The Gospel and The End

1 Corinthians 15

The Resurrection of Christ

1Co 15:1  Now I make known to you, brothers, the gospel which I proclaimed as good news to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 

1Co 15:2  by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I proclaimed to you as good news, unless you believed for nothing. 

1Co 15:3  For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 

1Co 15:4  and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 

1Co 15:5  and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 

1Co 15:6  After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep. 

1Co 15:7  After that, He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 

1Co 15:8  and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. 

1Co 15:9  For I am the least of the apostles, and not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 

1Co 15:10  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. 

1Co 15:11  Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. 

The Resurrection of the Dead

1Co 15:12  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? 

1Co 15:13  But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised. 

1Co 15:14  And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 

1Co 15:15  Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we bore witness against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 

1Co 15:16  For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 

1Co 15:17  And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 

1Co 15:18  Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 

1Co 15:19  If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. 

1Co 15:20  But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 

1Co 15:21  For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 

1Co 15:23  But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming. 

Eschatological Layout

1Co 15:24  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. 

1Co 15:25  For He must reign UNTIL HE HAS PUT ALL HIS ENEMIES UNDER HIS FEET. 

1Co 15:26  The last enemy to be abolished is death. 

How is Death abolished?

1Co 15:27  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. 

1Co 15:28  And 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. 

1Co 15:29  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? 

1Co 15:30  Why are we also in danger every hour? 

1Co 15:31  I affirm, brothers, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 

1Co 15:32  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. 

1Co 15:33  Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 

1Co 15:34  Become righteously sober-minded, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. 

The Resurrection Body

1Co 15:35  But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” 

1Co 15:36  You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; 

1Co 15:37  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. 

1Co 15:38  But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. 

1Co 15:39  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. 

1Co 15:40  There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. 

1Co 15:41  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. 

1Co 15:42  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a corruptible body, it is raised an incorruptible body; 

1Co 15:43  it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 

1Co 15:44  it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 

1Co 15:45  So also it is written, “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 

1Co 15:46  However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. 

1Co 15:47  The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. 

1Co 15:48  As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 

1Co 15:49  And just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. 

Mystery and Victory

1Co 15:50  Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the corruptible inherit the incorruptible. 

1Co 15:51  Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 

1Co 15:52  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 

1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on the incorruptible, and this mortal must put on immortality. 

1Co 15:54  But when this corruptible puts on the incorruptible, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the word that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 

1Co 15:55  “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” 

1Co 15:56  Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 

1Co 15:57  but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! 

1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 

Outline of Chapter

1 Corinthians 15 is a significant chapter in the New Testament, especially in terms of eschatology (the study of the end times). In this chapter, Paul addresses the resurrection of the dead and the implications of Christ’s resurrection for believers. Let's break it down:

### **Verses 1-11: The Resurrection of Christ**

Paul begins by reminding the Corinthians of the gospel he preached to them, which is centered on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He emphasizes the resurrection as a historical event witnessed by many, including himself. This serves as the foundation for the Christian faith: if Christ has not been raised, then the faith of believers is in vain.

### **Verses 12-19: The Importance of the Resurrection**

Paul addresses doubts about the resurrection of the dead. Some Corinthians were skeptical about the bodily resurrection, so Paul argues that if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ himself has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, the faith of believers is futile, and they are still in their sins. This underscores the centrality of the resurrection to Christian hope and salvation.

### **Verses 20-28: Christ's Resurrection as the Firstfruits**

Paul states that Christ has been raised from the dead as the "firstfruits" of those who have died. The term "firstfruits" implies that Christ’s resurrection is a foretaste and guarantee of the future resurrection of believers. Paul outlines an eschatological order:

- Christ is the first to be raised.

- At Christ's coming, those who belong to him will be resurrected.

- Then comes the end when Christ hands over the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule, authority, and power.

This passage points to a future culmination of history where Christ reigns until all enemies, including death, are defeated. This victory will fully manifest God's kingdom, and Christ will deliver it to the Father, so that "God may be all in all."

### **Verses 29-34: Practical Implications**

Paul uses practical arguments to reinforce the reality of the resurrection:

- He references the practice of being "baptized on behalf of the dead," which is a difficult phrase but seems to indicate some form of hope in the resurrection.

- He points out the hardships and dangers he and others face for the sake of the gospel. If there is no resurrection, then enduring such trials would be pointless.

- He warns the Corinthians to avoid being misled by bad company and to stop sinning, implying that their moral behavior should be influenced by their belief in the resurrection.

### **Verses 35-49: The Nature of the Resurrection Body**

Anticipating questions about how the dead are raised and what kind of body they will have, Paul uses analogies from nature. He compares the resurrection body to a seed that is sown and transformed into a new body.

- The current body is perishable, dishonorable, and weak, but it will be raised imperishable, glorious, and powerful.

- The natural body is suited for earthly life, while the resurrection body will be suited for eternal life.

- He contrasts Adam, the "man of dust," with Christ, the "man of heaven." As believers have borne the image of Adam, they will also bear the image of Christ in the resurrection.

### **Verses 50-58: The Victory over Death**

Paul concludes with a triumphant declaration of the victory over death:

- Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; the perishable cannot inherit the imperishable.

- He describes a "mystery": not all will die, but all will be changed in an instant, at the last trumpet. This points to the transformation of the living and the dead at Christ's return.

- Death is swallowed up in victory through Christ. This victory gives believers hope and assurance.

- Paul exhorts the Corinthians to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that their labor is not in vain because of the promised resurrection.

### **Eschatological Leanings**

1 Corinthians 15 provides a rich eschatological framework:

- **Christ as the Firstfruits:** Christ's resurrection is the beginning of the eschatological age, assuring believers of their future resurrection.

- **Order of Resurrection:** There is a sequence: Christ first, then believers at his coming, followed by the end when Christ hands the kingdom to the Father.

- **Transformation of Believers:** At the end, believers will be transformed, receiving imperishable, glorified bodies.

- **Defeat of Death:** The final enemy, death, will be destroyed, culminating in the complete victory of God's kingdom.

In summary, 1 Corinthians 15 presents the resurrection of Christ as the foundation of Christian eschatological hope. It assures believers of their future resurrection, outlines the order and nature of the resurrection, and celebrates the ultimate victory over death through Christ. This chapter encourages believers to live in light of this hope, knowing that their efforts in the Lord are meaningful and have eternal significance.