Paul's Letters 1 Corinthians

The Resurrection Of The Dead

Discover Jesus as: The Last Adam 1 Corinthians 15 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 517 of 730
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INTRO

We’ve been looking at a series of issues causing disunity in the church. Paul told the Corinthians what it would look like to live out unity in the body of Christ. Paul emphasized that what should motivate the church was love. In chapter 14, Paul discussed the priority of the gift of prophecy. Next, we get into chapter 15. Constable explains, “From what [Paul] said in this chapter, he apparently knew that some of the church had adopted a belief concerning the resurrection that was contrary to apostolic teaching. They believed that there is no resurrection of the dead.” These believers believed that while Christ was resurrected, believers would not be. “This chapter has been called ‘the earliest Christian doctrinal essay,’1 and it is the only part of the letter which deals directly with doctrine.”2

TEACHING

1 Corinthians 15:1-9: Paul pointed out he had already delivered this information to the Corinthians and expected them to stand upon this foundation of Christ (v. 1). They were already saved by this message (v. 2). The most important thing, Paul stressed, was that Christ had died for our sins, was buried, and raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (vv. 3–4). Verses 3–4 give the good news—the entire gospel of Jesus—as simply as you’ll ever read: Christ died for our sins; He was buried; He was raised on the third day. There is nothing that needs to be added to this or changed. This is the message. Paul then outlined all those who witnessed the resurrected Christ (vv. 5–8). MacArthur identifies all those Jesus appeared to, in order of appearance: Mary Magdalene; the other women; Peter; the ten disciples; the 11 disciples, including Thomas; the disciples on the road to Emmaus; in Galilee; 500 people; James and the apostles; Paul on the road to Damascus; and to all those at His ascension.3

1 Corinthians 15:10–19: Paul launched into his testimony, reminding the Corinthians how he had persecuted the church but was saved by God’s grace (vv. 9–10a). Paul explained his effectiveness in ministry was because of God’s grace (v. 10b–11).

Therefore, how could they deny the resurrection of the dead? If they denied that, they also denied Christ’s resurrection and their faith was meaningless (vv. 12–19).

MacArthur gives six “What if?” statements of what would happen if Jesus’ resurrection was not true:

  • The preaching of Christ would be senseless and meaningless.
  • Faith in Christ would be useless since He would still be dead.
  • All the witnesses and preachers of the resurrection would be liars.
  • No one would be redeemed (saved) from sin.
  • All former believers would have died as fools.
  • Christians would be the most pitiable people in the world.4

1 Corinthians 15:20–28: Paul was banking his entire life that Christ was raised from the dead, and we are too! Christ is not on the cross, and He is not buried. He is at the right hand of the Father. Christ has been raised from the dead (v. 20a). Paul used three images to explain how we will be raised from the dead as well. First, Christ was “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (v. 20). “When Jesus was raised from the dead, it was God’s assurance to us that we shall also be raised one day as part of that future harvest.”5 For believers, death is only “sleep,” “the body sleeps, but the soul is at home with the Lord.”6 Second, “death came through a man”—Adam, and “resurrection of the dead also comes through a man”—Jesus (vv. 21–23). Third, Jesus came to earth to establish the kingdom, and when He comes again He will abolish “all rule and all authority and power” (v. 24). Jesus will reign until all enemies, including death, are put under His feet (vv. 25–26). When this happens, and everything on earth is subject to Christ, Christ will be subject to God, and God will be all in all (vv. 27–28).

1 Corinthians 15:29–34: So why are the dead raised (v. 29)? Paul answered why with three questions in this section. First, why do evangelism if there is no eternal hope? Second, why do we suffer and die for Christ daily if there is no hope (vv. 30–31)? Third, why would sin matter in our lives (vv. 32–34)? The fourth reason is found in verses 50–57.

2 Archibald Robertson and Alfred Plummer, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians (International Critical Commentary series), 2nd ed. (Edin- burg: T. & T. Clark, 1963), p. 329; quoted in Constable, p. 281.

1 Corinthians 15:35–49: Then, how are the dead raised? What kind of body will believers have? Paul gave three analogies to answer this question. First, Paul explained that when seeds are planted, what is grown is different from the actual seeds (vv. 36–38, 42–48). Therefore, there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies (vv. 39–40). Second, Paul compared the differences in the flesh of humans, animals, birds, and fish (v. 39). Third, Paul compared the splendor of heavenly bodies versus earthly bodies (v. 40), and then used multiple couplets to enforce this comparison (vv. 40–41). When we question whether the resurrection of the dead exists, we are questioning our faith—our entire understanding of who Jesus is and what He came to do for us. Nelson’s Commentary explains, “Jesus became spirit in the sense that His mortal existence and form were changed into that which is spiritual. As One now united with the Spirit in a glorified body, Jesus is no longer bound by His mortal body. He is alive in the Spirit, to give life to all who believe. This is why Paul speaks of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2).”7

A lot of people have problems with the resurrection. MacArthur gives three options for how to view Jesus’ resurrection: “(1) A great hoax (the resurrection is false); (2) mythology (the resurrection is fiction); (3) the supreme event of history (the resurrection is fact).”8 MacArthur records the following theories:

Jesus didn’t really die.

Only Jesus’ spirit was resurrected, not His body.

The disciples were seeing visions.

Jesus’ resurrection was only a story/parable that does not depend upon Jesus even being real.

Jesus’ dead body was stolen from the tomb. Those who had reason to take the body included the Jews, the Romans, the disciples, and Joseph of Arimathea.

The disciples were confused and went to the wrong tomb that happened to be empty.

The disciples intentionally made up the story of Jesus’ resurrection for monetary gain.

The disciples saw someone who looked like Jesus and thought it was Him.

Jesus was raised from the dead through God’s supernatural power.9

1 Corinthians 15:50–57: We will not all fall asleep, but we’ll all be changed (v. 51). The sting of death is sin, but we were given victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.

CLOSING

For the gospel of Christ, always go back to 1 Corinthians 15:3–4. Do you believe that Christ was resurrected?

  1. Thomas L. Constable, Dr. Constable’s Expository Bible Study Notes: First Corinthians, p. 280-281; available at https://planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/pdf/1corinthians.pdf.

  2. John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2005), p. 1605.

  3. MacArthur, p. 1607.

  4. Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), p. 618.

  5. Wiersbe, p. 618.

  6. Earl Radmacher, Ronald B. Allen, and H. Wayne House, eds., Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999), p. 1487.

  7. MacArthur, p. 1609.

  8. MacArthur, p. 1609.

Questions

  1. The first part of 1 Corinthians 15 told of the many eyewitnesses to Christ’s death and resurrection. Why do you think there were and still are so many people today who don’t believe this? Do you think the same people who don’t believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus also question the school history books they were taught from?
  2. In 1 Corinthians 15:7, Paul went on to say Jesus appeared to James (His brother). Why did Jesus have to appear to His own brother (John 7:5)? Why do you think James did not believe? What book of the New Testament did James write later?
  3. In 1 Corinthians 15:8, what does the phrase “abnormally born” mean (Acts 9:3–6)? Do you think this can still happen today, and, if so, has this ever happened to you or someone you know?
  4. What does 1 Corinthians 15:21 mean? (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12–21)
  5. Where else in Scripture can you find a similar account of what is said in 1 Corinthians 15:24–28 (Revelation 20:13-14)? How do you think Paul knew this, considering this letter was written before John wrote Revelation? (Psalm 8:6; Ephesians 1:22; Hebrews 2:8)
  6. What is the significance of the trumpet sounding in 1 Corinthians 15:52? (Leviticus 23:24; Numbers 10:9-10; 29:1-6; Joel 2:1; Zephaniah 1:14-16)
  7. Will everyone have to die a physical death (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)? Do you believe it’s possible you could be one of those people who does not die a physical death? Why or why not?
  8. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in 1 Corinthians 15 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin 1 Corinthians 15:55–57

“Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • Romans 10:9–10 — “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.”
  • 1 Corinthians 15:3–6 — “For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. Then He appeared to over 500 brothers at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep.”
  • 1 John 5:4 — “Because whatever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.”