But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Now - as the case really is.
And become. Omitted in 'Aleph (') A B Delta G f g, Vulgate.
The first-fruits - the earliest and most costly, and so consecrated to God; the earnest that the whole resurrection harvest will follow, so that our faith is not vain, nor our hope limited to this life. An appropriate image, for this letter was written about the Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7): the day after the Passover Sabbath was that for offering else first-fruits (Leviticus 23:10-11); the same was the day of Christ's resurrection (Colossians 1:18; Revelation 1:5).