Resurrection of the Dead

Overview

• Testament: New
• Book: 1 Corinthians
• Chapters: 1 Corinthians 15:1–58
• Summary: Paul’s definitive treatment of bodily resurrection: the historical fact of Christ’s resurrection, its necessity for Christian faith, the resurrection of believers at his coming, the resurrection body, and the final conquest of death — all building to the great taunt over the grave.

Details

First Corinthians 15 is the New Testament’s most extended argument for the resurrection, written against a segment of the Corinthian church that denied a future bodily resurrection (v. 12). Paul begins by reminding them of the tradition he received and delivered: Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried, and rose the third day according to the scriptures, and then appeared to Cephas, to the twelve, to more than five hundred brethren at once, to James, to all the apostles, and last of all to Paul himself (vv. 3-8). This is the earliest creedal formulation in the New Testament, likely pre-dating Paul’s own conversion, and it is startlingly concrete — “the greater part remain unto this present,” meaning the eyewitnesses could be interrogated.

From this foundation Paul builds his logical chain: if Christ is preached as risen from the dead, how can some say there is no resurrection? “If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain” (v. 14). More severely: “if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins” (v. 17). The resurrection is not an optional addition to Christianity; it is the very center on which everything else turns. Without it, the apostles are false witnesses of God, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished, and Christians are of all men “most miserable” (v. 19).

The argument then moves to the positive: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” (v. 20). The “firstfruits” image, drawn from the Levitical harvest offerings, means Christ’s resurrection is the pledge and beginning of the general resurrection to come. The Adam-Christ typology structures this: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (v. 22). Adam’s act made all his descendants mortal; Christ’s resurrection opens the way for the resurrection of all who are his. At his coming, he delivers the kingdom to the Father, having put all enemies under his feet, the last enemy being death itself (vv. 24-26).

The discussion of the resurrection body (vv. 35-49) uses three analogies to explain both the continuity and transformation between the present body and the resurrection body: seed and plant (same identity, transformed form), different kinds of flesh (earthly and heavenly), and celestial bodies of varying glory. “It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: it is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body” (vv. 42-44). The chapter closes with a description of the last trump transformation and the great taunt drawn from Hosea 13:14 and Isaiah 25:8: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (v. 55). “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 57).

Important Verses

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” — 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

“If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” — 1 Corinthians 15:17

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” — 1 Corinthians 15:20

“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” — 1 Corinthians 15:55

Cross-References

• OT Background: Hosea — “O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction” (Hosea 13:14)
• OT Background: Isaiah — “He will swallow up death in victory” (Isaiah 25:8)
• Related: Hall of Faith — those who died in faith awaiting the resurrection (Hebrews 11:35)
• Related People: Paul (Apostle)
• Theme: The New Creation — bodily resurrection as the renewal of creation