[The response in this section also is rather to a condition of the church than to a question. In the eyes of the Greeks the body was the prison-house of the soul, and death was a release of the soul from its captivity. The resurrection of the body, therefore, was regarded by them as a calamity rathe... [ Continue Reading ]
by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain. [or without cause. In these two verses Paul reminds them of many important facts, as follows: that they had already heard the gospel, weighed, tested and received it, and that they now stood a... [ Continue Reading ]
For I delivered unto you first of all [as a matter of primary importance: see 1 Corinthians 2:3-4] _that which also I received_ [and hence no device or invention of my own]: _that Christ died for our sins_ [to atone for them-- 1 John 3:5; Galatians 1:4; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Titus 2:14] _according to... [ Continue Reading ]
and that he was buried [and this also was according to the Scriptures-- Isaiah 53:9]; _and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures_ [Psalms 16:10; Isaiah 53:10; Hosea 6:2; Jonah 2:10. Here the apostle reminds the Corinthians that the message which he delivered to them w... [ Continue Reading ]
and that he appeared to Cephas [Luke 24:34]; _then to the twelve_ [John 20:26-29. "The twelve" was an official name for the apostles, though there were but eleven of them at this time];... [ Continue Reading ]
then he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain [among the living] _until now_ [and hence are producible as witnesses], _but some are fallen asleep_ [Matthew 28:16];... [ Continue Reading ]
then he appeared to James [This was the one called "the brother of our Lord," and "James the just." Though Paul speaks of him as an apostle (Galatians 1:19), he was not one of the twelve. But he was prominent in that day as a chief elder at Jerusalem (Acts 15:13; Acts 21:18; Galatians 2:9; Galatians... [ Continue Reading ]
and last of all, as to the child untimely born, he appeared to me also. [Acts 9:5; Acts 22:14; Acts 26:16. The abortive child is usually weak, puny and undersized. Paul speaks of himself as such a child in the brotherhood of the apostles, and does this without mock modesty (comp. 2 Corinthians 12:11... [ Continue Reading ]
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. [Comp. Acts 7:57; Acts 8:1-3; Acts 9:1; 1 Timothy 1:13; Galatians 1:13]... [ Continue Reading ]
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not found vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. [Galatians 2:8; Philippians 2:13; Colossians 1:29]... [ Continue Reading ]
Whether then it be I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. [Paul recognizes the tardiness of his belief on the Lord and the lateness of his vision of him as an evidence of his unworthiness. Though this personal allusion appears on its face to be a digression from his argument, it really lends g... [ Continue Reading ]
Now if Christ is preached that he hath been raised from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?... [ Continue Reading ]
But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been raised:... [ Continue Reading ]
and if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain. [The resurrection of Christ was the very heart of the gospel, the essence of gospel preaching. The Corinthians had not realized how serious a matter it was to admit the impossibility of any resurrection. By so d... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we witnessed of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead are not raised.... [ Continue Reading ]
For if the dead are not raised, neither hath Christ been raised:... [ Continue Reading ]
and if Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. [unjustified-- Romans 4:25]... [ Continue Reading ]
Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ have perished.... [ Continue Reading ]
If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable. [2 Corinthians 1:5-9; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32; 2 Timothy 3:12. If, as the rationalists affirmed, there was no such thing as a resurrection, then Christ was not raised from the dead, and if he was not raised, the apostles a... [ Continue Reading ]
But now hath Christ been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of them that are asleep.... [ Continue Reading ]
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.... [ Continue Reading ]
For as in Adam all die [Genesis 3:1], _so also in Christ shall all be made alive_.... [ Continue Reading ]
But each in his own order [literally, cohort, regiment, or military division]: _Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ's, at his coming_. [After clearly reaffirming his testimony to the resurrection of Christ, he goes on to show the comprehensive, all-inclusive nature of that resurrection... [ Continue Reading ]
Then cometh the end [the apostle does not mean to say that this end comes immediately after the resurrection, but that it is next in order of great events, so far as humanity is concerned], _when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all a... [ Continue Reading ]
For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. [Ephesians 1:20-22; Matthew 28:18; 1 Peter 3:22]... [ Continue Reading ]
The last enemy that shall be abolished is death. [2 Timothy 1:10; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 20:14]... [ Continue Reading ]
For [saith the Psalmist], _He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection_ [Psalms 8:6; Psalms 110:1; Psalms 2:6-9], _it is evident that he_ [the Father] _is excepted who did subject all things unto him_.... [ Continue Reading ]
And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all. [i. e., that God may have all headship of all creation; complete and absolute supremacy (Colossians 3:11), so that "all things shall... [ Continue Reading ]
Else [i. e., if it were otherwise--if baptism were not an all-important factor in God's plan] _what shall they do that are baptized for_ [on account of, with reference to. For full discussion of this preposition see Canon Evans' additional note, Speaker's Commentary in loco] _the dead? If the dead a... [ Continue Reading ]
why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour?... [ Continue Reading ]
I protest by that glorying in [concerning] _you, brethren, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily_. [Romans 8:36]... [ Continue Reading ]
If after the manner of men [as a carnal man, having no future hope] _I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what doth it profit me?_ [The tense and words indicate that Paul had become a beast-fighter as a settled occupation. It is conceded that his language was figurative, and that he spoke of contending... [ Continue Reading ]
Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals.... [ Continue Reading ]
Awake to soberness righteously, and sin not; for some have no knowledge of God: I speak this to move you to shame. [Do not be deceived by freethinkers and shun those who would corrupt the truth, for right doctrine and right practice stand or fall together. Shake off, therefore, this drunken fit, and... [ Continue Reading ]
But some one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what manner of body do they come?... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou foolish one, that which thou thyself sowest is not quickened except it die [comp. John 12:24]:... [ Continue Reading ]
and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not the body that shall be, but a bare [naked] _grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other kind_;... [ Continue Reading ]
but God giveth it a body even as it pleased him [guided by his sense of fitness and propriety], _and to each seed a body of its own_. [In this paragraph Paul answers the first question of 1 Corinthians 15:35. The Corinthians, like all materialists, made the resurrection a puzzling problem. They wond... [ Continue Reading ]
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 fishes.... [ Continue Reading ]
There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.... [ Continue Reading ]
There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory.... [ Continue Reading ]
So also is the resurrection of the dead. [Here the apostle answers the second question of 1 Corinthians 15:35. If a man rises from the dead changed as the grain of wheat is changed, will he not have a different body, and so lose his identity? Will he not cease to be man? Paul gives a threefold answe... [ Continue Reading ]
it is sown in dishonor [buried because it is repulsive and will become offensive-- John 11:39]; _it is raised in glory_ [Philippians 3:21]: _it is sown in weakness_ [devoid of all ability]; _it is raised in power_ [Revelation 3:21]:... [ Continue Reading ]
it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. [This power of God to preserve identity in diversity works out glorious results for man. Our earthly body, when planted in death, will indeed bring forth after its kind, but God, in... [ Continue Reading ]
So also it is written [Genesis 2:7], _The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Howbeit that is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; then that which is spiritual.... [ Continue Reading ]
The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is of heaven.... [ Continue Reading ]
As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.... [ Continue Reading ]
And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. [Here the two heads of humanity are contrasted. Adam was a quickening soul, and Christ a quickening spirit (comp. Genesis 2:7; and John 20:22. See also 2 Corinthians 3:17; Romans 8:2; Romans 8:11; John 7:38-3... [ Continue Reading ]
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. [1 Peter 1:4]... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, I tell you a mystery [a secret not previously revealed]: _We all shall not sleep_ [die], _but we shall all be changed_,... [ Continue Reading ]
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.... [ Continue Reading ]
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [Man in his fleshly nature has no place in heaven, for corruption is antagonistic to incorruption, as light is to darkness. It is essential, therefore, that man must put off the corruption of Adam and the natural... [ Continue Reading ]
But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written [Isaiah 25:8], _Death is swallowed up in victory_. [When the natural body shall be transformed into the spiritual, then shall be fulfilled that... [ Continue Reading ]
O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? [This passage is quoted loosely from Hosea 13:14. Warned by the glow and glory of his argument, the apostle bursts forth in this strain of triumphant exultation, which has wakened a corresponding thrill in the heart of the Christian, and ha... [ Continue Reading ]
The sting of death is sin [Romans 6:23]; _and the power of sin is the law_ [Romans 4:15; Romans 7:10-12]:... [ Continue Reading ]
but thanks be to God [Psalms 98:1], _who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ_. [Death is here spoken of under the figure of a serpent. Sin is the bite or sting with which he slays men, and the power or poisonous strength of sin is found in the curse which the law pronounces upon the... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord. [Therefore, since you see that the dead are raised and made capable of enjoying heaven, do not again be moved from your belief in these w... [ Continue Reading ]