Daily Reading:
1 Corinthians 15
Don't forget to journal in your Foundations Book!
1 Corinthians 15
Don't forget to journal in your Foundations Book!
Daily Reading Audio Commentary:
Today's Question or Action Step:
In Chapter 15, Paul points out that the Corinthians' disbelief in the resurrection has led them into sin and debauchery. What other foundational doctrines can you think of that, if you disbelieved them, might completely alter your lifestyle, mindset, and actions? How can we know which doctrines should be held as absolutes versus convictions or opinions?
In Chapter 15, Paul points out that the Corinthians' disbelief in the resurrection has led them into sin and debauchery. What other foundational doctrines can you think of that, if you disbelieved them, might completely alter your lifestyle, mindset, and actions? How can we know which doctrines should be held as absolutes versus convictions or opinions?
Weekly Memory Verse(s):
OPTION 1: Psalm 26:2-3
OPTION 2: Proverbs 13:13-14
OPTION 3: Matthew 5:31-32
OPTION 1: Psalm 26:2-3
OPTION 2: Proverbs 13:13-14
OPTION 3: Matthew 5:31-32
Further Study Resources:
Study Guide for 1 Corinthians 15 (Enduring Word - David Guzik)
Study Guide for 1 Corinthians 15 (Enduring Word - David Guzik)
Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
1 Corinthians 15
The apostle Paul had spent most of his time during this first letter to the church of Corinth dealing with issues which were keeping them immature in their faith. Issues such as disunity (1 Corinthians 1-4), immorality (1 Corinthians 5-6), marriage (1 Corinthians 7), personal freedom (1 Corinthians 8-10), proper worship (1 Corinthians 11), and the proper use of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14) had caused much division within the church. This divisiveness had rendered them ineffective in their witness for Christ.
Although the majority of this letter was spent addressing issues of behavior, Paul concludes his correspondence with the Corinthians by writing one of the greatest doctrinal chapters in the Bible. 1 Corinthians 15 provides a foundational understanding of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the significance of that event to our faith. According to 1 Corinthians 15:12, there were some in the church who believed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but denied the possibility of their own bodily resurrection. Paul begins his teaching by reminding them of the gospel (the good news about Jesus) they had received from him when he had first come to Corinth (15:1-2). This gospel - the death of Jesus Christ for sins, His burial, and His resurrection on the third day - had provided deliverance from the power and penalty of sin in their lives (15:3-4). Through their faith in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, the Corinthians had received forgiveness of sin and freedom from future judgment. Paul intricately detailed the proof of Jesus' resurrection and appearances to hundreds of people following this supernatural event in order to help them remember this reality (15:5-11). Paul spent time reminding them of the reality of Christ's resurrection because their own resurrection hinged on this one event. Paul concluded that "if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen" (15:13). And if Christ did not raise from the dead, Paul gave several unfortunate conclusions: preaching Christ and faith would be useless (15:14), those who preach Christ are false witnesses (15:15-16), sin could not be forgiven (15:17), those who died believing are without hope (15:18), and Christians would be the most miserable people on earth because they have no future hope (15:19). The resurrection of Christ is the core of the believer's own hope of future resurrection. If we deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have no hope beyond this life.
Paul has been writing to the believers at Corinth concerning some issues which have kept them divided and distracted from their function as a church. The first fourteen chapters are filled with instruction and challenge to the Corinthians to change their behavior regarding issues such as disunity (1 Corinthians 1-4), immorality (1 Corinthians 5-6), marriage (1 Corinthians 7), personal freedom (1 Corinthians 8-10), worship (1 Corinthians 11), and spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14); however, 1 Corinthians 15 provides some of the strongest doctrinal teaching in all of the Bible relating to the resurrection of Christ and the dead. In the first nineteen verses of 1 Corinthians 15, Paul has already established that "if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty" (15:13-14). In other words, the resurrection of the dead will not happen unless Jesus Christ came back to life.
Since Paul was an eyewitness to the resurrected Christ (15:8), he firmly believed that there would also be a resurrection of the dead (15:20). Paul explained his reasoning by writing, "For since by man [Adam] came death, by Man [Jesus Christ] also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming" (15:21-23). The resurrection of Christ is the guarantee of our own resurrection to eternal life with God. Following the resurrection of the dead, Paul writes concerning "the end" (15:24-25) when Christ establishes His rule on earth and eventually all things are returned to their original design (15:27-28; Revelation 21-22); however, the last enemy who needs to be defeated is death (15:26). Jesus Christ removed the power of death at the cross, but death will finally be destroyed at the end of the 1,000 year reign of Christ when they are cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14-15).
Much discussion has developed concerning what Paul writes next, "Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?" (15:29). Some believe that Paul was teaching that living people can be baptized on behalf of those who had already died (so they can be saved), but cross referenced with Paul's other writings there is no evidence that he was teaching this false doctrine of baptism for the dead. Instead, Paul is asking the Corinthians to consider those who have come to faith and have been baptized because of the influence of those who have already died. If there is no hope of resurrection or life after death, then the people who are beginning their faith are wasting their time. Paul had placed his own life at risk as a witness for the resurrected Christ, but if He is not truly risen, Paul's efforts were in vain (15:30-33). Since Paul had confidence in the resurrection of Christ and the resurrection of the dead, he challenged the Corinthians to live their lives in a manner pleasing to God (15:34). The reality of life beyond death should motivate all believers to walk in obedience in this life.
The Corinthian church had been plagued with much internal division over issues such as disunity (1 Corinthians 1-4), immorality (1 Corinthians 5-6), marriage (1 Corinthians 7), personal freedom (1 Corinthians 8-10), worship (1 Corinthians 11), and spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14). Paul wrote this first letter to the Corinthians urging them to leave behind their arguments and fightings to make way for peace and maturity in their faith. Many of their differences could have been settled through understanding the truth and love for one another, so Paul penned this letter to bring clarity to all these issues. One of the only doctrinal issues dealt with in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians was the resurrection of the dead.
Even though the Corinthians possessed the truth regarding the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of the dead, many in Corinth questioned its validity. Paul wrote this chapter to defend the resurrection of Jesus Christ (15:1-11) and ultimately our own resurrection from the dead (15:12-34). Those who questioned the reality of a bodily resurrection asked questions such as, "How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?" (15:35). Paul answered the questions of the cynics by explaining that the current body cannot be resurrected anew unless the old body dies (15:36). Paul illustrates this concept by explaining that a seed is planted, decomposes in its current form, and then life comes from that dead seed (15:37) just as the old body dies and new life springs from it (15:38). God possesses the power to make this miracle occur.
God has created various types of bodies to survive in many kinds of environments (15:39), but He has also designed bodies suited for heaven (celestial) and earth (terrestrial), which Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15:40-44). Paul details the distinctiveness between the two bodies, "So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption [death], it is raised in incorruption [no more sickness or death]. It is sown in dishonor [guilt for sin], it is raised in glory [no shame]. It is sown in weakness [gives into temptation], it is raised in power [no fear of sin]. It is sown a natural body [limited by time/space], it is raised a spiritual body [no limits by time/space]. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body" (15:42-44). The natural body descends from Adam, but the spiritual body is given by Jesus Christ (15:45-49), whose image we will bear for all eternity (15:49).
When will the body be changed? Paul answers this question by pointing to the time of the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), when Christ will return in the clouds to receive all those who believe to Himself (15:50-54). The bodies of the believing living and dead will ascend to heaven and be changed instantaneously. Not only will the bodies of the believing be changed, but death will finally be defeated (15:54-57). Death will no longer have power over those who have believed in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for their sins. Because of this reality, Paul writes that the Corinthians should "be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (15:57-58).
Dear God, thank You for the hope of a future resurrection!
1 Corinthians 15
The apostle Paul had spent most of his time during this first letter to the church of Corinth dealing with issues which were keeping them immature in their faith. Issues such as disunity (1 Corinthians 1-4), immorality (1 Corinthians 5-6), marriage (1 Corinthians 7), personal freedom (1 Corinthians 8-10), proper worship (1 Corinthians 11), and the proper use of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14) had caused much division within the church. This divisiveness had rendered them ineffective in their witness for Christ.
Although the majority of this letter was spent addressing issues of behavior, Paul concludes his correspondence with the Corinthians by writing one of the greatest doctrinal chapters in the Bible. 1 Corinthians 15 provides a foundational understanding of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the significance of that event to our faith. According to 1 Corinthians 15:12, there were some in the church who believed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but denied the possibility of their own bodily resurrection. Paul begins his teaching by reminding them of the gospel (the good news about Jesus) they had received from him when he had first come to Corinth (15:1-2). This gospel - the death of Jesus Christ for sins, His burial, and His resurrection on the third day - had provided deliverance from the power and penalty of sin in their lives (15:3-4). Through their faith in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, the Corinthians had received forgiveness of sin and freedom from future judgment. Paul intricately detailed the proof of Jesus' resurrection and appearances to hundreds of people following this supernatural event in order to help them remember this reality (15:5-11). Paul spent time reminding them of the reality of Christ's resurrection because their own resurrection hinged on this one event. Paul concluded that "if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen" (15:13). And if Christ did not raise from the dead, Paul gave several unfortunate conclusions: preaching Christ and faith would be useless (15:14), those who preach Christ are false witnesses (15:15-16), sin could not be forgiven (15:17), those who died believing are without hope (15:18), and Christians would be the most miserable people on earth because they have no future hope (15:19). The resurrection of Christ is the core of the believer's own hope of future resurrection. If we deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have no hope beyond this life.
Paul has been writing to the believers at Corinth concerning some issues which have kept them divided and distracted from their function as a church. The first fourteen chapters are filled with instruction and challenge to the Corinthians to change their behavior regarding issues such as disunity (1 Corinthians 1-4), immorality (1 Corinthians 5-6), marriage (1 Corinthians 7), personal freedom (1 Corinthians 8-10), worship (1 Corinthians 11), and spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14); however, 1 Corinthians 15 provides some of the strongest doctrinal teaching in all of the Bible relating to the resurrection of Christ and the dead. In the first nineteen verses of 1 Corinthians 15, Paul has already established that "if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty" (15:13-14). In other words, the resurrection of the dead will not happen unless Jesus Christ came back to life.
Since Paul was an eyewitness to the resurrected Christ (15:8), he firmly believed that there would also be a resurrection of the dead (15:20). Paul explained his reasoning by writing, "For since by man [Adam] came death, by Man [Jesus Christ] also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming" (15:21-23). The resurrection of Christ is the guarantee of our own resurrection to eternal life with God. Following the resurrection of the dead, Paul writes concerning "the end" (15:24-25) when Christ establishes His rule on earth and eventually all things are returned to their original design (15:27-28; Revelation 21-22); however, the last enemy who needs to be defeated is death (15:26). Jesus Christ removed the power of death at the cross, but death will finally be destroyed at the end of the 1,000 year reign of Christ when they are cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14-15).
Much discussion has developed concerning what Paul writes next, "Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?" (15:29). Some believe that Paul was teaching that living people can be baptized on behalf of those who had already died (so they can be saved), but cross referenced with Paul's other writings there is no evidence that he was teaching this false doctrine of baptism for the dead. Instead, Paul is asking the Corinthians to consider those who have come to faith and have been baptized because of the influence of those who have already died. If there is no hope of resurrection or life after death, then the people who are beginning their faith are wasting their time. Paul had placed his own life at risk as a witness for the resurrected Christ, but if He is not truly risen, Paul's efforts were in vain (15:30-33). Since Paul had confidence in the resurrection of Christ and the resurrection of the dead, he challenged the Corinthians to live their lives in a manner pleasing to God (15:34). The reality of life beyond death should motivate all believers to walk in obedience in this life.
The Corinthian church had been plagued with much internal division over issues such as disunity (1 Corinthians 1-4), immorality (1 Corinthians 5-6), marriage (1 Corinthians 7), personal freedom (1 Corinthians 8-10), worship (1 Corinthians 11), and spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14). Paul wrote this first letter to the Corinthians urging them to leave behind their arguments and fightings to make way for peace and maturity in their faith. Many of their differences could have been settled through understanding the truth and love for one another, so Paul penned this letter to bring clarity to all these issues. One of the only doctrinal issues dealt with in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians was the resurrection of the dead.
Even though the Corinthians possessed the truth regarding the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of the dead, many in Corinth questioned its validity. Paul wrote this chapter to defend the resurrection of Jesus Christ (15:1-11) and ultimately our own resurrection from the dead (15:12-34). Those who questioned the reality of a bodily resurrection asked questions such as, "How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?" (15:35). Paul answered the questions of the cynics by explaining that the current body cannot be resurrected anew unless the old body dies (15:36). Paul illustrates this concept by explaining that a seed is planted, decomposes in its current form, and then life comes from that dead seed (15:37) just as the old body dies and new life springs from it (15:38). God possesses the power to make this miracle occur.
God has created various types of bodies to survive in many kinds of environments (15:39), but He has also designed bodies suited for heaven (celestial) and earth (terrestrial), which Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15:40-44). Paul details the distinctiveness between the two bodies, "So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption [death], it is raised in incorruption [no more sickness or death]. It is sown in dishonor [guilt for sin], it is raised in glory [no shame]. It is sown in weakness [gives into temptation], it is raised in power [no fear of sin]. It is sown a natural body [limited by time/space], it is raised a spiritual body [no limits by time/space]. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body" (15:42-44). The natural body descends from Adam, but the spiritual body is given by Jesus Christ (15:45-49), whose image we will bear for all eternity (15:49).
When will the body be changed? Paul answers this question by pointing to the time of the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), when Christ will return in the clouds to receive all those who believe to Himself (15:50-54). The bodies of the believing living and dead will ascend to heaven and be changed instantaneously. Not only will the bodies of the believing be changed, but death will finally be defeated (15:54-57). Death will no longer have power over those who have believed in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for their sins. Because of this reality, Paul writes that the Corinthians should "be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (15:57-58).
Dear God, thank You for the hope of a future resurrection!
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