the longest chapter in the epistle

1 Corinthians

This is the longest chapter in the epistle. Its subject is resurrection: first Christ’s resurrection, then our resurrection. The difference between truth and error, faith and unbelief, world and church, heaven and hell, hope and despair depend on this central event in history - Jesus Christ rose from the dead on Easter morning.

Read 15:1-2. What does it mean to “take your stand” on something?

What did Paul warn them against?

Read 3-8. What was the most important thing that Paul preached to the Corinthians?

What Scriptures was Paul referring to? Possibly Isaiah 53:5,9 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. These passages clearly predicted Jesus’ death. Psalm 16:10 also clearly predicted Jesus’ resurrection - you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. Isaiah 53:11 is also a good one - After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Jonah 1:17 is also a prediction of Jesus’ resurrection through the life of Jonah - 17 But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights. (NIV)

Was Jesus in the grave for three days and nights?

Paul then makes a chronological history of the resurrection appearances. He doesn’t give a complete catalog of these appearances, not because he doesn’t know them, but because he follows a selective principle. Paul presents those witnesses that are most important to the Corinthians and to the church in general to prove the historic reality of Jesus’ bodily resurrection.

1) Peter 2) the Twelve 3) 500 disciples at same time 4) James 5) all the apostles 6) Paul - word for abnormally born actually means an abortion - a dead fetus - Paul was utterly devoid of spiritual life.

Read 9-11. How did Paul’s past motivate his present and future?

Was Paul too hard on himself?

Lenski: God took this dead, vile thing, the most rabid persecutor of his church, and by his wondrous grace made not only a Christian of him but also an apostle, and not only one who was fit and worthy to be placed at the side of the apostles but one who outranks the rest in all his work, one who labors more abundantly than they all.(640)

Some say, “if you say you’re saved by grace, then people will take advantage of that.” How does Paul prove the exact opposite?

Paul has stated very emphatically - the very center of the Christian faith is the death and resurrection of Jesus. Throughout this presentation, the Corinthians must have asked the question “why?” That’s what many people ask today - why not talk about money management more - family matters more - things that are more ‘pertinent’ to every day living?” Paul goes on to explain -

Read 12-14. What were some Corinthians saying?

This was typical of the pagan Greek attitude toward the resurrection: “when the dust has drunk the blood of man, and hes’s once dead, there’s no uprising” (Aeschylus).

If there is no resurrection of man, who else didn’t rise?

There were four other conclusions that would have to be made, if Christ didn’t raise from the dead.

Read 15-19 for those. What is the first conclusion in vs. 15?

What is the second conclusion according to vs. 18-19?

Why, if Christ wasn’t raised, would this make our faith futile? Didn’t Jesus say on the cross, “it is finished”? Wouldn’t our sins still be paid for even without the resurrection. Respond.

Romans 4:25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

What is the third conclusion that Paul comes to in vs. 18?

Lenski: Nothing more heart rending could be said. The entire hereafter is shrouded in the blackest night. This blackness has swallowed up those who have passed beyond and waits to swallow up those whose life is now swiftyly passing away. And this some foolish Corinthians, whether they realize it or not, were putting in place of the light and the hope that shine beyond the grave for every believer.(657)

What is the fourth conclusion that Paul comes to in vs. 19? Why?

Read 20-22. Paul gets back to reality. Jesus DID rise from the dead - the firstfruits. Was Christ the first to rise from the dead? In what sense was he the “firstfruits”?

Who does the “all” refer to? Lenski says, “Paul is not instructing the Corinthians in regard to all men, he is speaking only about believers and throughout his discussion does not mention unbelievers. This is very plain when we consider the second “all”: “all in Christ.” None are in connection with Christ save by true faith alone.”(666)

Read 23-28. What is this talking about?

Psalm 110:1 The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."

Millenialists use this verse to say, Christ will resurrect believers first - in vs. 23, and then, a thousand years later, the end will come. In the Greek however, the words “will come” do not occur. It literally says, “then the end, when he hands over the kingdom. . .” So the “then” actually refers back to the COMING of Christ back in vs. 23. This all happens within the same time frame, as Jesus says in John 5:28 a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice.

What will Christ do with his kingdom then after Judgment Day?

Will Jesus then cease to rule?

Toppe: As the God-man, who took on human flesh and blood and became one of us, he can place himself under his Father. As the eternal Son of God he is equal to the Father and will reign with him as his equal. Both John 10:30, “I and the Father are one,” and John 14:28,”The Father is greater than I,” are true. Such is the mystery and the wonder of the Trinity and of the God-man, Jesus Christ.(148)

Lenski: This incarnate Son delivers the kingdom to his Father at the end, lays the work assigned to him, complete and perfect, into the Father’s hands and by this act subjects himself to the Father. When Christ does this, it does not mean that the Son will then be deprived of this kingdom and his rule, the Father taking his place. Then the Triune God will rule in the unity of the three persons with all his glory fully revealed.(687)

Read 29. There are over 300 explanations for this verse. The word “for” can mean “in place of,” “on behalf of”, or even “over.” Here are the explanations mostly used:

1) new converts were baptized to take the place of Christians who died

2) Christians who were being baptized a second time, this time for Christians who had died before being able to be baptized. This is not in accordance with Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Even if they were doing back then as Mormons now - Paul doesn’t say that HE endorses it - even distorted views of Christianity reflect belief in resurrection.

3) Converts who were being baptized over the graves of other Christians who had already died, thus connecting the faith of believers in the past with the faith of believers in the present. There is no historical view of such a practice.

4) Converts were baptized for themselves - who would be the “dead” of the future - taking them out of the class of the dead unbeliever and connecting them with the living Lord.

Read 30-32. Paul used the same argument as he did with the Corinthians. Scholars are not sure whether Paul actually was compelled to fight wild beasts in Ephesus or whether he uses htis picture to describe his battles with blood thirsty human foes. The latter interpretation is more likely because Paul was a Roman citizen who would not be thrown to the lions, according to Toppe. In either case, it would be totally worthless for him to face death every day if their was no resurrection from the dead. In light of this, how does the resurrection actually have meaning for today? (We live today for tomorrow - gives us purpose in life.) Paul quotes Isaiah 22:13, to eat, drink and be merry - if there is no resurrection from the dead. In saying this, Paul seems to be opposed to a party atmosphere. Do we too much of this as Christians in America? Should we be more sober in light of Judgment Day and the resurrection to come? (Can still celebrate - with right motives and right actions.) Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Since the philosophers of the time were telling the Corinthians to eat, drink and be merry, Paul issues a stern warning - Read 33-34. Who might Paul mean by “bad company”?

Lenski: We are often told that errorists are juts as “good” as those who believe and confess God’s truth; but Paul does not agree, for this contrary to nature. Doctrine is never an indifferent thing even though it be decried as “dogma”; it always works itself out in life. Whatever eats at the root damages or destroys the fruit.(701

So when Paul told them to “come back to their senses, as you OUGHT,” he seems to be implying something. The skeptics may have posed themselves as the clear headed ones - trying to reason to the Christians that there was no resurrection. But Paul said, “look at the realities as God reveals them!” How do similar arguments take place today?

Lenski: “And sin not” with its present tense means literally: “and do not go on missing the mark.” There is, then, a kind of thinking and of reasoning that seems to be sanely sober and is yet wholly wrong because it goes on missing the mark, namely the true mark set by God for all our thinking, the realities about God. This is the worst kind of sinning, for it affects not only our conduct but corrupts the very heart, the source of all conduct.

In reality, what does Paul call those who thought they were so wise?

Why did Paul tell them these things?

When should shame be used to correct someone?

Any questions? Email Pastor at bslc@birch.net