TEACHING NOTES Introduction Last week we began the section of Paul’s letter to Corinth about the resurrection. As we will see in this session, there were some Christians in Corinth who believed Jesus rose from the dead, but did not believe that the rest of humanity would be resurrected in the end. 1 Cor. 15:12-34 addresses this problem by connecting the resurrection of Jesus to the resurrection of all humanity. For Paul, these two resurrection events are connected and cannot be separated. ‌ Most Christians in Corinth were former pagans. ‌ There was no concept of bodily resurrection in paganism. Resurrection was a laughable idea. ‌ The Jews were also divided about resurrection. ‌ 1 Corinthians 15:12–15 12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. ‌ How can some say there is no resurrection? = Apparently, some Corinthian believers were rejecting the idea of the final resurrection of the dead (often referred today as the general resurrection). They were no rejecting the resurrection of Christ, but were rejecting the resurrection of everyone else. This is ridiculous for Paul, who was formerly a Pharisee. Contrary to the doctrines of the Sadduccees, who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, the Pharisees held the resurrection as a central doctrine. Jesus agreed with the Pharisees on this point and taught that all the dead will be raised—some raised to eternal life and others raised for judgment (John 5:25-29). ‌ No resurrection of the dead, then Christ was not raised = Paul argues that if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ was not raised either. In other words, if there is no final resurrection of the dead, then Christ’s resurrection was pointless. This tells us that Paul believed that one of the main purposes of Christ’s resurrection is our resurrection. ‌ Our preaching and your faith is in vain = If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then the gospel is not true and Jesus is not the Messiah. Early Christians taught that although Jesus was killed (an idea that would make anyone think Jesus was cursed by God), His resurrection was God’s vindication or indication that Jesus really is the Messiah and Son of God. In other words, the resurrection of Jesus proves that He was telling the truth about His identity and mission. Without the resurrection, there is no gospel and our faith is in vain. ‌ 1 Corinthians 15:16–19 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. ‌ Your faith is futile = The Greek word for “futile” here is mataios, which means “useless, empty, fruitless.” There is no point in being faithful to Jesus if there is no resurrection and no life after death. Many pagan religions believed that after death a person’s soul is a kind of shadow (shade) that slowly fades away. There is no resurrection is pagan religions. Therefore, Paul is saying, “If there is no resurrection, then Christianity is no different than paganism.” ‌ You are still in your sins = The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is the only way to be freed from our slavery to sin and death. If there is no resurrection, then there is no forgiveness and freedom from sin(s). ‌ Those who have fallen asleep have perished = If there is no resurrection, then dead Christians are gone forever. There is no eternal life, no judgment, and no new creation without resurrection. ‌ Hope in this life only = Christianity without resurrection is a religion for “this life only.” Paul says that if this was true, “we are of all people most to be pitied.” Why? Because all these Christians who fight against their flesh (sin) and risk their lives for the gospel are wasting their efforts. ‌ 1 Corinthians 15:20–23 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. ‌ In fact Christ has been raised = Paul is clear that the resurrection of Christ is not some spiritual belief, but is a real, physical, and historical event. The fact that Jesus rose bodily from the dead is central to Paul’s teaching later in verses 35-49, where Paul refers to Jesus as “the man of heaven.” ‌ The firstfruits = Here, Paul describes the resurrection of Jesus as a fruit seed that reproduces more resurrection. Jesus went first in His resurrection so that those who follow Him will also be resurrected. ‌ By a man came death = Paul is obviously referring to Adam. Paul goes into more detail on this in Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—” Notice that death spread to all men because all sinned. We all sin, so we all die. ‌ By a man comes the resurrection of the dead = Paul is now referring to Jesus, who is portrayed as a second Adam. The first Adam brought us death, but the second Adam (Jesus) brought us life. ‌ In Christ all shall be made alive = This does not mean that everyone will have eternal life. The Bible is clear that everyone will be resurrected, but not everyone will be given eternal life (see Matt. 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; Rev. 20:11-15). At the resurrection, the faithful will be given eternal life in a new creation. The unfaithful will experience “the second death.” ‌ Each in his own order = Christ was the first resurrection and when He returns those who followed Him in this life will be resurrected. ‌ 1 Corinthians 15:24–26 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. ‌ Then comes the end = The resurrection kickstarts the new age of eternity. The resurrection is the end of this age. The Scriptures are clear that the day of resurrection is also the day of judgment. This means that we are in the last age of this creation and we await the new creation, which is the age to come. ‌ Delivers the kingdom to God the Father = The kingdom of God is the people of God. In the resurrection, the people of God will be gathered together and presented to the Father. ‌ After destroying every rule, authority, power = “Rule, authority, and power” are Paul’s words for spiritual beings what rebelled against God. Psalm 82 tells us that “the gods” who rule the nations have rebelled against God, will be judged by God, and will die like men. This means that the nations were enslaved to these other gods (evil spirits) who led people astray. The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ made a way for humanity to be set free from sin, death, and spiritual evil. When Christ returns, all rebellious spirits will be judged and thrown into the lake of fire. ‌ He must reign until… = This refers to the age in which we are currently living. Christ reigns from the throne of God in heaven and in the hearts of His people on earth until all His enemies have been put under His feet. As the kingdom of God continues to spread all over the earth, the enemies of God are being slowly defeated. ‌ The last enemy destroyed is death = Jesus has already defeated death for Himself. His resurrection was His defeat of death. At the end, when the final resurrection occurs, death will be defeated once and for all. As Rev. 20:14 tells us, “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.” When Christ returns the resurrection will occur, followed by the last judgment when all enemies—including death—will be thrown into the lake of fire. ‌ 1 Corinthians 15:27–28 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. ‌ “God has put all things under his feet” = Paul is quoting from Ps. 8:6 but the same idea is found in Ps. 110, which is the most quoted Psalm in the New Testament. Paul mentions this idea again in Heb. 2:8; 10:12-13; Eph. 1:22. The apostles know this from the teachings of Jesus: “All things have been handed over to me by my Father” (Matt. 11:27) and “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matt. 28:18). ‌ He is excepted who put all things in subjection = Paul is referring to God the Father. Paul is saying that God has put all “things” under the feet of Christ, but God the Father is not subjected to Christ. ‌ The Son will also be subjected to him = This does not mean that the Son is somehow less than the Father. Paul is saying that the Son came to do the will of the Father and the Father gave all things over to the Son. In the end, the Son will give the kingdom to the Father. ‌ That God may be all in all = Paul speaks of the same idea in Ephesians 1:9–10 “9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he [the Father] set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” ‌ 1 Corinthians 15:29–31 29 Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? 30 Why are we in danger every hour? 31 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! ‌ Baptized on behalf of the dead = Grk. baptizo hyper ho nekros - “baptized for the dead” or “baptized for the sake of the dead” or “baptized on behalf of the dead” or “baptized in place of the dead” or “baptized in the name of the dead” or “baptized in honor of the dead.” The Greek preposition hyper is difficult to translate here, which is why this passage is so difficult to interpret. The other difficulty is that it is not clear who these people are who are being baptized nor is it clear who the dead are. Paul only mentions this in passing and does not affirm nor critique this practice. We simply cannot know for sure what Paul is talking about here. Therefore, this passage should not be used for doctrine. ‌ What Paul means by being “baptized for the dead” has been debated for all of church history. Even the early church fathers disagreed on this passage. Here are the views of how this passage is interpreted: ‌ 1. Paul may be referring to a group who were getting baptized for dead people who never had the opportunity to be baptized. They may have been believers who received “the baptism of John” but had never been baptized in the name of Jesus (similar to those in Ephesus in Acts 18:24-25; 19:1-5). ‌ 2. One modern religious group—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or Mormons—take this passage to mean that we should be baptized for dead unbelievers so they can be saved. While this is a modern view, there were heretical groups in the second century AD who practiced something similar. Christianity has always rejected this view as heresy. Once a person dies, there is nothing we can do to bring them salvation. ‌ 3. Some church fathers—like Tertullian and John Chrysostom—thought that Paul was referring to the baptism of the body, which is dead in sin before baptism. In this view, Paul was not speaking of people being baptized for someone else who is dead. Paul is referring to people who are being baptized for themselves to be freed from their own body of death. ‌ 4. Another view states that these people were being baptized in honor of, or in the name of, dead saints. Specifically, the dead saints are those mentioned by Paul earlier in 1 Cor. 15:1-7. Some take this to refer to the eastern practice of patron saints. In that part of the church, people choose a patron saint at their baptism. This ancient patron saint is in the presence of God and watches over them and prays for them when necessary—kind of like the idea of a guardian angel. The idea of saints in heaven praying for believers on earth comes from Rev. 5:8; 6:9-11; 8:3-4. ‌ Why are we in danger every hour? = Paul is saying, “Why would we risk our lives for this gospel if there is no resurrection for us?” ‌ 1 Corinthians 15:32–34 32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. ‌ “Let us eat and drink” = This is a quote from Isaiah 22:13; 56:12, which is also quoted by Jesus in Luke 12:19. If there is no resurrection for us in the end, we should live how ever we want in this life. If there is no resurrection, there is no reason to restrain our desires in this life. We may as well have a good time while we are alive if there is nothing after this life. ‌ “Bad company ruins good morals” = Grk. kakos homilia phtherio chrestos ethos - This could also be translated, “wrong conversations corrupts good morals.” Since some of the Corinthians are saying “there is no resurrection of the dead” Paul wants the church to know that this “wrong conversation” will corrupt the way they live. Bad doctrine leads to bad behavior. ‌ This is actually a quote from Menander’s comedy Thais— “Communion with the bad corrupts good character.” Menander, who lived 342-290 BC, was a famous and award-winning Greek poet/dramatist. The Corinthians would have known Menander’s work. Paul also quotes Menander and Aratus in Acts 17:28 “for ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “ ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’” In his letter to Titus, Paul quotes Epimenides Titus 1:12 “One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.’” ‌ Wake up from your drunken stupor = In Paul’s view, the Corinthians are “asleep at the wheel” so to speak. All of the problems in the Corinthian church indicates that they have veered off course. Paul’s reference to “drunken stupor” (Grk. eknepho - sober up) probably refers to their chaotic worship (1 Cor. 14) and the fact that people were getting drunk on Communion wine (1 Cor. 11:20-21). ‌ Do no go on sinning = Grk. me hamartanete - This verb for sin is in present tense and active voice, meaning “do not keep sinning” or “do not stay sinning.” In other words, we are to live a life of repentance. When we sin, we confess and repent. If we continue in sin without repentance, we are not following Christ. ‌ Some have no knowledge of God = To live in sin and live like everyone else in the world is to ruin our testimony with unbelievers who “have no knowledge of God.” To say there is no resurrection shows a lack of knowledge of God and His Gospel. ‌ Conclusion ‌ The Old Testament clearly teaches the final resurrection and judgment of the dead (Dan. 12). ‌ The resurrection of Christ was understood as proof that God will raise all the dead in the end. ‌ For Christians, our resurrection is the final stage of our salvation and our way into the new creation. ‌ Next Week: 1 Cor. 15:35-58 ‌