The Gospel of the Resurrection
Study note
Paul reminds the Corinthians of the gospel he preached and they received: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose on the third day according to the Scriptures. He then provides an extensive list of resurrection witnesses: Cephas, the twelve, more than five hundred brothers at once (most still living), James, all the apostles, and finally Paul himself, who describes his own encounter as one born at the wrong time because he had persecuted the church. This is the testimony all the apostles share.
1 Now, friends, I want to go back to the good news I shared with you. You accepted it, and it became the foundation you stand on. Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 This is the good news that is saving you -- if you hold on tight to the message exactly as I gave it to you. If you do not hold on, then you believed for nothing. By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 The most important thing I passed along to you is what I was given too. Christ died for our sins, just as the scriptures said he would. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 He was buried, and he was raised back to life on the third day, just as the scriptures said. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 Then he appeared to Cephas, and after that to the twelve apostles. And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred believers at the same time. Most of them are still alive today, though some have passed away. After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 Then he appeared to James, and after that to every one of the apostles. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 Finally, he appeared to me too -- and I came along at the very end, like a baby born at the wrong time. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
9 Out of all the apostles, I am the least important. I do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I used to attack God's church. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But God's grace made me who I am, and that grace was not wasted on me. I outworked all of them -- though it was not truly me doing the work. It was God's grace working in me. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
11 Whether it was me or the other apostles who told you, this is the message, and this is what you believed. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
If Christ Has Not Been Raised
Study note
Some in Corinth are denying the resurrection of the dead. Paul follows their logic to its devastating conclusions: if there is no resurrection, then Christ has not been raised; if Christ has not been raised, apostolic preaching is useless and their faith is futile; the apostles are false witnesses; believers are still in their sins; those who died in Christ have perished forever; and Christians are the most pitiful people on earth. The argument is devastating in its thoroughness.
12 So if the message we preach says Christ came back from the dead, how can some of you claim there is no such thing as coming back from the dead? Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 If dead people cannot come back to life, then Christ himself was never raised. But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ was never raised, then everything we preach is empty and everything you believe is empty too. And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Even worse, that would make us liars about God. We told everyone that God raised Christ back to life. But if dead people truly cannot be raised, then God did not raise him. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 Let me say it again: if dead people are not raised, then Christ was not raised either. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ was not raised, your faith is a dead end. You are still stuck in your sins. And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 And the believers who already died trusting in Christ? They are gone forever. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If following Christ only helps us in this life and nothing more, we are the most pitiful people on earth. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
Christ the Firstfruits
Study note
Paul triumphantly declares that Christ has indeed been raised as the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. Just as death came through one man, Adam, so resurrection comes through one man, Christ. There is an order to the resurrection: Christ first, then those who belong to him at his coming, and then the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every hostile power. Christ must reign until all enemies are under his feet, and the last enemy to be destroyed is death itself.
20 But truly, Christ truly has been raised from the dead! He is the first one out of the grave, with everyone else who died in faith coming after him. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 Death entered the picture through one human being. And coming back from death also enters the picture through one human being. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 In Adam, every person dies. But in Christ, every person will be made alive. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But it happens in order. Christ came back to life first. Then when he returns, everyone who belongs to him will follow. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
24 After that comes the final chapter. Christ will hand the kingdom over to God the Father. But first, he will shut down every enemy ruler, every authority, and every power against him. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 Christ has to keep ruling until every enemy is under his feet. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The very last enemy to be wiped out is death itself. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
27 The scriptures say God 'put everything under his feet.' Obviously, when it says 'everything,' it does not include God himself. God is the one who put everything under Christ. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
28 Once everything is under Christ's power, the Son himself will place himself under God. God is the one who gave him power over everything. Then God will be over all, in all, and through all. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
Practical Implications of the Resurrection
Study note
Paul offers practical arguments for the resurrection: if the dead are not raised, why would anyone be baptized for the dead, and why would Paul himself face danger every hour? He fights wild beasts in Ephesus figuratively because of his resurrection hope. Without the resurrection, the logical conclusion is the nihilistic philosophy of eating and drinking because tomorrow we die. Paul warns them not to be deceived by bad company that corrupts good character, and calls them to come to their senses.
29 If the dead truly are not raised, what about the people who get baptized on behalf of the dead? Why would they do that if dead people are never coming back? Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
30 And why would we keep putting ourselves in danger every hour? And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
31 Friends, I face the possibility of death every day. I swear it by the pride I have in you through Christ Jesus our Lord. I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32 If fighting wild animals in Ephesus was just a human decision with no eternal payoff, what was the point? If dead people stay dead, we might as well say, 'Let us eat and drink, because tomorrow we die.' If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
33 Do not let anyone fool you: 'Hanging around bad people will ruin good habits.' Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
34 Snap out of it and start living right. Some of you do not even know God at all. I am saying this to make you wake up. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
The Nature of the Resurrection Body
Study note
Paul addresses the skeptical question of how the dead are raised and with what kind of body. Using agricultural and cosmic imagery, he explains that a seed must die before it produces a plant with a body God has determined. There are different kinds of flesh and different kinds of glory among celestial and terrestrial bodies. The resurrection body is sown in decay but raised imperishable, sown in dishonor but raised in glory, sown in weakness but raised in power, sown a natural body but raised a spiritual body. As the first Adam was a living being from earth, the last Adam, Christ, is a life-giving spirit from heaven.
35 Someone is going to ask, 'How exactly are dead people raised? What kind of body do they get?' But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36 Think before you ask! A seed you plant has to die in the ground before it can sprout into something new. Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
37 When you plant a seed, you are not planting the full-grown plant. You are just planting a tiny seed -- maybe a grain of wheat or some other kind. And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
38 God gives each seed its own body, exactly the kind of body he planned for it. Different seeds get different bodies. But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
39 Not all living things have the same kind of body. Humans have one kind. Animals have another. Fish have another. Birds have another. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
40 There are bodies designed for heaven and bodies designed for earth. The glory of a heavenly body is one kind, and the glory of an earthly body is something different. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 The sun blazes with one kind of brightness. The moon glows with another. The stars sparkle with yet another. Even among the stars, each one shines with its own unique brightness. 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.
42 That is how it works with the resurrection. The body that goes into the ground will rot away. The body that comes out will never rot. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It goes into the ground ordinary and weak. It comes out glorious and powerful. It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 What goes into the ground is a natural body. What comes out is a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 The scriptures say, 'The first man, Adam, became a living being.' The last Adam -- Christ -- became a Spirit who gives life. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 The spiritual did not come first. The natural came first, and then the spiritual followed. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man was made from the dust of the earth. The second man comes from heaven. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 People made of dust are like the man of dust. People who belong to heaven are like the man from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 Just as we have looked like the man made from dust, we will also look like the man from heaven. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Victory Over Death
Study note
Paul reveals a mystery: not all will sleep in death, but all will be changed in an instant, at the last trumpet. The perishable must put on the imperishable, and the mortal must put on immortality. When this happens, the prophetic words will be fulfilled: death has been swallowed up in victory. Paul taunts death with the rhetorical cry asking where its sting and victory have gone. The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law, but God gives the victory through the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, believers should stand firm, immovable, always abounding in the Lord's work, knowing their labor is not in vain.
50 Let me be straight with you, friends: bodies made of flesh and blood cannot enter God's kingdom. Things that decay cannot share in what never decays. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Listen -- I am telling you a secret. Not all of us will die, but every one of us will be changed. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 It will happen instantly, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet blows. The trumpet will sound, and dead believers will be raised with bodies that can never decay, and those of us who are still alive will be transformed. 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.
53 This body that decays has to be replaced with a body that never decays. This body that dies has to be replaced with a body that never dies. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 What decays will put on what never decays. What dies will put on what never dies. Then this scripture will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up by victory!' So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 Sin is what gives death its sting, and the law is what gives sin its power. The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thank God! He hands us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 So stand your ground, dear friends. Do not let anything move you. Throw yourselves completely into the Lord's work every chance you get, because you can be sure that nothing you do for the Lord is ever a waste. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.