1 Corinthians 15 The Resurrection of the Dead

1 The Resurrection of Christ
Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.

2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.

6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,

8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

11 Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

12 The Resurrection of the Dead
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.

16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.

17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.

19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.

25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

27 For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.

28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.

29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?

30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?

31 I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.

32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,
“Let us eat and drink,
for tomorrow we die.”

33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

35 The Resurrection Body
But someone may ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?”

36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.

37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else.

38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body.

39 All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another.

40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another.

41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.

42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;

43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;

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.

45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.

46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.

47 The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven.

48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.

49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.

50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—

52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

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Analysis of 1 Corinthians Chapter 15

1 Corinthians chapter 15 is one of the most profound and theologically rich chapters in the New Testament. It addresses the core of the Christian faith—the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the subsequent resurrection of believers. Written by the Apostle Paul, the chapter seeks to affirm the importance of the resurrection to the Corinthian church, combating doubts and misconceptions about life after death.

Introduction to the Resurrection (Verses 1-11)

Paul begins by reminding the Corinthians of the gospel he preached to them, which they received and on which they have taken their stand. The essence of this gospel is Christ’s death for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection on the third day, according to the Scriptures (verses 3-4). Paul emphasizes that what he taught was not his invention but was rooted in the prophetic and historical framework of the Old Testament.

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

Paul substantiates the resurrection with multiple eyewitness accounts—Christ appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to the Twelve, to over 500 brethren at once, to James, and lastly, to Paul himself (verses 5-8). This litany of witnesses underscores the reliability of the resurrection as a historical event.

Paul’s self-description as “one untimely born” (verse 8) and “least of the apostles” (verse 9) reflects his humility and gratitude for God’s grace. Despite his former persecution of the church, Paul was transformed and used mightily by God. This transformation adds weight to his testimony about the resurrection.

The Necessity of the Resurrection (Verses 12-19)

Addressing doubts about the resurrection, Paul poses a logical argument: if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised (verse 13). Such a scenario would have catastrophic implications for the Christian faith (verses 14-19), making preaching and faith both futile. Essentially, without the resurrection, the foundation of Christianity collapses.

“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.” (1 Corinthians 15:17-18)

Paul underscores the weight of this truth: the resurrection is integral to salvation. If Christ remained in the grave, believers are still in their sins, making their faith meaningless. Moreover, those who have died believing in Christ have perished. Such a belief diminishes the transformative power of the gospel and the hope it brings.

The Order and Consequences of Resurrection (Verses 20-28)

Paul pivots to affirm the truth: Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (verse 20). Using the metaphor of firstfruits, Paul illustrates that Christ’s resurrection is a precursor and guarantee of the resurrection of believers. Just as the firstfruits of a harvest signal its beginning, Christ’s resurrection ensures the future resurrection of His followers.

“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-23)

Paul outlines a sequence: Christ, the firstfruits, followed by those who belong to Him at His coming. At the end, Christ will deliver the kingdom to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. The final enemy to be destroyed is death (verses 24-26).

Paul’s eschatological vision culminates in God being “all in all” after the Son subjects Himself to the Father (verses 27-28). This reveals not only the order of events but the ultimate purpose of history: the complete and unchallenged reign of God.

Moral Implications of the Resurrection (Verses 29-34)

Paul transitions to practical implications. He addresses the practice of being baptized on behalf of the dead (verse 29), a mysterious and debated reference, suggesting that such actions would be pointless if there were no resurrection. The exact meaning of this practice is less clear, but Paul uses it rhetorically to stress the absurdity of denying the resurrection.

Moving on, Paul highlights the personal risks he took by preaching the gospel (verses 30-32). Facing danger “every hour,” Paul underscores that such sacrifices would be meaningless if there were no resurrection. He famously states, “If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die,’” quoting a sentiment of hedonistic futility that would be appropriate if there was no resurrection.

“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.” (1 Corinthians 15:33-34)

Paul warns against false teachings and immoral influences, urging the Corinthians to live righteous lives in light of the resurrection truth. He calls for a return to sobriety in behavior and beliefs, underpinning moral conduct with eschatological reality.

The Nature of the Resurrection Body (Verses 35-49)

Anticipating questions about the nature of the resurrection body, Paul employs analogies from agriculture and terrestrial and celestial bodies (verses 35-41). He compares the resurrection to a seed that must die to bring forth a new body (verse 36-37). Different kinds of flesh and bodies illustrate the variety and glory of the resurrection body compared to the earthly body.

“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)

Paul contrasts the current physical body, marked by perishability, dishonor, and weakness, with the future resurrection body, which will be imperishable, glorious, and powerful. The term “spiritual body” does not imply immaterial but rather a body transformed and empowered by the Spirit.

The analogy continues with Adam and Christ (verses 45-49). Adam is described as a “living being,” while Christ, the last Adam, as a “life-giving spirit.” Believers, currently in the likeness of the earthly man, will bear the likeness of the man from heaven, hinting at the profound transformation awaiting them.

Victory over Death (Verses 50-58)

Paul reaffirms that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (verse 50), pointing to the necessity of transformation. This transformation is described as a mystery: not all will sleep, but all will be changed, in a flash, at the last trumpet (verses 51-52). This dramatic shift speaks of the sudden and comprehensive change from mortality to immortality that will occur at Christ’s return.

“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’” (1 Corinthians 15:54)

The defeat of death fulfills the prophetic scriptures, reinforcing the hope and assurance believers have in Christ. Paul breaks into a triumphant hymn, declaring, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (verse 55). The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God, who gives the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (verses 56-57).

Paul’s final exhortation is one of steadfastness and labor in the Lord, knowing that it is not in vain (verse 58). The hope of the resurrection gives meaning and purpose to the believer’s efforts, encouraging them to abound in the work of the Lord.

Conclusion

1 Corinthians 15 is a robust defense and exposition of the resurrection, addressing its theological necessity, historical certainty, transformative power, and ethical implications. It provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the resurrection’s centrality to Christian faith and practice.

Paul’s arguments are meticulously structured, moving from gospel foundation, logical necessity, eschatological order, practical implications, analogical explanations, to a victorious conclusion. This chapter not only refutes doubts but also exalts the resurrection as the cornerstone of Christian hope and motivator for righteous living.

Understanding the Key Messages in 1 Corinthians 15: Insights and Explanation

In this chapter, Paul addresses the Corinthians' skepticism about the resurrection of the dead. He emphasizes the importance of Christ's resurrection and its implications for believers. Paul describes the order of resurrection, the imperishable body, and the victory over death through Jesus. He encourages the Corinthians to live in light of the future resurrection, being steadfast and immovable in their faith.

Notes

The concept of resurrection was challenging for the Corinthians, and Paul provides clear teaching on the matter. This chapter is a powerful reminder of the hope we have in Christ's resurrection and its impact on our faith.