Verses 1-2 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
The Apostle Paul continues in this chapter to reinforce that which the Corinthian church has been taught but has either forgotten or has become confused about because of their own fleshly ideas or because of false teachings that have come into the church. He is now going to review the principles of the Gospel. Remember that the word “gospel” means good news, and therefore all of Scripture is good news. But the main aspects of the Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ. It is upon this historical factual event that all Christian doctrine stands and it is upon this historical factual event that all Christian believers are saved or born again into the Kingdom of God.
Verses 3-4 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 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
The Apostle Paul summarizes the Gospel as he received it from the LORD Jesus Christ and as he presented it to the people of Corinth.
Verses 5-8 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 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 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
The Apostle Paul then reminds them of the proof of the Gospel which consisted of eye-witness reports. A witness is one who sees and hears events and who can then truthfully recount them to others. The risen LORD Jesus was seen by Cephas or the Apostle Peter. He was seen by the rest of His disciples which included Thomas who touched and felt Him and so knew He had risen from the dead. He was seen by over 500 people and it can be postulated that part of that 500 was the rest of the 120 people who gathered in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. He was seen by His own earthly brother, James, who became one of the leaders of the Jerusalem church. And finally the LORD Jesus Christ appeared on the road to Damascus to the Apostle Paul and the men who were with him.
Application: The Bible teaches that there has to be two or more witnesses for a court action or for any action in which something needs to be confirmed as true. In modern jurisprudence people have been sentenced to life in prison or to death on the basis of a single witness. So ask yourself why after over 500 people reported seeing a risen Jesus the Jews refused to believe the truth? And why down through the centuries to modern days people still deny the resurrection of Jesus? And why did Jesus’ disciples suffer and die for the Gospel if it was not true? The only reasonable conclusion anyone can come to is that the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus was a historical fact and true, therefore the Christian faith and teachings are true.
Verses 9-10 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 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.
The Apostle Paul was a humble man. He never forgot or tried to hide the truth about his actions against God’s people before his conversion to the Faith. He harmed people and this part of his past never left him. Perhaps this is why he was so driven to preach the Gospel and see souls saved. He always gave God the glory for any good things that resulted from his ministry.
Verses 11-12 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. 12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
The Apostle Paul was not the only minister of the Gospel to reach the Corinthian church, but he is saying that regardless of from whom they heard the message of salvation, they had come to believe the Gospel. Yet for some reason some in the church were now denying any resurrection of the dead. The Sadducees who also denied the resurrection of the dead were still around at this time and perhaps some of them had put this idea into the minds of the Corinthian believers. Not really sure. But here is another false doctrine that the Apostle Paul had to correct.
Verses 13-14 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
Application: The entire Christian Faith is resting on the resurrection of the dead, some to eternity in Heaven and some to eternity in Hell. If there is no life after death, and if this physical life is all there is, then why bother with any religion or belief system? It is the historical fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and from the tomb that makes the Christian Faith legitimate and true over all other religious systems, including witchcraft. No body of Jesus has ever been found. It there was a body, the Jews would have paraded it through the streets of Jerusalem. There is no physical way that a few disciples of Jesus could sneak up on trained military guards and then by hand roll a giant stone up a slope to steal the body of Jesus as the story goes which was spread by the Jews. All the Jews had to do to stop the birth of Christianity and its spreading throughout the world was to produce Jesus’ body. All the other founders of various religions are dead and still in their graves. But Jesus is risen, and because He is risen, His followers have the promise of resurrection from the dead also.
Verses 15-19 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 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
The Apostle Paul was a witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead when he met Him on the road to Damascus. The other disciples and the over 500 believers who saw Jesus during His time on this Earth after His resurrection were all witnesses to the fact of His physical, bodily resurrection. If this was not true, then all these people would be false witnesses who testified of this fact. The Apostle Paul was pointing out to the Corinthians that he and other apostles were not false witnesses. Furthermore, he uses logic to show the Corinthians that they cannot have it both ways. They cannot claim Christianity and claim no resurrection from the dead. If Christians have no hope of life after death, then their faith is futile and they are still under the bondage of sin. All of their friends and family who became believers and then died would be no more if there is no resurrection, and there would be no hope of seeing loved ones ever again. This realization was dismal, and so they must be mistaken to even consider that physical death was final and the end.
Verses 20-22 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
The Apostle Paul asserts firmly that Jesus Christ is indeed risen from the dead and that since through the sin of Adam all mankind inherited a physical death sentence, through Jesus all believers inherit a resurrected body and life eternal.
Application: The New Testament Scripture does not refer to the death of the saints, but to the fact that they are sleeping. Like all who sleep, they will be awakened. Christian believers do not die but fall asleep and wake to find themselves in the presence of the LORD Jesus Christ in Heaven. Their body remains behind until the last day when all the graves will open and the dead in Christ will rise to meet Him in the air, but the soul and spirit are with Jesus Christ.
Verses 23-24 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 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.
God has a plan and that plan has order or a process by which the plan shall come to fruition. Therefore, the first to be bodily resurrected was/is Jesus Christ after which His saints will be bodily resurrected when He returns to this Earth as Judge. Only then will the Kingdom of God be completed as all of mankind who is to be saved will have been saved and the door to the Kingdom will be shut so that no more people can enter in. At that time, all earthly governments, all earthly leaders, military, secret societies and anyone who has had earthly power will be destroyed. Only the one true King will be ruling with righteous authority and with power. Praise the LORD.
Application: A resurrection of the dead in Christ has already happened as recorded in the book of Matthew. “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city and appeared unto many.” Matthew 27:50-53 So this event was in essence a mini-resurrection showing forth what will happen when the LORD Jesus Christ returns and judges this world. So first Jesus bodily rose from the dead, and then saints whose graves were opened because of the earthquake bodily rose afterwards. The sleeping saints awoke and people were witnesses to this event.
Application: Scripture teaches that there will be a short period of time at the very end of time when no one will be saved from sin, death and Hell. Jesus stated in John 10:7 and 9, “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” Jesus stated in Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:” referring to the accessibility of the LORD and of His Word. But the time is coming in which this will no longer be the case. “When once the master of the house (Jesus) is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:” Luke 13:25
Verses 25-28 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 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 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.
Application: Why has Jesus not returned to this Earth to end time and usher in eternity? According to Scripture two main reasons are apparent. First, all the people who will ever be saved must have the seal of the LORD upon them. The seal of the LORD is the gift of the Holy Ghost/Spirit. In other words, until the last individual predestinated to be saved is saved, Jesus will not return. The second reason is that presented above by the Apostle Paul. Prophecy must progress until all of Jesus Christ’s enemies are subdued. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death as once He returns and time is no more, death will be no more. All who are physically dead will rise, be judged and assigned Heaven or Hell. All who are physically alive at His coming will also be judged and assigned Heaven or Hell. End of story.
Verse 29 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?
There are some religious organizations functioning today in the same error that the Corinthian church was experiencing in that they baptize living people, usually family members, in the place of a family member who has physically died and who was not baptized when physically alive. This practice is not Christian and it does absolutely nothing for either the individual being baptized or the one who is dead. Dead is dead. The Apostle Paul used this practice to show how ridiculous it was for some in the Corinthian church to not believe in a resurrection of the dead and then baptize for the dead as if it would affect their eternal destiny. Only if there is life after death and a resurrection would this practice be relevant, although unscriptual, in any way. They could not have it both ways.
Verse 30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
Most of the persecution of the Apostle Paul and the other disciples in the early Church was a result of preaching a resurrection of the dead. Their lives were in constant danger because of the attempts by Jews and others to silence the Gospel message by silencing the messengers. So if there was no resurrection of the dead, the Apostle Paul is asking the Corinthians why would he and others preach it and put themselves in jeopardy?
Verses 31-32 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 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.
Application: What was the Apostle Paul gaining by insisting upon the fact of the resurrection of the dead if it was not true. Why place oneself in danger for a lie? If Christ did not rise, then as stated before, the Christian Faith is a waste of time and one might just as well live it up on Earth if life on Earth is all there is ever going to be. This argument by the Apostle Paul was to correct wrong doctrine and to show the Corinthian believers that, yes, there truly is a resurrection of the dead and that this physical life is not all there is.
Verses 33-34 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
The Apostle Paul clearly tells the Corinthians that keeping company with those who are not following the Gospel as it was presented to them by the servants of the LORD will corrupt their thinking and their Christian walk. One does not want to associate with those who do not have knowledge of God and who are teaching false doctrine.
Verses 35-38 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37 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 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
Most Christian believers have asked the question in verse 35 above. How can a body who has been buried in the ground for years or centuries come out of the dirt and what condition will it be in?
39 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 also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 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 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 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 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 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 thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15)