1 Corinthians 15:1
AND NOW I WANT TO REMIND YOU. "Since some of you destroy the Good News by saying the dead are not raised to life, I repeat to you some things which I told you when I was at Corinth.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW I WANT TO REMIND YOU. "Since some of you destroy the Good News by saying the dead are not raised to life, I repeat to you some things which I told you when I was at Corinth.... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU ARE SAVED BY THE GOSPEL. Compare 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:22. UNLESS IT WAS FOR NOTHING. "Unless you were only acting on impulse and didn't really understand what it was all about." [For the nature of _faith,_ see note on James 2:19.]... [ Continue Reading ]
I PASSED ON TO YOU WHAT I RECEIVED. Compare 1 Corinthians 11:23; Galatians 1:12. This is the Lord's message and not just something that Paul "made up." OF THE GREATEST IMPORTANCE. Christianity looks back to an ACT IN HISTORY! The whole Christian system stands or falls on this point: "CHRIST ON THE C... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HE WAS BURIED. As one who was known to be actually dead. See John 19:33-35. AND WAS RAISED TO LIFE ON THE THIRD DAY. Compare 1 Corinthians 15:14. This is very important, because if Jesus did not raise from death, there is no message of salvation!!! The prophets predicted this raising from death... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HE APPEARED TO PETER. "To prove to you the truth of Jesus raising from death, I tell you that he appeared to Peter in bodily form." [Jesus first appeared to a woman, Mary Magdalene. A complete list of appearances is in the notes on Matthew 28:9.]... [ Continue Reading ]
TO MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED. None of the Gospels mention this, but MacKnight thinks Matthew 28:10 hints at it. It probably took place in Galilee (Johnson thinks so), but it could have been while they were all still at Jerusalem. MOST OF WHOM WERE STILL ALIVE. "They are eyewitnesses of all that happene... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN HE APPEARED TO JAMES. The Gospels do not mention this. This James is the Lord's human brother (see notes on Acts 15:13; Acts 21:18). THEN TO ALL THE APOSTLES. ACTS 1:6-9.... [ Continue Reading ]
LAST OF ALL. Paul did not see Jesus until the incident in Acts 9:4. BORN IN A MOST UNUSUAL WAY. EKTROMA is a sudden, violent birth, not like the usual order of things. Paul uses it symbolically, because his _experience_ was so strange!... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I AM THE LEAST. That is, by human standards, because he persecuted the church. _Schmiedel_ thinks that TO EKTROMA was one of the insulting names pinned on Paul by the _circumcision party;_ and that he takes this as his title and gives it a new meaning. Paul probably repeats their charge in a sen... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT BY GOD'S GRACE. The _circumcision party_ may not consider Paul an apostle, but he is - by God's grace!!! "Grace" is used in three different senses in this verse: (1) the _grace_ that saved him (Ephesians 2:8); (2) the _grace_ that appointed him an apostle; (3) the _grace_ that made it possible t... [ Continue Reading ]
WHETHER IT CAME FROM ME OR FROM THEM. "It makes no difference whether it is Peter, the Twelve, James (see note on Galatians 2:12), or me, our gospels the same! We all preach that Jesus raised from death!!! This is what you believed when we led you to Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW, SINCE OUR MESSAGE. "Since all the apostles including me preach that Christ has been raised from death and that his resurrection is a proof of yours, how can some of you say that the dead will not be raised to life?... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THAT IS TRUE. "If you say none of the dead will be raised to life, you are also saying that Christ was not raised from death!" Compare note on Acts 4:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF CHRIST. "If Christ was not raised from death, then all of us (1 Corinthians 15:11) are telling a lie. And if we are telling a lie, then there is no Good News.... [ Continue Reading ]
LYING AGAINST GOD. "We said that God raised Christ from death! If Christ did not raise from the dead, then we become guilty of lying against God himself!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF THE DEAD ARE NOT RAISED. Paul restates what he said in 1 Corinthians 15:13. Note: (1) if the _fact_ is untrue, the witness is untrue also (1 Corinthians 15:14-15); (2) if the _fact_ is untrue, the promises are untrue also (1 Corinthians 15:17-18).... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN YOUR FAITH IS A DELUSION. Faith is based on facts! [See note on James 2:19.] "If Christ has not been raised (and his body still lies on the Judean hill), then he is not the Savior! This would mean that he is only another dead man who could not even save himself. You are still lost in your sins,... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WOULD ALSO MEAN. "The believers in Christ who have died, who thought the sting of death was removed and died happy in that belief, were cruelly deceived - if Christ has not raised to life!... [ Continue Reading ]
IF OUR HOPE IN CHRIST. This means: (1) "If Christ has not been raised, and death truly ends it all, then we Christians who have given up everything hoping to gain eternal life, deserve more pity than anyone else in all the world." (2) "If we apostles hoped to gain something in this life by falsely p... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE TRUTH IS. In contrast to all the bad things that would come if Christ were still in the grave, he how shows us the TRUTH! CHRIST HAS BEEN RAISED FROM DEATH. "Your faith is not a delusion! Your sins are forgiven!" AS THE GUARANTEE. The "first-fruit" of the harvest was both an example and a pl... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR JUST AS DEATH CAME. "The raising of the dead through Christ is a reasonable thing. If death came through a man, it is only right that the raising from death should come through a man." What we unconditionally lost through Adam, we unconditionally get back through Christ. See 1 Corinthians 15:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR JUST AS ALL MEN. The entire human race came under the sentence of (physical) death because of their union to Adam, their ancestor. In the same way the entire human race will be raised from (physical) death and brought to Judgment because of their union to Christ (the second Adam). This does not... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT EACH ONE IN HIS PROPER ORDER. This implies the good and the bad will be raised separately, but at the same time. Compare Revelation 14:13-20 and notes. The Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30) also applies to this.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE END WILL COME. The world's history and time itself will terminate as Christ Comes, the dead rise, and Judgment takes place. _Christ will overcome._ He has ALREADY won the victory (see note on Revelation 20:1-3), yet he does not completely destroy his enemies until the right time. Compare 1... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR CHRIST MUST RULE. He is not fighting a battle to seize a Kingdom, since he has already won the victory (see Daniel 2:44; Acts 2:16-17; and read the Introduction to Acts). UNTIL GOD DEFEATS. Psalms 110:1; Hebrews 1:13. This is God's promise to defeat these enemies, in order to destroy them!... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAST ENEMY. Death will be destroyed by the RAISING FROM DEATH! Christ is the _guarantee;_ the Resurrection will be the _fact!_ Compare notes on Revelation 20:12-15; Romans 5:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE SCRIPTURE SAYS. "What I have said about the duration of Christ's Kingdom and his handing it over to the Father, agrees with the words of Psalms 8:6 as explained in Hebrews 2:8-9_."_ DO NOT INCLUDE GOD HIMSELF. The Greeks had a myth about Jupiter dethroning his father Saturn and exiling him t... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN ALL THINGS. "When there is no longer any need for a prophet to teach, a priest to make a sin-offering, or a king to rule under God." In other words, when Christ's mission is complete. Compare note on Revelation 6:11. THEN HE HIMSELF, THE SON. Compare 1 Corinthians 15:24_. The Expositor's Gr... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO ARE BAPTIZED FOR THE DEAD? If we knew the exact wording of the Corinthians' question, it would be easy to know exactly what Paul means. But we do know this is part of his logic in proving the dead will be raised. _MacKnight_ translates this: "who are baptized for THE RESURRECTION of the dead." T... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY WOULD WE RUN THE RISK? If there were no Resurrection??? Compare 2 Corinthians 11:23-28.... [ Continue Reading ]
I FACE DEATH EVERY DAY! This is a vivid picture of his constant danger!... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE FOUGHT "WILD BEASTS." Most take these words as figurative of the opposition he faced from unbelievers. But _MacKnight_ and most of the ancient scholars think this actually happened just as Paul says, and that 2 Corinthians 1:8 and the customs of the time imply that Paul actually faced wild be... [ Continue Reading ]
DO NOT BE FOOLED. "Do not let the false logic of the wicked fool you, especially about the raising from death. Your good character can be ruined by the _unbelief_ that is hidden in what they say.... [ Continue Reading ]
COME BACK TO YOUR RIGHT SENSES. "Just because some say the dead will not rise does not give you the right to sin!" SOME OF YOU DO NOT KNOW GOD. The fact that some were saying the dead will not rise from death and that there is no future life - proved they did not really know God and his power! This... [ Continue Reading ]
SOMEONE WILL ASK. These two questions have been asked by people in all ages of time. HOW CAN? "The body goes back to dust, or is burnt up, and the elements of it go to form the bodies of other people. How is it possible?" WHAT KIND? "What kind of body would they have if they could come out of the gr... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU FOOL! "Nature itself teaches you this lesson." UNLESS IT DIES. The body of the seed is destroyed, but out of it comes the new plant. So long as the body of the seed is protected, it cannot grow.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT THE FULL-BODIED PLANT. But the full-bodied plant is contained in the seed (even though it is dormant), and under the proper conditions, it grows up out of the seed. The point is that the plant is not the very seed that was planted, so our new body will not be the same body that was buried, _but... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD PROVIDES THAT SEED. Nature shows the greatness of God! Compare 1 John 3:1-3.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE FLESH. "The flesh itself of man, animals, birds, and fish is another example of God's power. God has structured each to fit into the _ecosystem._ Will he not also structure the bodies of those raised from death?... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE ARE. Each of these is also structured to fill its _role_ in the Creation.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SUN. Paul shows us the variety in the "heavenly bodies." All of this is proof of a future body so different from our present body that we cannot begin to imagine what it will be like!... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS HOW IT WILL BE. "The resurrection of the dead is as _possible_ as all these examples which I have just shown you." IT IS MORTAL. "When the body is buried, it can decay and be destroyed." IT WILL BE IMMORTAL. "The new body will not decay, nor will it ever be destroyed (but see Matthew 10:28 a... [ Continue Reading ]
UGLY AND WEAK. Because of mutilation, disease, old age, and death. BEAUTIFUL AND STRONG. Compare Luke 20:36; Philippians 3:20-21.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN BURIED it is flesh and blood, under the curse (Genesis 3:16-19). WHEN RAISED it will be a spiritual body, structured to fit into the _eternal world_ (1 John 3:1-3).... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE SCRIPTURE SAYS. Paul paraphrases Genesis 2:7 Septuagint, which says that Adam was created a _living being._ [_PSUCHE_ means both soul and life, according to the context, PSUCHEN ZOSAN here means _living being._] This is life in the _animal_ or _natural_ sense. IS THE LIFE-GIVING SPIRIT. The... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT COMES FIRST. First Adam, then Christ. First the physical, then the spiritual.... [ Continue Reading ]
MADE OF DUST. Genesis 2:7 CAME FROM HEAVEN. Compare 2 Corinthians 5:2-3 and notes.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOSE WHO BELONG TO THE EARTH. Our natural bodies are like Adam's body. THOSE WHO ARE OF HEAVEN. Our spiritual bodies will be like Christ's resurrection body. Compare Philippians 3:20-21.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LIKENESS. "We Christians wear the likeness of Adam in our physical bodies as we live on earth for a short time. We will wear the likeness of Christ in our spiritual bodies as we live forever in eternity!... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT I MEAN. "Nature prohibits eternal life in this earthly body. Our own resurrection or change must come before we can possibly share in God's Kingdom of Eternity!... [ Continue Reading ]
LISTEN TO THIS SECRET. This is a new truth which they did not have! He challenges the false teacher and the others with this revelation from God! WE SHALL NOT ALL DIE. When Christ Comes, many (perhaps millions) will not die (as we understand death)! ALL BE CHANGED. 1 Thessalonians 4:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE BLINKING OF AN EYE. The change will be instantaneous! Notice this clearly shows the time factor _in_ 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. WHEN THE LAST TRUMPET SOUNDS. Compare Hebrews 12:18-21.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHAT IS MORTAL. To share the Kingdom of God, our mortal bodies must become immortal, no longer capable of dying. Compare 2 Corinthians 5:1-5.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE SCRIPTURE WILL COME TRUE. The Resurrection will cancel the curse of death placed on mankind in Genesis 3:16-19. See 1 Corinthians 15:26.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE, DEATH? Paul adapts the language _of_ Hosea 13:14 as A song of victory! "Death, who lead the human family captive, where is your victory? All the dead have been rescued from you! With your power to hurt you killed God's people. Where now is your power to hurt, since they cannot die anymore?... [ Continue Reading ]
DEATH GETS ITS POWER TO HURT. Compare Romans 5:17; Romans 5:21; Romans 6:23. SIN GETS ITS POWER FROM THE LAW. In these seven words Paul condenses his teaching in Romans 4:15; Romans 5:20; Romans 6:14_; ch 7;_ Galatians 2:16_; ch 3;_ Galatians 4:21_ to_... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THANKS BE TO GOD. God gives us a way to escape from sin and death! The Resurrection comes through _Christ on the cross!_... [ Continue Reading ]
STAND FIRM AND STEADY. "Do this because the dead will be raised to life and God's people will be happy beyond any human imagination in that Eternal Kingdom!!!" KEEP BUSY. Compare 1 Corinthians 15:14. Christ did raise from death!!! Therefore their work for the Lord is NOT _empty_ and _useless._... [ Continue Reading ]