_(F) THE FACT AND THE DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD_ Some Corinthians disbelieved in the resurrection of the dead—not, apparently, in Christ's Resurrection, though St. Paul felt this would soon follow, but in their own future resurrection. This occasioned him to write this grand chapter,... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE SAVED] i.e. are in the way of salvation (see on 1 Corinthians 1:18), by faith in the crucified and risen Saviour. KEEP IN MEMORY] RV 'hold fast.' HAVE BELIEVED (RV 'believed,' i.e. at your conversion and baptism) IN VAIN] i.e. without consideration, and so without stability.... [ Continue Reading ]
I DELIVERED.. WHICH I RECEIVED] see on 1 Corinthians 11:2; 1 Corinthians 11:23. Probably he 'received' the accounts of these appearances of the risen Lord on his visit to Jerusalem (Acts 9:27; Galatians 1:18), when he saw Peter and James. FIRST OF ALL] As most important. FOR OUR SINS] i.e. to atone... [ Continue Reading ]
BURIED] This proves the reality of both Death and Resurrection.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS SEEN] RV 'appeared to.' Not a complete list. Mary Magdalene, e.g., and the two at Emmaus (Luke 24) are omitted. He mentions those personally known to himself, and whose authority would have weight at Corinth. CEPHAS, THEN OF THE TWELVE] Luke 24:33.... [ Continue Reading ]
ABOVE FIVE HUNDRED BRETHREN AT ONCE] probably on the mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16). SOME ARE FALLEN ASLEEP] i.e. dead. Twenty-five years at least had elapsed. SLEEP is used of death often in OT. (e.g. 1 Kings 2:10), but Christ, by using it of those He was about to restore to life (Matthew 9:24... [ Continue Reading ]
JAMES] The Lord's brother (Galatians 1:19; Acts 15:13). This appearance is not mentioned in the Gospels. ALL THE APOSTLES] probably just before the Ascension, Acts 1:4. The present passage is the oldest account of the appearances of the risen Lord, written years before any of our Gospels, and only... [ Continue Reading ]
OF ME ALSO] on the road to Damascus, at his conversion (Acts 9). BORN OUT OF DUE TIME] Suddenly, without the gradual training of the rest; as inferior as an immature birth is to a mature one.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LEAST OF THE APOSTLES] cp. 1 Timothy 1:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM WHAT I AM] i.e. an Apostle. NOT IN VAIN] i.e. was justified by its results. His apostolic work, as well as his apostleship itself, was due to THE GRACE OF GOD. 11. Or they] i.e. the other Apostles; Christ's Resurrection was taught by all Christian preachers, accepted by all believers.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW SAY SOME AMONG YOU, etc.] Their unbelief probably sprang from the philosophical idea that the matter was essentially evil, so that the soul would be better off when set free from the body; thus the doctrine of the Resurrection was to them a needless difficulty: cp. also 2 Timothy 2:17. The Corin... [ Continue Reading ]
DENIAL OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD LOGICALLY INVOLVES THE DENIAL OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION, WHICH WOULD OVERTHROW THE WHOLE CHRISTIAN FAITH. The belief in the resurrection of the dead is bound up with the Resurrection of Christ. But His Resurrection shows that resurrection is not an impossibility... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN IS CHRIST NOT RISEN] For if a thing be altogether impossible, there cannot be even one instance of it. In this and the following vv. (see summary) the Apostle shows the logical consequences of disbelief in the resurrection, or, rather, the consequences that would follow were there no resurrecti... [ Continue Reading ]
VAIN] i.e. there is nothing in it.... [ Continue Reading ]
FALSE WITNESSES] not merely empty talkers, but positive liars. No thoughtful sceptic now-a-days regards the Apostles as impostors. Their character, as well as their sufferings, forbids this; but he would say they were victims of a mistake—merely imagined they saw the risen Lord. But the idea of this... [ Continue Reading ]
YET IN YOUR SINS] not justified from them (Romans 2:25); unforgiven, unrenewed. 'Christ's Resurrection is the seal of our justification and the spring of our sanctification' (Findlay). If there be no resurrection, of what avail are forgiveness and salvation?... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ALSO WHICH ARE FALLEN ASLEEP] The Apostle here argues from the natural affections of the human heart. It is impossible to believe that those who died in faith in Christ perished utterly. The inference is: 'But we are sure these things are not so; therefore Christ has risen; therefore the resurr... [ Continue Reading ]
IF IN THIS LIFE ONLY WE HAVE HOPE IN CHRIST] If our hope in Him does not reach beyond this life, we are most miserable (RV 'pitiable'), because the hope of future joy and blessing which inspires our toils and sufferings is a mere delusion. 20-28. The fact and the consequences of Christ's Resurrecti... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIRSTFRUITS] The first sheaf accepted by God is a pledge of the coming harvest: cp. Leviticus 23:10; 21, 22. The Apostle, as in Romans 5, contrasts Adam, from whom by natural descent we all derive a corrupt nature, with Christ the second Adam, the Son of man, our spiritual head, by union with wh... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HIS OWN ORDER] i.e. rank, or place. Christ comes first, the rest long after.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN _cometh_ THE END] Christ's Advent and the Resurrection conclude this dispensation. WHEN HE SHALL HAVE DELIVERED UP THE KINGDOM] The purpose of the Incarnation will have been accomplished; Christ will have recovered for His Father the dominion over all things. 'This is no ceasing of Christ's rul... [ Continue Reading ]
HE MUST REIGN] according to prophecy (Psalms 110:1).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAST ENEMY] 'The first enemy of Christ and of Christians is the devil, who was conquered by Christ on the Cross; the second is sin, which through the grace of Christ is conquered by Christians in this life; the third is death, which, as the last of all, will be conquered at the Resurrection' (qu... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE (God) HATH PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS (Christ's) FEET] cp. Psalms 8:6; Hebrews 2:8; Philippians 2:9. The Father has bestowed upon Him as Son of man dominion over the whole universe. WHEN HE SAITH, etc.] RM 'when he shall have said, All things are put in subjection (evidently excepting him that... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALL THE SON ALSO HIMSELF BE SUBJECT] see on 1 Corinthians 15:24. The Son will continue to be subordinate to the Father, as now. This is involved in the very idea of Sonship: cp. 1 Corinthians 3:23; 1 Corinthians 11:3. THAT GOD MAY BE ALL IN ALL] The universe, with all it comprises, will wholl... [ Continue Reading ]
BAPTIZED FOR THE DEAD] a very obscure allusion. There was somewhat later a practice, among certain sects of vicarious baptism; when a man died unbaptised, a friend would receive baptism in his stead. This may have already existed and be meant here. St. Paul mentions 'baptism for the dead,' without e... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRACTICAL EFFECTS OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION. The Resurrection alone gives an adequate motive for (_a_) baptism for the dead; (_b_) running risk of death in Christian work; or indeed (_c_) abstaining from a life of self-indulgence.... [ Continue Reading ]
BY YOUR REJOICING] RV 'by that glorying in you,' i.e. as surely as I am proud of you: cp. 1 Thessalonians 2:19; I DIE DAILY] am daily in danger of death, and my daily sufferings must end in it: cp. 2 Corinthians 11:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THE MANNER OF MEN] i.e. from ordinary human motives, for applause or money; and with no hope of reward in the resurrection life. I HAVE FOUGHT WITH BEASTS] probably a strong metaphor (cp. 1 Corinthians 4:9) for some plot of the Jews or attack of the mob. His Roman citizenship and influential f... [ Continue Reading ]
EVIL COMMUNICATIONS] RV 'evil company,' a quotation from a Greek poet, Menander, warning the Corinthians against the influence of heathen ideas about the future life. The line had probably in St. Paul's day become a proverb, as it is still.... [ Continue Reading ]
SOME HAVE NOT THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD] hence both unbelief in resurrection, and low moral tone. TO YOUR SHAME] i.e. to shame you; for you ought to surpass the heathen. 35-44. The nature of the Resurrection and the Resurrection body. St. Paul here uses several illustrations of (_a_) the possibility (_b_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou_ FOOL] RV 'thou foolish one.' The Apostle is somewhat impatient of objections to his doctrine of the Resurrection, which the analogies of nature readily refute. THAT WHICH] i.e. the seed which. IS NOT QUICKENED, EXCEPT IT DIE] cp. John 12:24. In nature, death leads to higher life.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT THAT BODY THAT SHALL BE, BUT BARE (RV 'a bare') GRAIN] The actual seed sown does not reappear, but something higher, a complete plant, springs from it.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS OWN BODY] RV 'a body of its own,' i.e. a plant of the same kind as the seed.... [ Continue Reading ]
There are many different forms of animal life; so there may be of human life.... [ Continue Reading ]
CELESTIAL BODIES] probably this refers to angels, not to sun and moon, etc. But this leads him in the next v. to speak of degrees of glory. BODIES TERRESTRIAL] i.e. creatures of the earth.... [ Continue Reading ]
_One_ STAR DIFFERETH] The primary meaning is the literal one. Some stars are brighter than others. There are great differences between things of the same class; so also between the natural and the spiritual body.... [ Continue Reading ]
A NATURAL BODY] (cp. 1 Corinthians 2:14, 'the natural man') endowed with natural life and fitted for an earthly existence. THE SPIRITUAL BODY will be filled with spiritual life and adapted for a spiritual existence. The word 'natural' is literally 'soulish,' and suggests the possession of an ordinar... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS MADE A LIVING SOUL] (Genesis 2:7). Life was given to him, while Christ is the Giver of life. THE LAST ADAM _was made_] RV 'became' (i.e. at His Resurrection). A QUICKENING (RV 'lifegiving') SPIRIT] bestowing resurrection as well as spiritual life: cp. John 5:21; John 11:25; John 11:26. THE LAST... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE EARTH, EARTHY] hence subject to decay and death: cp. Genesis 3:19, 'out of it' (the ground) 'wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.' FROM HEAVEN] and so, spiritual and eternal.... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE BORNE THE IMAGE] i.e. have been made like. Our present body is Like Adam's, but it will be conformed to the body of Christ's glory (Philippians 3:21). 50-53. The necessity of this change, in which the living will share. Our earthly perishable nature cannot take possession of God's imperishable... [ Continue Reading ]
FLESH AND BLOOD] i.e. human nature in its present material and perishable condition. INHERIT] take possession of; have rightful entrance upon. The argument is, that such a spiritual body as he has been speaking of is absolutely necessary in the kingdom of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT ALL SLEEP] for some will be living when Christ comes again.... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THE LAST TRUMP] cp. Matthew 24:31; 1 Thessalonians 4:16;—a signal which all will hear: cp. also Exodus 19:18. WE] i.E. those still living; the quick. SHALL BE CHANGED] The Apostle hoped Christ would return in his lifetime.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS MORTAL (body) _must_ PUT ON IMMORTALITY] cp. 2 Corinthians 5:1. 54-58. The Resurrection is the final triumph over sin and death. When this glorious body has been received, then will be the end of death and the grave. Sin, too, shall have disappeared, and the Law will be no longer necessary. Ov... [ Continue Reading ]
THE STING OF DEATH _IS_ SIN] which brought death into the world (Romans 5:12), and gives it its bitterness: cp. Hebrews 2:14; Hebrews 2:16. AND THE STRENGTH OF SIN _IS_ THE LAW] which reveals sin and, indeed, 'intensifies its power,' without giving power to overcome it (Romans 7:7; Romans 8:2; Roman... [ Continue Reading ]
UNMOVEABLE] not shaken by false teaching. NOT IN VAIN] contrast 1 Corinthians 15:16. IN THE LORD] Christ is regarded as the atmosphere, so to speak, in which their work is done. It is inspired by Him and done for Hi sake: cp. 1 Corinthians 9:1.... [ Continue Reading ]