1 Corinthians 15
From 2Timothy2.org
Contents
Objectives
- Students will be confident in the risen Christ. In particular, they will be confident that Christ was seen following the resurrection and in their hope given the resurrection.
Opening
Main Body
The Risen Christ
Our Confidence (v. 1-11)
- Look at verse 1. How does Paul choose to introduce what he is about to write?
- Paul introduces what he has to say by pointing out that it is nothing new. This is the message they had already heard. Paul is confirming what they already knew to be true.
- We firmly believed in the perseverance of the saints (once saved always saved). However, we also believe that there are those who have a shallow faith. What does verse 2, together with James 2:19, teach us?
- There is a shallow faith that is so shallow it does not lead to salvation.
- In verses 3 through 8 Paul outlines several keys to the gospel. What does Paul outline?
- Jesus died
- Jesus was buried
- Jesus rose
- Jesus was seen
This is a very important passage for apologetics. Remember that 1 Corinthians was written in the mid 50's. Few scholars dispute the authentic early Pauline authorship. When Paul makes the claim that 500 people saw the risen Christ and most of those people are still alive, we have a strong historical statement.
- What does Paul mean "by one born out of due time?"
- Paul was not converted until after Christ ascended. Paul missed the opportunity. However, Christ, graciously provided Paul salvation. In verse 8 Paul states that he saw Christ "as by one born out of due time." The word that conveys the born our of due time is εκτρωματι and means a still-born child. Thiselton [1] argues this means an aborted fetus. Here, Paul highlights the miracle that God, in his grace, provided life to him.
- In verses 9-11 Paul argues that he is the least of the apostles but that his labor was more abundant. In what ways was Paul's labor more abundant.
- Paul wrote a significant portion of the Bible. Planted a significant number of churches, and served Christ for a significant number of years.
- In verses 9-11 Paul argues that he is the least of the apostles but that his labor was more abundant. From where does Paul draw in order to labor abundantly?
- In verse 10 Paul argues that it is by the grace of God that he has labored.
- How does this passage demonstrate the confidence with which Paul served Christ?
- What should we, as believers, be doing to demonstrate a confidence in the Gospel of Christ?
Our Hope (v. 12-19)
- What issue does Paul address in verse 12-19?
- Some apparently did not believe in the resurrection from the dead. Recall that the Sadduces did not believe in the resurrection from the dead. Also some Greek religions carried a heavy belief in dualism where the body represented that which was intrinsically evil, and the spirit that which was good. Therefore, the idea of a resurrected body would have been foreign to these Gentiles.
- What major consequence does Paul give if there is no resurrection?
- Then Christ is not risen.
- What six consequences does Paul give if there is no resurrection of Christ?
- Preaching Christ would be senseless (v. 14)
- Faith in Christ would be useless (v. 14)
- Those who proclaim to have seen a risen Christ would be liars (v. 15)
- There would be no redemption from sin (v. 17)
- The dead in Christ would have perished (v. 18)
- Those who love for Christ today have no hope and are pitiful (v. 19)
- Given that Christ has risen, how should we then live?
The Last Enemy Destroyed (v. 20 -28)
- What imagery does Paul use in verse 20?
- That of first fruits. When you garden, there is a particularly good feeling when the plants grow their first fruit. The garden was successful and the plants have produced. The first fruit is a mark of much more to come.
- What theological concepts are embedded in verses 21 and 22?
- Imputed sin nature.
- Humanity of Christ
Imputed Righteousness
We should also look at Roman 5:12-19 at this point.
- According to verse 24, what is the end-game?
- When Christ has defeated all enemies he will return everything to God. This culmination will restore all things to the way God designed them to be.
- Notice the word "must" in verse 25. All of this is according to God's plan.
- According to verse 25 and 26, what is the last enemy to be destroyed?
- Death is the term used here. The phrase "till he has put" is a hard phrase to make sense of in English. The phrase uses an aorist subjunctive (αχρι οθ θη) that represents a summary or punctilinear aspect. In other words, there will be a definite time in which the last enemy is destroyed.
- The phrase "the last enemy that will be destroyed" sounds perfective but should really be imperfective. In short, these two phrases probably convey something like, the event that began with Christ's death and resurrection will come to a complete end at a specific point in time.
- What exception clause is introduced in verse 27?
- Christ will not be over God the Father.
Denying the Resurrection (v.29-34)
- In the passage Paul makes an argument that there are two items which would be absurd if the resurrection was not real. What are these two items? (Note: Paul is making a logical argument here and it is important to remember that logic does not force Paul to actually hold to the points he makes).
- Baptism for the dead would be absurd if the resurrection was false.
- Paul's own offering of his life as a sacrifice for God would be useless.
The Baptism for the Dead (v. 29)
- What might Paul mean by baptism for the dead in verse 29?
- There are many possible explanations people have given including:
- Vicarious Baptism
- Baptism of those who are near death
- Baptism of a living person because the death of a loved one has caused them to understand the brevity of life.
- The text really does not offer much and many have tried to explain the text. Many commentators seem to take the third view. What is clear is that whatever practice the Corinthian Christians were performing was inconsistent with a denial of the resurrection. Note: Paul does not endorse the practice but rather uses it as a logical device.
Self Sacrifice for Christ (v. 30-32)
- Paul next makes it personal. In verse 31, what claim does Paul make?
- "I die daily." The Gardner argues that the inclusion of "I affirm" and "boasting" bring the idea of a emphatic oath by Paul that his life is in daily mortal danger for the sake of the Gospel [2].
- What event does Paul describe in verse 32?
- Fighting wild animals in Ephesus.
- Some have argued that this represents an unrecorded event in which Paul was placed in the arena as a punishment. In particular, the conditional clause is a first-class condition in which the protasis is usually assumed to be true. However, Paul was a Roman citizen and anyone thrown into the area loses their civil rights [3]. Since Paul appeals to his rights as a Roman in Acts 22:25-29 this seems unlikely. Another explanation is that Paul was afraid of being thrown into the arena when the riot mentioned in Acts 19:23-41 took place. Another explanation is that Paul thinks of the wild beasts as elements of spiritual warfare e.g. 1 Peter 5:8. Regardless of what Paul means it is important that we don't miss the point. Paul's life was in very real danger every day that he served. Yet, he continued to serve. If the resurrection was not real than Paul was not just wasting his time, but wasting his life.
- Fighting wild animals in Ephesus.
The Impact on Sin (V. 33-34)
- What impact should the resurrection have on each of us?
- The resurrection should lead us to turn from sin. As we become more Christ like, our life should be transformed.
The phrase "bad companionships corrupt good ways" is actually a quote from the play Thais by Menander [4]. The Menander lived from 342/1-290 BC so the phrase would have been well-known by the time Paul wrote 1 Corinthians. The statement Paul is making is that by living as if there is no resurrection, the Corinthians are opening themselves up to behavior of the form "let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die."
To this Paul responds, in verse 34, "sober up!". Some of the Corinthians are so puffed up with their knowledge that they might as well have no knowledge of God, a truly shameful state.
The NKJV translates the words εκνηατε δικαιως as "awake to righteousness." The ESV translates the words as "wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right." Gardner translates the phrase as "Sober up, as is fitting." The idea here is to return to the right mind. The aorist imperative of the verb indicates a one time command but this does not mean the effects are punctilinear. In fact, the next verb, αμαρταυετε, is in the present imperative indicating that while the command to sober up is a one-time command, the command to stop sinning is a continuous behavior.
The Glorified Body (v. 35-49)
- What question were some apparently asking? (see verse 35)
- How can the resurrection occur?
- What is Paul's response in verse 36?
- This is a dumb question.
Nature's Illustration (V. 36-38)
- What illustration does Paul give in verses 36-38?
- Paul uses the illustration of a seed that is planted in the ground, dies, and is reborn.
The Resurrection Body (V. 39-42a)
- What argument is Paul forming in verses 39-42a?
- Different bodies are made for different settings.
Contrasts (V. 42b-44)
- What contrasts does Paul highlight in verses 42b-44?
- corruption vs. incorruption
- dishonor vs. glory
- natural body vs. spiritual body
Together this means that we can expect no more sickness or death, no more din, and no more limitations by time/space.
Christ, the prototype (V. 45-49)
- What was the prototype for our bodies today?
- Adam
- What is the prototype for our bodies in heaven?
- Christ
The Final Victory (v. 50-58)
- According to verse 50, why is it important for us to have a new body?
- We need the new body in order to inherit the kingdom of God.
- What event is described in verses 50-52?
- The rapture
The word mystery refers to something previously hidden in the past but now revealed. The rapture of the church was not revealed in the OT but rather in the NT.
- What important conclusion does Paul draw in verse 58?
- There is a point to all of this. It is easy for us to believe that life on earth is pointless. However, the promise of a resurrection is a promise of hope.
Closing
- In what ways do we, individually, live as if there is no resurrection? (Make it personal, don't give tell me how your uncle's dog's first owner should live, tell me how you should live!)
