1 Corinthians 15
7-16: Answers to Questions
7: Marriage
8-10: Christian Liberty
11: Conduct in the Church
12-14: Spiritual Gifts
15: The Resurrection of the Dead
16: Giving
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Chapter 15
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures – Gospel in a nutshell: He died for our sins (Isa 53:5-6, 8-9; Ps 16:10; Ps 22:16); He was buried (Isa 53:9); He was raised on the third day (Genesis 22; Jonah 1:17; Ps 16:8-11 with Ps 110:1); He appeared…(Isa 53:12…)
5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve – Jesus made a special resurrection appearance to Peter (Luke 24:34). Then he appeared to the Twelve. This probably refers to the first meeting Jesus had with His assembled disciples, mentioned in Mark 16:14, Luke 24:36-43, and John 20:19-25.
6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep - He is in essence saying: Go ask them!
7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles - This James is Jesus’ brother (actually, half brother), who at first did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah (John 7:5). After seeing the resurrected Christ, he became a believer (as did Jesus’ other brothers, Acts 1:14). James ultimately became a leader of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13).
8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born - The phrase “abnormally born” is literally “abortion” or “miscarriage” “Even to Paul, the abortion, Christ appeared and called me to be an apostle.”
9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God - (cf. Eph 3:8; 1 Tim 1:15).
15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised - Cf. Job 19:25-27.
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins - “Everything depends on our retaining a firm hold on this doctrine in particular; for if this one totters and no longer counts, all the others will lose their value and validity.” (Martin Luther)
“If Jesus rose, then this gospel is what it professes to be; if He rose not from the dead, then it is all deceit and delusion.” (Spurgeon)
23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him - The Feast of Firstfruits was observed on the day after the Sabbath following Passover (Leviticus 23:9-14). Significantly, Jesus rose from the dead on the exact day of the Feast of Firstfruits, the day after the Sabbath following the Passover. The offering at the Feast of Firstfruits was a bloodless grain offering (Leviticus 2). No blood sacrifice was necessary, because the Passover lamb had just been sacrificed.
24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. - This will take place after the 1,000 year reign of Christ here on earth (Revelation 20:1-6). At the end of the tribulation, Satan is going to be locked up for the 1,000 year reign (Revelation 20:2). Then he will be released for a short time to deceive the nations again (Revelation 20:7-10). Then, Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire forever.
26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. – People will still die during the millennium (Revelation 20:9; Isaiah 65:20). This applies to those people who survive the tribulation and who are born during the millennium. After the millennium, both death and Hades will be thrown into the lake of fire, which is the second death (Rev 20:14). After the millennium, when God makes a new heaven and a new earth, death will be no more (Rev 21:4).
29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? – In Corinth, they were baptizing people on behalf of the dead, which was a common pagan ritual. Paul is not commending this, he is simply arguing: Why do you baptize for the dead if there is no resurrection of the dead, as some were saying?
44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body - Cf. Psalm17:15
50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable - Cf. Luke 24:39.
Jesus’ Resurrection Body
- Could appear and disappear at will: Lk 24:31; Jn 20:19.
- Could move through solid walls: Jn 20:19,26.
- Could be seen and felt; palpable; flesh and bone: Mt 28:9; Lk 24:36-42.
- He could eat food, although it wasn’t apparently necessary: Lk 24:41-43.
- Though glorified, He could be recognized: Luke 24:30-31
- No more experience of death, aging, crying, mourning, sorrow, or pain: Rev 21:4.
All believers will be given new bodies like the glorious body of the Lord (Phil 3:21; 1 Jn 3:2).
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet - The Rapture of the church – Cf. 1Thess 4:16-18; Ex 19;16-17
58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain - Cf. Hebrews 6:10-11
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