1 Corinthians 15

Study Guide 134: 1 Corinthians 15-16 RESURRECTION: THIS FAMILY IS FOREVER Overview The belief in a personal, bodily resurrection is basic to biblical faith. While one of the Jewish theological traditions (the Sadducees) rejected the concept, it is taught in the Old Testament (see Job 19:25; Psalms 17:15; Psalms 49:7-12; Psalms 73:23-26; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2). Jesus affirmed the resurrection in His teaching (see Matthew 22:29-32), and demonstrated His personal power over death by raising Lazarus (see John 11:1-57). Yet the raising of Lazarus and others by Jesus (see also Matthew 9:18-26) was merely a restoration of earthly life. It was not the total transformation exhibited in Jesus’ own resurrection — and promised believers when Christ returns. What we do know is that when Christ returns the believing “ dead will be raised imperishable, and we [who live then] will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52). Then, the limitations of our present nature will be lifted, and we who are now perishable will be imperishable; we who are weak will be filled with power; we who are mortal will be immortal. Forever and ever, Amen. RESURRECTION. Because the idea of resurrection was foreign to Greek thought, there existed no technical words in Greek to describe it. The Bible uses two common words, one meaning “ to raise, to arouse” and the other “ to awaken.”

Commentary Christ promised the believer an inner transformation. And there was transformation. Believers found striking changes were taking place — within themselves, and in one another. The attitudes and ideas and ways of paganism died hard. Yet, there was clear evidence of God’ s work within the Corinthian body. In spite of differences and divisions, and in spite of lax discipline, people were being delivered from superstition and fear. The bondage of idolatry was shattered; an exciting new freedom was experienced. God’ s presence in Corinth was abundantly demonstrated; all the spiritual gifts were operating in the body, and the church was excited about each new experience of the Spirit. The Corinthian’ s attitudes and values were changing too. They took very seriously Paul’ s teaching on marriage — and even went beyond what he intended in some cases. The believers appealed to Scripture and to God’ s Word for guidance (through the apostolic teachings), and were praised for holding to the practices which Paul taught them. Women were breaking out of their servitude, rejoicing in their liberation, and asserting themselves in bold (if sometimes misdirected) ways. In general, the Corinthians seemed very responsive to truth; Paul always expected that they would respond obediently to his instruction. Each of these facts give witness that transformation had begun. These believers were changing and growing, becoming new and different persons. At the same time, their growth was retarded, apparently because of a lack of that vital quality Paul spoke of so often in his letters to the Thessalonians. To the church at Thessalonica Paul could say, “ About brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other” (1 Thessalonians 4:9). But to the Corinthians, Paul had to say, “ knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1), and then go on to show them how to handle their differences lovingly. It was to the Corinthians that the great exposition of love in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 was addressed, and one of Paul’ s last reminders to them was, “ Do everything in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14). A process. All this helps us realize again that growing toward Christian maturity is a process. God does work His transformation in our personalities, but that work takes place over time, and sometimes over more time than we desire! Sometimes growth seems slow as we face problems like those that plagued the church at Corinth. We need to keep three things in mind here. First, as newness comes, there will be tension between the old and the new. Transition times are sure to bring problems. Second, building the climate of love in the body will ease tensions. Love, like truth, is essential. By affirming our love for each other in spite of differences and strains, and by affirming together our commitment to truth, we will grow. We are being freed from the world’ s mold — that old way of thinking, of valuing, and of perceiving ourselves and others. We are being transformed in a process to which God has committed Himself. Words Paul would later pen to encourage the Philippians hold as well a promise for the Corinthians — and for us! “ He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phi 1:6). And this brings us to the third thing. A day of completion is coming! In the day that Christ Jesus returns, our transformation will be complete. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Review Corinthians with your group. Brainstorm together: “ What evidences do we have of spiritual immaturity in Corinth?” Then: “ What evidences do we have of spiritual growth and personal transformation?” To help your group in this review, you may wish to duplicate and distribute the “ theme” chart.

Theme of 1 Corinthians PassageThemePrinciples 1 Cor. 1-4Overcoming Barriers to DivisionsReject pagan approaches, seeking to understand God’ s patterns of thought. Regard human leaders as servants; reserve glory for God. 1 Cor. 5-6DisciplineDeal firmly with sin in the family. Act to resolve disputes equitably. 1 Cor. 8-10Doctrinal DisputesLove and truth are both required for resolution. Being “ right” does not remove love’ s obligation to build up our brothers. 1 Cor. 12-14True SpiritualityPossession of certain gifts is not evidence of spiritual achievement. Love is the key indicator of spiritual maturity. As a body, family members are interdependent; each gift is important, and each person’ s ministry is needed. 1 Corinthians 7:1-40; 1 Corinthians 11:1-34Women’ s IdentityAffirm the worth and value of women. Equality as persons does not mean “ sameness.” Each person finds fulfillment in the role God has sovereignly chosen for him or her — and is called to that place. Because women are affirmed as equally valued persons in the body of Christ, no woman needs to deny her womanhood. 1 Corinthians 15:1-58ResurrectionUltimate transformation is assured. Resurrection: 1 Corinthians 15:1-58The culminating experience in our personal transformation is to be resurrection. Yet, some in Corinth denied this completion. They carried over into their new faith the typical Greek attitude toward life after death; they could not accept the idea of a bodily resurrection. Christian faith might have meaning for the here and now. It might even offer some astral form for their personalities after death. But, a literal resurrection? No. Paul vigorously corrected them. If our hope is limited to this life, then we Christians are “ of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19, KJV). Transformation begins in the present, but completion will come in the day of Jesus Christ. Then we will actually “ bear the likeness of the man from heaven” (1 Corinthians 15:49). What God does in our earthly lives not only excites us, it holds the glittering prospect of perfection to come. The transformation process finds its ultimate meaning in attaining this goal. It is our destiny to be like Jesus. What is more, the Good News of Jesus rests on the fact of our Lord’ s own resurrection. Christ was raised bodily from the dead. His resurrection both demonstrates the power of God, and is the ultimate proof of His ability to provide forgiveness. Jesus’ resurrection and our own are so intimately intertwined that to doubt either constitutes a denial of the Gospel message itself! Eager to explain this vital truth, Paul, in 1 Corinthians 15:1-58, gives the classic and definitive New Testament explanation of resurrection. Christ’ s resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-11). Paul began by reminding the Corinthians of the content of the “ Gospel I preached to you.” In that original presentation, the Resurrection was given a central role. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than 500 of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all He appeared to me also. 1 Corinthians 15:3-7In this summary we note two things: the events the Gospel affirms actually happened in the real world, and were neither mystical nor mythic in character. And the events took place “ according to the Scriptures” ; as predicted and in full harmony with earlier revelation. The fact is that both these elements — the historical nature and scriptural roots — were always emphasized in apostolic preaching of the Gospel (see Acts 2:14-41; 3:11-4:12; Acts 10:34-43). The Gospel is simply not the Gospel if the element of Resurrection is removed. So Paul reminded his readers, “ This is what we preach, and this is what you believed.” Believer’ s resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). Paul then linked the resurrection of the believer to the resurrection of Jesus. If Jesus was raised, how can some say, “ There is no resurrection of the dead” ? If there is no resurrection, then Christ could not have been raised, and in that case “ your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” In the bluntest possible way Paul said that the doctrine of resurrection — the resurrection of Jesus and of the believer — is essential to Christian faith. Robbed of the resurrection, Christian faith would be an empty and futile thing indeed. Resurrection: past and future (1 Corinthians 15:20-28). But Christianity is not like one of the empty religions or mystery faiths that the first-century world practiced. “ Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.” The resurrection is the key to our understanding of the past, and the doorway of hope for the future. Death came into the world through Adam’ s sin; life comes to humanity through Jesus’ resurrection. The future will now unfold according to the plan of God: Christ is raised first; when Jesus comes, those who belong to Him will be raised, and then at the end — Jesus takes His kingdom and ultimately hands it over to God the Father. The ultimate enemy, death, will be put away forever as part of the “ everything” Scripture promises will be put under the Messiah’ s feet (e.g., totally defeated and destroyed) (see Psalms 8:6). Baptism for the dead (1 Corinthians 15:29-34). In this aside, Paul noted the practice of some in Corinth of being “ baptized for the dead.” Between 30 and 40 explanations have been given for this phrase. The simple meaning of the words seems to suggest that some at Corinth were undergoing baptism on behalf of friends who died without that sacrament. In referring to the practice, Paul did not endorse it. In fact, he disassociated himself from it by referring to “ those” people, and saying “ they” rather than “ we.” It’ s clear that in the cases mentioned in this paragraph, Paul was reasoning from experience rather than from revelation. Why bother, he said, to undergo such a baptism if your friends are simply dead and gone, and there is no resurrection? Why should the missionary team with Paul keep on endangering their lives if death is really the end? If this life is all, why not live by that contemporary maxim, “ Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” ? (1 Corinthians 15:32) No, it is the prospect of the final transformation that leads the Corinthians to this peculiar practice, and to Paul’ s own commitment to his mission. Paul’ s point was simply this: wandering from the truth about resurrection will certainly have an impact on daily life. What the Corinthians and Paul have been doing makes sense only if there is a resurrection coming. Once this conviction is abandoned, both practices and commitments which reflect the belief are sure to change. The paragraph raises an important question for you and me. What do we do because we too believe in resurrection? How would our lives be different if we were to abandon this hope? Resurrection body (1 Corinthians 15:35-49). It was only natural that in the debate over resurrection some should inquire, “ Well, what will this resurrection body be like, anyway?” Others challenged, “ How can men rise when their bodies have decayed?” Paul replied that the objection is foolish. A dead-looking seed is planted in the ground, and a vital, living plant appears. Just as God gives the planted seed a form appropriate for its new life, so the resurrected saint will have a glorious body appropriate to full transformation. No, the resurrection body will not be the same body we have now; natural life will be replaced by spiritual. The likeness we bear then will not be Adam’ s but, instead, we shall “ bear the likeness of the Man from heaven” (1 Corinthians 15:49). This last phrase may be the key to our best approach to visualizing the resurrection state. The Expository Dictionary of Bible Words (Richards, Zondervan) notes: Many have found it fascinating to observe the capabilities of the resurrected Jesus and speculate on what being “ like Him” might mean. For instance, the resurrected Jesus had “ flesh and bones” (Luke 24:39). Why not flesh and blood? Is it because “ the life of a creature is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11) and a resurrected person is infused with a different kind of life? Others have noted Jesus’ sudden appearance among His disciples in a locked room (John 20:26). Is this teleportation? Or can a resurrected person move between the atoms of the physical universe? While such speculation has a fascination, we do best to let the issue rest with God, as John and Paul did. We do not yet know what we will be, but we will be like Him. The limitations of our physical nature will be gone, and, whereas we are now perishable, we will then be imperishable. Power will replace weakness; immortality will end mortality. Conclusion (1 Corinthians 15:50-58). Paul was now caught up in the glory of what lies ahead. Paul saw the dead being raised, the living caught up — all transformed! He saw the bright splendor shine as the perishable fades, and mortality is clothed with immortality. And then — then comes the triumphant shout: “ Death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54). Paul’ s conclusion is important: in view of the coming resurrection we are to stand firm, and let nothing move us. Since we see beyond this world, and beyond death, to realities others cannot see, we can follow Paul’ s admonition to “ always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT This chapter basically deals with two issues: “ Is resurrection for real?” and, “ What difference does resurrection make?” Cover the first in a minilecture, pointing up Paul’ s evidence for a historic Resurrection in the past and a resurrection coming for the believer. Then break into teams that are to determine from the text what practical difference belief in the resurrection means to believers. Have each team study 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, 1 Corinthians 15:29-34, 1 Corinthians 15:50-58.

Concluding Remarks: 1 Corinthians 16:1-24This letter concludes with a note about a collection for needy brothers, a topic that is amplified in 2 Corinthians. Paul shared a number of requests, added notes to friends, and also shared an exhortation: Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13What a good word for the Corinthians and for us. We too may have problems, and we may not be growing as quickly as we would like. But as we remain committed to Jesus and to each other, we will experience more of the Spirit’ s transforming touch, as we move on with our brothers and sisters to God’ s glorious resurrection day.

Teaching Guide Prepare What does Resurrection mean to you? How would your life and choices be different if you did not?

Explore

1. Begin with a review of 1 Corinthians. Use the chart found above as a review tool, and ask your group members to first list: “ What evidences do we have in 1 Corinthians of spiritual immaturity? Of spiritual transformation?”
2. Give a minilecture summary of the Bible’ s teaching on resurrection. Draw from passages in the overview and commentary.

Expand Have teams work with key paragraphs of 1 Corinthians 15:1-58 to determine the impact of the teaching of the coming resurrection on Paul and others in the first century.

Apply Ask each group member to list three ways that belief in resurrection makes a difference to him or her personally.