Lesson 12 — Resurrection

I Corinthians 15:1-58

Introduction:

In the sermon on Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2, Peter quoted from Psalms 16 to show that the resurrection of Jesus was in accord with Old Testament scripture. The resurrection of Jesus generally does not appear to have been seriously questioned in the early church. At Corinth, however, some were questioning the resurrection in general. The concept of a resurrection “body” seemed especially problematic to some. In this wonderful section of scripture, we have God’s assurance of the ultimate victory for the believer over sin and death.

As this chapter is studied, it is important to note that the subject of this chapter is the resurrection and transformation of the body. The word “resurrection” in Greek (“anastasis”) actually signifies “to stand up” and is applied to the body, not the soul, in this chapter.

Some of the major themes of I Corinthians 15 will be briefly highlighted under the following headings:

Outline

I. The Significance of the resurrection of Christ for believers
II. The resurrection body
III. Life from Christ
IV. Proclamation of victory and final exhortation

I. The Significance Of The Resurrection Of Christ For Believers
A. The resurrection of Christ is essential to our salvation (vs. 12-34).
The apostle Paul begins by discussing the resurrection of Christ (verses 1-11). He indicates that the death, burial and resurrection of Christ are matters of first importance – that is the essential truths of the gospel. The discussion of the appearances of Christ seems more like a reminder to his readers of something that was readily accepted. However, in verse 12 he makes a transition by noting that some among the Corinthians were saying that there was no resurrection from the dead. The direction of Paul’s arguments indicates that the concern was apparently focused on the resurrection of Christians who had died. 

Paul responds by noting that if there is no resurrection for his readers, then not even Christ was raised. If Christ were not raised, Paul says our faith is in vain and that we are still in our sins.
Sometimes, we may fail to appreciate the necessity of the resurrection, as well as the cross for making our salvation possible. The resurrection of Jesus was God’s vindication of Jesus as the Christ and the assurance of complete triumph over sin and death. Paul connects both events by saying that Jesus was “delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (Romans 4:25). Peter also stresses the significance of the resurrection in I Peter 1:3 by indicating that we are “born to a living hope through the resurrection of Christ”.

B. Christ’s resurrection as “firstfruits” guarantees the resurrection of those who belong to Christ.

In verse 20, Paul refers to Christ as the “firstfruits” of those who have fallen asleep. In the Old Testament, the firstfruits was an initial harvest that signified that the entire harvest would be successful (See Leviticus 23:9-14; Exodus 23:16,19). Paul applies this concept to Christ. His resurrection as the “first-fruits” is God’s promise of the remaining harvest – the resurrection to those who belong to him.

C. Christ’s resurrection set in motion the eschatological (end-time) events including the ultimate defeat of Death.

• Notice the order of events – Christ, those who belong to Christ at His coming and the End.

• The end-time events include the all things in heaven and earth being brought in subjection to Christ, the final defeat of sin and death, and Christ presenting the kingdom to God.

II. The Resurrection Body (verses 35-44)

A. An imperishable resurrection body.

The idea of the body being resurrected appears to have been particularly troublesome to some in the church at Corinth. Paul’s teaching should be contrasted with three leading Greek philosophies of the day: Stoicism taught the loss of personal identity; Epicureanism essentially taught non-existence after death and Platonism taught the existence of the soul, but not the body after death. There was simply no place for a resurrected body in any of these philosophies.

The response of some of the Corinthians to the idea of a bodily resurrection was “What kind of a body?” Paul first responds with an analogy form nature – the plant is related to the seed, but still different from the seed. The key is to recognize God’s power to provide the proper body. Paul makes the following contrast between our bodies as they now are and the resurrection body as transformed by God:
“sown in dishonor, raised in glory”
“sown in weakness, raised in power”
“sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body”

The concept of a resurrection body is taught elsewhere in scripture – for example, see Romans 8:23 “waiting for the redemption of our body” and Philippians 3:20-21 “… the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

III. Life From Christ (vs. 45-49)

A. Life in Adam.
In a manner reminiscent of the letter Paul later writes to the church at Rome (chapter 5), Paul proceeds to contrast life in Adam and life in Christ. It is important to note that Paul is here talking about Adam as he was created. The word Paul uses to describe the life in Adam is “psychikos” and it refers to the psychical life principle animating our bodies. Or as Genesis 2:7 puts it “then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”

B. Life in Christ.
Even without the issue of sin, the original innocent nature of Adam is not the same as life in Christ. Paul uses the term “pneumatikos”, meaning spiritual, to describe the life given by Christ. In this life, we receive a new life through the quickening and renewing of the Holy Spirit. When Christ returns, we will enjoy eternal fellowship with our Lord. (See also I John 3:2, indicating that when Christ appears we shall be “like Him”.)

IV. Mystery Revealed And Proclamation Of Victory (verses 50-58)
In verses 50-53 Paul explains a mystery to his readers. As used here, a mystery indicates truth that was not previously revealed. The mystery is that all believers will not pass through death. Those who are alive at Christ’s return will also be transformed so that they will receive a glorious resurrection body like those who have died in the Lord. This transformation will take place quickly (and miraculously).

The resurrection of Jesus destroys the power of sin and death. Sin brought the consequence of death – Paul refers to sin as being the “sting” of death. The law makes sin clearly evident. Paul proclaims triumphantly that we are assured of victory over both sin and death through Christ!

Paul closes with a practical exhortation in verse 58 to be steadfast and to continue abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our work is not in vain.

Relation To The Concept Of The Soul
In numerous passages of the Bible, the distinction is made between the body and soul. In light of the emphasis on a resurrection body in this chapter, it is fair to ask how this teaching relates to the “soul”.

Paul uses the term “asleep” both I Corinthians 15 and I Thessalonians 4 to describe those who have died in Christ. Interestingly, the word “asleep” is related to the word in Greek “keimai” signifying “to lie down”. Our English word “cemetery” is related and signifies a resting place. It is the body that sleeps (lies down) and the body that that is resurrected (stands up) – not the soul.

Elsewhere, Paul teaches that those in Christ who have died have gone to be with the Lord (see II Corinthians 5 and Philippians 1:23). The interpretation that appears to harmonize the scriptural teaching on these subjects is that the soul of one who belongs to Christ goes immediately to be with the Lord upon death, awaiting the resurrection and transformation of the body when Christ appears. We can be confident that God, who made both the soul and the physical body, can reunite the soul with the resurrection body. Although difficult to understand, we must keep in mind the admonition of Paul in II Corinthians 5 that we walk by faith and not by sight.

Discussion Questions:
1) Besides the promises given in His word, how has God given us assurance of resurrection life? (See Ephesians 1:13-14)
2) How does Paul portray believers in Christ in Ephesians 2:6?
3) How does God’s work of grace in us conclude according to 
Romans 8:29-30? 
4) Does the teaching concerning a resurrection or spiritual body affect any of your views on the future life?

References
Bible Knowledge Commentary, Lowery (I Corinthians):
Constable (I Thessalonians).
Commentary on the New Testament, The Interpretation of I and II Corinthians, Lenski.
Daily Study Bible Series, The Letters to the Corinthians, Barclay.
New International Commentary, I Corinthians, Fee.
New International Commentary, I Corinthians, Grosheide.
New Testament Commentary (I Thessalonians), Hendricksen.
Thru the Bible With J. Vernon McGee
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

-Paul Atkins




(Paul Atkins has been a member of the Pleasant Valley congregation since approximately 1990. Favorite types of studies include textual studies, restoration history and Bible prophecy).