Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Corinthians 15:17-18

1 Corinthians 15:17-18 unfold this latter consequence in a form parl [2326] to the former: εἰ δὲ … ἄρα (1 Corinthians 15:14). For ματαία (syn [2327] with ἀργή, James 2:20; with ἀνωφελεῖς, Titus 3:9), see note on κενόν (1 Corinthians 15:14); a faith is “frustrate,” “null and void,” “which does not save from sin; now “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3), but His resurrection makes His death valid, publishing it to men as accepted by God and availing for redemption (Romans 4:25; Romans 8:33 f., 1 Corinthians 10:9; Luke 24:46 f.; Acts 13:32-38 observe the γνωστὸν οὖν ἔστω); it is hereby that “God gives the victory”over both sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:57). ln Christ's resurrection is the seal of our justification, and the spring of our sanctification (Romans 6:4-11); both are wanting, if He is still in the grave. The absence of both is implied in being “yet in your sins” unforgiven, unrenewed. Now this is contrary to experience (1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Corinthians 6:11); the Cor [2328] readers know themselves to be saved men, as Paul and the App. know themselves to be honest men (1 Corinthians 15:15). P. leaves the inference, which observes the strict method of the modus tollens, to the consciousness of his readers (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:20): “We are true witnesses, you are redeemed believers; on both accounts it is certain that Christ has risen, and therefore that there is a resurrection of the dead”. A further miserable consequence of the negative dogma emerges from the last: ἄρα καὶ οἱ κοιμηθέντες … ἀπώλοντο. “Then also those that were laid to sleep in Christ perished!” perished (ptp [2329] and vb [2330] both aor [2331]) when we laid them to rest, and with the “perishing” which befalls those “yet in their sins” (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 8:11; Romans 2:12; Romans 6:23, etc.; also John 8:21; John 8:24). They were “put to sleep in Christ ” (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:14), as the sense of His presence and the promises of His gospel turned their death into sleep (John 11:2, etc.). The ματαιότης of being lulled to sleep when falling into utter ruin! They thought “the sting of death” drawn (1 Corinthians 15:56), and lay down to rest untroubled: cruelly deceived! For the unclassical position of ἄρα, see Wr [2332], p. 699.

[2326] parallel.

[2327] synonym, synonymous.

[2328] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[2329] participle

[2330] verb

[2331] aorist tense.

[2332] Winer-Moulton's Grammar of N.T. Greek (8th ed., 1877).

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Corinthians 15:17-18

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