephrased as “as written in the Scriptures” (Good News Bible) or “fulfilling what is written in the scriptures.”

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 .