Bible Study - 1 Corinthians Chapter 15
Theologian Karl Barth argued that the heart of the problems of the Corinthian church was a misunderstanding of the resurrection of the dead. Thus, he viewed 1 Corinthians 15 as the heart of the epistle and the key to understanding the New Testament. His point is well made as this is the foundation of Christianity. To fail to understand or even acknowledge it puts one outside Christianity. This is that Jesus the Christ was crucified, dead and buried, and raised back to life on the third day. And that makes our salvation, reconciliation with God, and resurrection possible. This is the undeserved gift that is grace, when what we deserve is death and hell. However, it could be said that the theme and heart of the entire letter is that we shouldn't be arrogant and think too much of our own thoughts and understanding. We ought to be humble and accept that not only do we not understand everything, but that we aren't even capable of understanding everything. | 1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, | Paul began this passage by stating that what follows is a reminder of what he preached when he was in Corinth. It is the gospel that they received and stand in. In other words, Paul was saying it was necessary to take them back to the basics. The Corinthians were getting sidetracked by false teachings to the point they were forgetting or even denying the foundation of their faith. There were even those who were teaching against fundamental truths in the church. Thus this passage was Paul teaching Christianity 101. |
2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. |
It is the gospel by which we are saved from sin, death and hell. But this is only if we hold fast to the gospel. If we turn away from the gospel to a false belief then we are not saved. If the gospel is not true then we are not saved. Think carefully on this point Paul made. Turning away from the true gospel is the same as if there is no salvation at all. This verse teaches that we can turn away from the gospel. That contradicts part of the doctrine of once saved, always saved. |
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, |
Verses 3-8 are the heart of the gospel. The gospel message was always the first thought, focus, and goal of all of Paul's teaching. Everything Paul wrote was meant to further the spread of this gospel, or to correct people back to it. Christ died for our sins as prophesied in Isaiah 53:5-12. God is perfect love, perfect mercy, and perfect justice. What is impossible for mere humans is God's very nature. To forgive without consequence would be the opposite of justice. To impose true justice would not allow for mercy. Thus the only way to have both is for the deserved penalty to be imposed satisfying justice, but with God taking that penalty on Himself satisfying perfect mercy and love. This was done according to prophecy in Isaiah and by John the Baptist. These make it clear this was for the remission of our sins. Isaiah 53:5-6 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. Isaiah 53:12b Because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors. John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! That Jesus's death on the cross was for our sins is also in Galatians 1:4, Hebrews 5:1 & 3, and 1 Peter 2:24. |
4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, |
The most basic truth of Christianity is that Christ died for our sins and was raised from the dead on the third day. This was taught by Paul when he founded the Corinthian church. It was taught by Paul in every church he founded or visited. Every subject he taught on from living as a Christian to marriage was tied to the foundation of Christ crucified for our sins, and resurrected from the dead. Because Jesus was resurrected we know we will also be resurrected. Romans 6:4-5 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, John 11:23-27 Jesus *said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha *said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” She *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.” Romans 6:22-23 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Isaiah 26:19 Your dead will live; Their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, For your dew is as the dew of the dawn, And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits. |
5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; |
These verses list eyewitness accounts to Jesus' resurrection. Jesus had hundreds of disciples. But there were two inner circles within the group of disciples. Cephas is another name for Peter, one of the innermost circle of three disciples of Jesus along with James and John. The twelve is a title or euphemism for the inner circle of twelve disciples. It is most likely that there were only eleven at this time as Judas had committed suicide and it is almost certain Matthias had not yet been chosen to replace Judas. But this is a title based on the original number, not a literal 12 at the time. In verse 6 brethren, adelphois in Greek, is inclusive of the women who saw Jesus post-resurrection. One of the arguments by skeptics is that these eyewitness accounts were made up for personal gain by the apostles and disciples of Jesus. However, this did not benefit them. They suffered for it, many of them horribly. The historical accounts clearly document that they endured great hardship and deprivation while they lived because of their testimony. And they were persecuted brutally. They were tortured and killed in horrific ways. Peter was crucified. It is believed he was upside down by his own request as he didn't feel worthy of dying like Jesus did. So there is a simple answer to these skeptics: Would you endure torture and execution for something you knew to be a lie? |
8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. |
This was a qualification for having the office of apostle. One had to have seen Jesus with one's own eyes. This meant they were a first-hand witness. Paul did not feel this was a vision in the traditional sense, but was an actual appearance to him on the Damascus road, albeit a supernatural occurrence. Then Paul went to Arabia. For three years he did not "consult with flesh and blood". During this time was instructed by God directly, and studied the scriptures with the understanding of the truth that Jesus was the Messiah. He was later tested and found to be teaching the gospel correctly and accurately. James, head of the church, Peter and John specifically approved of Paul as accurately teaching the gospel, and that Paul held the office of Apostle. The word apostle in Greek, apostolos, means a delegate, messenger, or one sent forth with orders. The word is used in scripture in two ways, as an office or position in the church and also in the common usage to refer to someone sent out, such as a carrier of one of Paul's letters. Paul referred to himself as one untimely born in the NASB, which is a good translation in this context. In the Greek it is ektromati, which literally means an abnormal birth. This was certainly self-deprecating. This could mean that since Paul was just a kid in a Pharisee school during Jesus' ministry he didn't have much of an opportunity to see Jesus before his crucifixion. But it's more likely this was repeating a disparagement made about Paul by those who opposed him in the Corinthian church. Thus he disarmed their attack by owning it. |
9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. | Paul is least of the apostles, not because he didn't see Jesus before the crucifixion like the 12, or because of his weaknesses, but because of his persecution of God's church. He took people to prison, participated in stoning, and did his best to stamp out Christianity. Whenever we feel unworthy, we should remember that Paul was the chief of sinners. Yet he was forgiven for this and used in amazing ways spreading the church to many countries. |
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. |
Grace is used three times and in three different ways. None are the grace of salvation. But all are undeserved gifts from God. First, God's grace is why Paul is an apostle. Literally, Paul is an apostle because it was a gift of God he did not deserve. Jesus appeared to Paul in person. And Paul was educated in the gospel in the desert of Arabia by God just as Jesus taught the disciples in the flesh. Most believe it was the Holy Spirit that taught Paul. However, Paul implies that it was Jesus that taught him. Regardless, Paul was taught by God. In the second instance, God's grace is to Paul specifically. Our gifting and calling is an undeserved gift of God. That it was not in vain is evidenced by the existence of the Corinthian church. The third usage God's grace was with Paul as it is with us every day. He did more than any other apostle. Yet he humbly stated that his efforts were only possible because of the grace of God. |
11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. | Paul was pointing out that the gospel that was preached by him and others like Peter and Apollos was that Jesus died on the cross for their sins, and that he was resurrected from the dead. Therefore, their denials now are from straying from the gospel into heresy. |
12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? |
This was Paul directly refuting heretics in the Corinthian church that were teaching their heresy to others. He was specifically pointing out that their teaching is contrary to the gospel that is foundational to Christianity and the gospel they were taught. To be clear, Paul was not dealing with the Sadducees who are a sect of Judaism that believed that there is no afterlife at all. This version of the heresy came from Greek Socratic philosophy that everything of the physical world is corrupt and evil, and only the spirit world is good. Part of this pagan teaching is that shedding the physical body is necessary to attain true goodness. One offshoot of this is the heresy is that Jesus was never a physical body even pre-crucifixion. Otherwise He could not have been sinless. But that is pagan nonsense. Scripture and eyewitnesses are clear that Jesus walked in the flesh before and after the crucifixion. It is because He was God that Jesus was able to live a sinless life in this fallen world. |
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; | This is a logical argument. If there is no resurrection from the dead, then Jesus also didn't rise from the dead. |
14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. | The implications of there not being a resurrection from the dead Paul made totally clear. If these heretics were right, then Paul and all the apostles were wrong. Literally in Greek, their preaching is empty, as is the faith of anyone who accepts the words of these heretics. In other words, if they are right then there is no point to being a Christian. |
15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. | To accept the heresy that there is no resurrection is to call Paul and all the apostles liars, even liars against God. |
16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; | A repetition of the argument in verse 13 for emphasis and to prepare for the punch that is verses 17 and 18. |
17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. | If Jesus the Christ was not raised from the dead, then their faith is empty and vain. Worse, their sins could not have been forgiven. As the personal experience of these Corinthians was of forgiveness and freedom in Christ, this argument showed them that this false belief was absurd. Paul was using the reductio ad absurdum argument tactic, proving the falsity of the premise by showing that its logical consequence is absurd or contradictory. It appears that many in the Corinthian church were awed by the reasoning of these heretics without understanding the implications. They thought they could hold both of these views even though they contradict each other. It's like gullible people today who say dumb things like all religions lead to God despite other religions contradicting Christianity and each other. |
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. | Paul made the argument against this heresy personal by pointing out that this means their loved ones that have died are gone for good under this false teaching. Without resurrection and forgiveness of sins, there is no point to being Christian. In denying the resurrection, they deny their own past forgiveness and their hope for a future with Christ. |
19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. |
This is a gospel point. That Jesus rose from the dead in a physical form is part of the gospel message. The gospel is clear on this. Jesus could be touched, had scars from his crucifixion, and ate with the disciples. To reject this is to reject Christianity. But that is the point of a heresy like this. It is designed by Satan to result in a loss of faith and a turning away from God. To deny the resurrection is to leave Christianity for something else. Here is the parallel to the Sadducees. Their belief was pointless. It was pointless worship that accomplished nothing. It's just sad. |
20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. | This verse begins a teaching on death and resurrection that goes through verse 28. Christ is the first to be resurrected, and is only the first of many. Asleep is a euphemism for being dead. The first fruits of the harvest were the guarantee of the harvest. In our culture we would use a metaphor of a down payment or earnest money guaranteeing the full payment to come. |
21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. | Paul is tying the fall of man to the redemption of Christ. Adam's sin brought death. Jesus brought resurrection. Paul is saying that Jesus is the second Adam, here to fix the problem begun by the first. |
22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. |
Jesus is the solution to the problem begun with Adam. To be clear, Paul was writing in context of this argument, the letter as a whole, and in the context of the gospel message. Thus this verse must be read in that context. He was not making an isolated point of theology that contradicts the rest. That he doesn't explicitly qualify that "those in Christ" will be the ones made alive is not to say that eternal life is for all humanity. If that were the case, then the crucifixion was unnecessary. The wording choice is for a balanced Greek writing style and assumes the reader will read it in the context of verses 18 and 23. That Christ is the second Adam Paul also wrote in Romans 5:12-21. By the sin of the first Adam death reigned over humanity. By the sacrifice of the second Adam we can receive grace that brings us eternal life. |
23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming, | Christ is the first to be resurrected. Like verse 20 Paul referred to Jesus as the first fruits of resurrection, the proof of the harvest to come. That is the proof we will be resurrected also at his second coming if we belong to Christ. |
24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. | The kingdom is Christ's kingdom on Earth and in heaven. The church is to help advance the kingdom by training disciples to follow Jesus. There are a few things He will need to do before handing over the kingdom, as written in verses 24-26. He will abolish/destroy all rulers, authorities and powers that are not Him. This means both physical and spiritual powers will be subjugated. This will not happen until things are so bad Jesus must return to conquer all. Revelation 19:13 describes Jesus wearing a robe dipped in blood, which means some people are going to get hurt very bad. |
25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. | Christ will reign until all others are under His rule. How long this will take is not indicated. "At the feet" or "under the feet" of a ruler is a common euphemism for total conquest, which is the normal end of conflict in most of human history. Ceasefires do not end conflict, they just kick the can down the road for later. The historical examples demonstrate that ceasefires usually make things worse the next time around. |
26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. | Death itself will be defeated as the last thing to be conquered. This is done by all being resurrected as stated in verse 22. Then all will stand before the bema seat. Those in Christ will face judgement to determine our reward. Those who followed their own way will face the judgement of condemnation and hell. |
27 For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. | The quote is from Psalm 8:6. This verse connects God the Father's plan from the beginning to what Jesus did on the cross and at His second coming. Jesus conquers all and hands it to the Father. But as Jesus is the agent of the Father, the Father has done it all as well. Jesus the Son will put all things in subjection to Himself, then hand it all over the Father. But Jesus is exempted from being subjugated at that point. He is the King of kings. |
28 When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all. | In verse 27 Jesus will subjugate everything under himself, then put all of creation under the Father. After that is done then He will also be subjugated to the Father. The implication is that Jesus does this willingly to make everything as it should be. The Son will be subject to the Father who is the one who put creation in subjugation to the Son. This likely refers to that the Father gave the Son the responsibility of creating everything as it says in 1 Corinthians 8:6, John 1:1-3, and Colossians 1:15-16. Creation rebelled requiring it to be conquered. And the Son puts it all under the Father after all is conquered. This passage is highly trinitarian. |
29 Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them? |
Paul was using a practice of the Corinthians to further the argument that they must believe in resurrection, or else this practice is futile. There is no other reference to baptism for the dead in any other scripture. As that would be in opposition to justification by grace through faith, this cannot be a practice that Paul approves of if it is what it appears to be from this reference. Since Paul doesn't explicitly condemn this here, some assume this is an approved practice. However, this is an argument from silence, which is building a house on quicksand. The fact that neither Paul nor any of the other apostles ever teach this practice is far greater evidence that this is not a Christian practice. As Paul's first letter to the Corinthians was not scripture and not preserved, it is possible he rebuked them in that letter making it unnecessary to do so here. This is practiced by Mormons, which is why they expend so much effort researching genealogy. But it is not a Christian practice. |
30 Why are we also in danger every hour? |
This is a reference to the constant threats against Paul, and all the apostles. If there is no resurrection then they were risking their lives for nothing. Some Corinthian church factions wrongly thought it was a sign of a lack of spirituality. Their simplistic reasoning was that bad things don't happen to good people. Paul repeatedly refutes this holding up his own weakness as a testament to Christ's power. This could also be an implied mild rebuke of the practice of baptizing for the dead. If that worked, then there was no need to strive and endure so much for the gospel if someone else could rescue them after death. |
31 I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. |
The existence of the Corinthian church was due to Paul's missionary stay and labor. He boasted of that, but put it in the proper context that it was all because of Christ Jesus. So the real glory belongs to Jesus. Threats and death are meaningless in light of that. Paul would gladly have died if it meant bringing someone to Christ. That Paul dies daily is a reference to Psalm 44:22 which Paul also used in Romans 8:36. This Psalm is about past rescues by God and current tribulation, asking God to rescue as he did before. It seems Paul was saying these things are normal for one who puts God first instead of himself first. Thus he thought nothing of death because it means he will be with God in person. |
32 If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. |
Paul did not literally fight wild animals in Ephesus. To put him in the arena was highly illegal as he was a Roman citizen. Fighting with wild beasts was a common metaphor in the morality plays and literature of Greek culture. And Roman society had absorbed the Greek culture. Corinth was even more hellenized than Rome. This quote from Isaiah 22:13, 56:12, and Luke 12:19 repeats the argument that there is no point to being Christian if there is no resurrection. If that false teaching was true it would be better to give up and party while we can. |
33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals." |
Here Paul turned from arguing against a false belief and philosophy to a direct criticism of those falling for it. This is a written grabbing of the shirt to get their attention. They were being deceived, and many were deceiving themselves. They were going down these heretical rabbit holes because of the company they kept. They were not to isolate themselves from the pagan culture. After all, they were to try to reach everyone they could for Jesus. The problem was they were not using good judgement and discernment in who they trusted and listened to. They should have been checking everyone against scripture and only trusting those that repeatedly and consistently were in agreement with scripture. In other words, they should have been like the Bereans. |
34 Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. |
This is literally come to your senses, as in get out of your drunken stupor. They were sinning by believing false teachings contrary to the gospel. And the reason they were falling for this false gospel was because they knew nothing about God at all. Yet they were calling themselves Christians. This is as ridiculous as a person claiming to be a pilot when they have never even been in an aircraft. This was incredibly shameful as Jesus the Christ was and is God. Anyone who doesn't know God doesn't know Jesus Christ and cannot be a Christian. Today people are just as ignorant about God, are just as scripturally illiterate, and are easy prey to false teachers. People who claim to be Christians ought to know the teachings of Christ and be able to tell false teachings when they hear them even if the one speaking false teachings is the person in the front of the church. But these ignorant people fall for the lies of complete strangers they've never met. They listen to false teachings on social media without even questioning what these people say, and don't even think about checking them against scripture. Worse, they don't question if these people are even Christian or if they are wolves in sheep's clothing. We should be ashamed we are so easily deceived. And those in the church who know nothing about the real God should be doubly ashamed. |
35 But someone will say, "How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?" | Here Paul dealt with two objections raised in the debate about resurrection. One was based on an inability to comprehend that resurrection is even possible. And the other was they couldn't comprehend dead bodies being reanimated. Mary Shelley hadn't written Frankenstein yet. But the root problem was they were arrogant and ignorant, which often are hand in hand. They were ignorant of the truth, and arrogantly thought that their inability to understand or imagine it was proof that it couldn't be. They were putting their own thoughts above scripture. That is a path that leads to heresy. |
36 You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; |
Paul was quite harsh here, like Jesus was with heresy and disrespect towards God. The most common false gospel today is that it's wrong to confront heresy, false gospels, and abusive leaders, especially with the harsh rebuke they deserve. The farming metaphor Paul used here would have been understood by everyone of that time. Between 90-98% of the population at this time were farmers. And unlike the ignorant city dwellers of today, even city-dwellers at that time understood where their food came from. For a seed to grow it must first die. Only then it can grow and produce many times more seeds. It is the seeds of the wheat plant that we eat for food. We grind it into flour to make bread and such. A wise farmer retains enough seed to plant the next crop and doesn't eat all his seed. |
37 and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else. | Continuing the seed metaphor Paul pointed out that the seed bares little resemblance to the plant that it is reborn as. The bare seed dies and is transformed into a new life of a hundred times greater abundance, but is still the same plant. Out of death comes a new life, better than before. |
38 But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. | It is God that makes the transformation of the wheat seed possible, just as He makes our transformation possible if we are in Christ. In like manner our imperfect bodies will die and resurrect as a new eternal body. It will be so much better, yet will still be us. |
39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. | Paul switched to a metaphor of differences in types of flesh, giving four examples that have distinct differences. |
40 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. | Continuing the metaphor from verse 39, Paul brought up that there are earthly bodies and heavenly bodies. Paul explicitly stated that both have their own glory. Greek philosophy and many of the temple religions of Corinth taught that the earthly body was inherently dishonorable and evil. In laying out his metaphor correctly Paul needed to counter this with the truth that our present bodies do have a glory of their own type. |
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. |
Paul then made the point that even among the sun, moon and stars there are clearly visible differences in their glory. Even though these are all celestial things, they have distinct differences. Thus our earthly and heavenly bodies have different glory but are of the same thing, they are both us. This implies that we won't be all alike in the resurrection as some pagan religions teach, but will still be ourselves as distinct individuals. Although we will finally be living in right relationship with God. |
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; | Tying the metaphors together, when we die our earthly and perishable body is sown like a seed. And we are resurrected in a new heavenly and imperishable body many times greater than our earthly bodies. Thus in verse 40 the earthly bodies is referring to us as we are now, and the heavenly bodies refers to our resurrected, imperishable, but still physical bodies after we are resurrected. |
43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; |
Taking all the previous analogies together, Paul lays out the reality of the resurrection for Christians. Like a seed, our body dies and is buried. And from that we are raised in an imperishable, glorified, powerful body. This verse does not contradict verse 40. The earthly body does have its glory as we were created by Jesus. In this verse Paul may have meant the earthly body is much less in comparison to our heavenly body. It is likely that the dishonor and weakness are about how the earthly body is perishable. Whereas the heavenly body is eternal, making it a glorification to receive from God. |
44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. |
Spiritual and body were contradictory terms in Greek philosophy. Using spiritual body for us post-resurrection is a direct challenge to that pagan belief. We will not be ethereal wisps of no substance. We will have a body that can interact as ours can now, and as Jesus' resurrected body could. But its essential characteristics will be different. There is a weird philosophy promoted by some Christians that is contradicted by these verses. This is that we are resurrected in this exact same body. They take the narrative of Christ's post-resurrection scars from the crucifixion and build a false theology on that tiny bit of ground. From there they extrapolate that it is a sin not to take care of our current body by not adopting their radical health regime of diet and exercise. Besides being contradicted by scripture, which ought to be enough, there are many logical problems with this view. What about people who are crushed by falling objects or in car crashes? Are they stuck in a flattened body for eternity? What about the Christian missionary who is killed and eaten by cannibals who later become Christians. Our bodies are made of what we consume. So who gets those molecules in the resurrection for their eternal body? It can't be that the missionary is without a body because he followed the Great Commission of Jesus. It just doesn't work. This is actually a pagan mysticism view that is anti-Christian. However, this is not a salvation issue. People who hold this mistaken theology can still be Christians. However, it is dangerous in that it very easily becomes an idol that takes the place of Christ. We should take care of our bodies as part of being a good steward of what God has given us. But putting this above much more important things such as our Christian duty is an actual sin. |
45 So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. | This verse references Genesis 2:7. Paul used the first and the second or last Adam analogy from verses 21-22 to further illustrate the difference. Adam was life receiving and Jesus is life giving. Through Adam we were made like him, subject to death and decay. Through Christ we are made like Him, immortal and glorified. A subtle point to this is that we are not complete but are the Spirit's work in progress. |
46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. | Verses 46-48 make the first Adam and Christ the second Adam clear. The first Adam was the earthly, the natural. Then he became more when God breathed into him and then had a soul which none of the animals did. |
47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. | The first Adam was literally from the earth as God formed him out of the dust of the ground. The second Adam originated from heaven, was not created but always existed, and created everything else. |
48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. | It seems like simple logic that what is earthy must be earthy and what is heavenly must be heavenly. But this truism is the reason why the resurrection must be as it is described in verses 49-56. |
49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. |
This verse uses the analogy of like coming from like. It is that As descendants of Adam we bear his image and are beings of this world. Whereas Christians will have heavenly bodies as Christ did post-resurrection, and we will bear His image then. We are made in the image of God as mortal humans. But that is a fact unrelated to the analogy used here. To be clear, that we do not yet have our heavenly bodies absolutely does not mean we are unable to become like Christ in attitude and deed. Clearly Paul taught that it is natural for Christians to become more and more like him. This passage is about the resurrection, not the evidence our actions and attitudes show that Christ is in us. |
50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. | By the Greek wording and case, this is intended to start a new section, albeit one directly connected to the preceding passage. We cannot be part of the new heaven and earth as we are now. This imperfect body belongs to this world. For this fallen body to be in heaven would corrupt it. |
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, | Sleep is a euphemism for death. For the vast majority of believers, it is through our death that we are transformed. However, there will be those who are taken up without having to die on earth. This includes those taken in the rapture, and those who become Christians after the rapture and are still alive on earth when Jesus returns in the second coming. Paul makes it clear that these will also be transformed. To enter heaven as we are would be to corrupt it with our sinful nature. |
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. | This is eschaton, the end times. The sounding of a trumpet, or the last trumpet is frequently used in scripture to refer to the moment when the end occurs. This may be a metaphor. But it is most likely a literal trumpet sounding that is heard by the whole world. At that moment the dead will be raised in their heavenly bodies. As verse 51 instructs, believers who are still alive will also be transformed into their heavenly bodies. All this will occur practically instantaneously. This world will cease to function as it has for thousands of years and all will turn to Jesus on the bema seat, the seat of judgement. |
53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. | The reason why we must be transformed is spelled out in verse 50. These corrupt and corruptible bodies cannot be in the new heaven and earth. |
54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory. | When we have become immortal beings it will fulfill the prophecy in Isaiah 25:8. This is the victory over death that Jesus brought when He was resurrected. |
55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" | And this will also fulfill the prophecy in Hosea 13:14. And that is the conclusion of Paul's arguments and teaching on the resurrection. |
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. | Here Paul addressed the root causes of death; sin and the law. Therefore, not only has death been overcome by resurrection, so have sin and the law. That sin brings death is easy to understand. How the law relates to sin Paul later explained in more detail in Romans chapter 7. While the law is good in itself, it condemns us as it reveals our rebellion against God. The law calls for our death, which Jesus took upon himself. We were saved from sin, death, and the law on the cross. |
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. |
Paul ended this passage with a strong exhortation. Here he drives the point of the entire epistle home, that this is all about the gospel message. And the work of spreading the gospel is worth it. But there is something else worth noting. Throughout this letter Paul has been dealing with attacks on his status as an apostle, his theology, his wisdom, and even his character. Yet despite this, he calls the Corinthians his beloved brethren. That we are all brothers and sisters is apparent as we are adopted into the family of Christ, as Paul teaching in Romans 8:14-17. But that they are still beloved after the way they rebelled against Paul is a model of how God still loves us even though we rebel against him. This includes those that call themselves Christians yet remain in rebellion against God by following their own thoughts and opinions over His word. However, God's love alone does not save us. We must turn to Him and away from our own nonsense. |
Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation.