Post by Theophilus on Jan 28, 2010 21:38:24 GMT -5
In order to determine the correct interpretation of 1 Cor. 15, we must first determine the context. What was Paul responding to that caused him to write about the resurrection in 1 Cor. 15? The context will show that 1 Corinthians 15 teaches a physical, bodily resurrection.
The Problem Paul is Addressing
The primary problem Paul addresses in 1 Cor. 15 is found in 1 Cor. 15:12. "Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?" In the Corinthian church, there were some who rejected the resurrection of the dead.
We get further insight into this group in 1 Cor. 15:35. "But someone will say, 'How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?'" Here Paul is anticipating an objection by this group who deny the resurrection. That this is not a serious question, but a question designed to mock the doctrine of resurrection is clear in Paul's response - "You fool!" More on this below.
So we see that the primary issue is whether or not there is a resurrection. The nature of the resurrection body is a secondary issue.
Who is Denying the Resurrection of the Dead?
As 1 Cor. 15:12 points out, those who are denying the resurrection are in the Corinthian church. But what else can we learn about these people? Why would they reject the resurrection of the dead?
These people must either be Jews or Gentiles. They probably weren't Jewish Christians. Both the Pharisees and the "average Jew" believed in a physical resurrection. The Sadducees rejected the resurrection, but they were a small group, and their doctrinal beliefs were thoroughly rejected by their fellow Jews. Therefore, the resurrection-deniers were probably not Jewish.
Those rejecting the resurrection must have been Gentiles. A popular philosophy of that day believed the soul was immortal and trapped in the body. When the body died, the soul was set free. Thus, the idea of being physically resurrected would be repulsive to them. An example of their disgust towards the resurrection is found in Acts 17:32.
Seeing as how Corinth was a city of Greece, and Greece was the home of philosophy in the ancient world, this would explain why some Corinthians in the church would reject the doctrine of resurrection.
This Philosophy Led to Immorality in the Body
Some of these Gentiles reasoned that, since the body died, and the soul was never to return to the body, that what you did in the body did not matter. Since the body was destined to perish and never rise again, they felt free to "live it up" while in the body.
Evidence that this Philosophy was Held in Corinth
Corinth was known as a grossly immoral city, especially in regards to the sins of the body - sexual immorality. The term "to Corinthianize" meant to engage in prostitution. The cult of Aphrodite was very strong there, and there were large numbers of temple prostitutes in the city.
Sexual immorality engulfed the Corinthian culture. The Christians there came out of such a culture, and continued to struggle with sexual immorality - 1 Cor. 6:9-20.
Break Down of 1st Corinthians 15
Now that we have the basic context established, let us examine the chapter indepth. One's interpretation ought to fit the flow of Paul's response.
1 Cor. 15:1-11
Paul lays the foundation for dealing with the main problem in the first 11 verses. First, Paul points out the centrality of Jesus' resurrection to Christianity. He then points out that Jesus' resurrection was prophesied ahead of time by the Scriptures. Then he confirms Jesus' resurrection with a list of eye-witnesses.
1 Cor. 15:12-19
In v. 12, Paul brings up the problem that he is addressing - those in the church that deny the resurrection. Paul reasons that, having already firmly established Jesus was resurrected, it doesn't make sense to think the resurrection of the dead is false. If Jesus was resurrected, then the dead will be resurrected, too.
1 Cor. 15:20-28
Paul addresses the scoffers who might say "If the dead are to be resurrected, then why haven't they been resurrected already?" Paul points out that Jesus was raised first, and the resurrection of the rest of the dead will come at a later time. So just because it hasn't happened yet, that doesn't mean it won't.
1 Cor. 15:29-34
In this section, Paul makes an interesting shift from the resurrection to morality. The "dead" in v. 29 is plural - thus Paul is talking about the "dead ones." The "dead" what? Dead bodies. If our bodies aren't raised after we die, then why were we baptized into the resurrection (Rom. 6:3-5)?
If the body dies and the soul lives forever, and if it doesn't matter what we do while in the body, why bother suffering in the body? Why not live it up, party, and sleep around? As Paul puts it, "If the dead [bodies] are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."
In response to this, Paul tells them "Do not be deceived." That means, there were those who were trying to deceive the Christians into thinking a sinful lifestyle didn't matter. Paul tells them to "stop sinning," and that those who teach such things "have no knowledge of God." Those Christians who hold this view should be ashamed.
1 Cor. 15:35-49
Paul anticipates an objection from those that deny the resurrection. "But some will say, 'How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?'" This isn't a sincere question, these questions are meant to mock the doctrine of the resurrection. We know this because of Paul's response: "You fool!" Here Paul strongly rebukes the scoffers.
Why would these questions be considered mocking the resurrection? It is one thing for Jesus to be raised - He still had a body, since He was only dead for 3 days. But what about those who have been dead a long time? How can you raise the dead body when there no longer is a body? "What is God going to do, raise a skeleton?!" Paul's answer is that the body is transformed by the power of God. Thus, just because a body might be decayed, that doesn't mean it will look that way when it is resurrected.
1 Cor. 15:50-57
1 Cor. 15:50 says, "Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable." Paul goes back to talking about morality. After all, merely having "flesh and blood" does not disqualify one from the kingdom.
Earlier in 1 Cor. 6:9, Paul makes it clear that those who practice immorality, in particular, the sins of the body (sexual immorality), "will not inherit the kingdom of God." In Gal. 5:19-21, Paul declares that those who practice the deeds of the flesh (and the first several listed are connected with sexual immorality) "will not inherit the kingdom of God."
In fact, every other instance where the NT talks about "inheriting" the kingdom, or eternal life, or the equivalent, it has to do with one's character and behavior, not in regard to being in a physical body. Matt. 5:5, Matt. 19:29, Matt. 25:34-40, Mark 10:17-19, Luke 10:25-28, Luke 18:18-20, 1 Cor. 6:9-10, Gal. 5:19-21, Heb. 6:12, 1 Pet. 3:9, Rev. 21:7-8.
So given the context of the other passages that talk about who does/doesn't inherit the kingdom, and the immediate context of immorality, it is clear that 1 Cor. 15:50 says that those who live according to the flesh will not inherit the kingdom.
In 1 Cor. 15:50b, Paul writes "nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable." As Paul declares in Rom. 8:13 (which is also in the conext of discussing the resurrection, see Rom. 8:9-11), "if you are living according to the flesh, you must die." But those who live and walk by the Spirit "will live." Thus, those who are immoral walk the way of death and will not inherit eternal life.
1 Cor. 15:58
Paul urges Christians to stand firm in the true Christian faith - the resurrection of the dead, and do not be led astray by those who deny it. He also encourages them to continue living holy lives and resist the temptation to seek an immoral life of pleasure. This is worth enduring suffering because, contrary to the scoffers, the deeds done in the body do matter, for we will one day be resurrected in our bodies.
Does this Teach a Spirit vs. a Physical Resurrection?
A non-physical resurrection does not fit the context of 1 Cor. 15. If Paul taught a non-physical resurrection, the scoffers would not have a reason to object to the resurrection of the dead, since they would both be teaching the same thing - that once you die, you will never return to your physical body. Their objection only makes since if Paul taught a physical resurrection.
The way that Paul assumes they will mock the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:35) only comes across as mockery if they are talking about a physical resurrection. If they are objecting to a spiritual resurrection, would they be mocking Paul about what kind of body it would be? The mocking questions only make sense when asked about a physical resurrection of someone who has been dead a long time.
The Problem Paul is Addressing
The primary problem Paul addresses in 1 Cor. 15 is found in 1 Cor. 15:12. "Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?" In the Corinthian church, there were some who rejected the resurrection of the dead.
We get further insight into this group in 1 Cor. 15:35. "But someone will say, 'How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?'" Here Paul is anticipating an objection by this group who deny the resurrection. That this is not a serious question, but a question designed to mock the doctrine of resurrection is clear in Paul's response - "You fool!" More on this below.
So we see that the primary issue is whether or not there is a resurrection. The nature of the resurrection body is a secondary issue.
Who is Denying the Resurrection of the Dead?
As 1 Cor. 15:12 points out, those who are denying the resurrection are in the Corinthian church. But what else can we learn about these people? Why would they reject the resurrection of the dead?
These people must either be Jews or Gentiles. They probably weren't Jewish Christians. Both the Pharisees and the "average Jew" believed in a physical resurrection. The Sadducees rejected the resurrection, but they were a small group, and their doctrinal beliefs were thoroughly rejected by their fellow Jews. Therefore, the resurrection-deniers were probably not Jewish.
Those rejecting the resurrection must have been Gentiles. A popular philosophy of that day believed the soul was immortal and trapped in the body. When the body died, the soul was set free. Thus, the idea of being physically resurrected would be repulsive to them. An example of their disgust towards the resurrection is found in Acts 17:32.
Seeing as how Corinth was a city of Greece, and Greece was the home of philosophy in the ancient world, this would explain why some Corinthians in the church would reject the doctrine of resurrection.
This Philosophy Led to Immorality in the Body
Some of these Gentiles reasoned that, since the body died, and the soul was never to return to the body, that what you did in the body did not matter. Since the body was destined to perish and never rise again, they felt free to "live it up" while in the body.
Evidence that this Philosophy was Held in Corinth
Corinth was known as a grossly immoral city, especially in regards to the sins of the body - sexual immorality. The term "to Corinthianize" meant to engage in prostitution. The cult of Aphrodite was very strong there, and there were large numbers of temple prostitutes in the city.
Sexual immorality engulfed the Corinthian culture. The Christians there came out of such a culture, and continued to struggle with sexual immorality - 1 Cor. 6:9-20.
Break Down of 1st Corinthians 15
Now that we have the basic context established, let us examine the chapter indepth. One's interpretation ought to fit the flow of Paul's response.
1 Cor. 15:1-11
Paul lays the foundation for dealing with the main problem in the first 11 verses. First, Paul points out the centrality of Jesus' resurrection to Christianity. He then points out that Jesus' resurrection was prophesied ahead of time by the Scriptures. Then he confirms Jesus' resurrection with a list of eye-witnesses.
1 Cor. 15:12-19
In v. 12, Paul brings up the problem that he is addressing - those in the church that deny the resurrection. Paul reasons that, having already firmly established Jesus was resurrected, it doesn't make sense to think the resurrection of the dead is false. If Jesus was resurrected, then the dead will be resurrected, too.
1 Cor. 15:20-28
Paul addresses the scoffers who might say "If the dead are to be resurrected, then why haven't they been resurrected already?" Paul points out that Jesus was raised first, and the resurrection of the rest of the dead will come at a later time. So just because it hasn't happened yet, that doesn't mean it won't.
1 Cor. 15:29-34
In this section, Paul makes an interesting shift from the resurrection to morality. The "dead" in v. 29 is plural - thus Paul is talking about the "dead ones." The "dead" what? Dead bodies. If our bodies aren't raised after we die, then why were we baptized into the resurrection (Rom. 6:3-5)?
If the body dies and the soul lives forever, and if it doesn't matter what we do while in the body, why bother suffering in the body? Why not live it up, party, and sleep around? As Paul puts it, "If the dead [bodies] are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."
In response to this, Paul tells them "Do not be deceived." That means, there were those who were trying to deceive the Christians into thinking a sinful lifestyle didn't matter. Paul tells them to "stop sinning," and that those who teach such things "have no knowledge of God." Those Christians who hold this view should be ashamed.
1 Cor. 15:35-49
Paul anticipates an objection from those that deny the resurrection. "But some will say, 'How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?'" This isn't a sincere question, these questions are meant to mock the doctrine of the resurrection. We know this because of Paul's response: "You fool!" Here Paul strongly rebukes the scoffers.
Why would these questions be considered mocking the resurrection? It is one thing for Jesus to be raised - He still had a body, since He was only dead for 3 days. But what about those who have been dead a long time? How can you raise the dead body when there no longer is a body? "What is God going to do, raise a skeleton?!" Paul's answer is that the body is transformed by the power of God. Thus, just because a body might be decayed, that doesn't mean it will look that way when it is resurrected.
1 Cor. 15:50-57
1 Cor. 15:50 says, "Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable." Paul goes back to talking about morality. After all, merely having "flesh and blood" does not disqualify one from the kingdom.
Earlier in 1 Cor. 6:9, Paul makes it clear that those who practice immorality, in particular, the sins of the body (sexual immorality), "will not inherit the kingdom of God." In Gal. 5:19-21, Paul declares that those who practice the deeds of the flesh (and the first several listed are connected with sexual immorality) "will not inherit the kingdom of God."
In fact, every other instance where the NT talks about "inheriting" the kingdom, or eternal life, or the equivalent, it has to do with one's character and behavior, not in regard to being in a physical body. Matt. 5:5, Matt. 19:29, Matt. 25:34-40, Mark 10:17-19, Luke 10:25-28, Luke 18:18-20, 1 Cor. 6:9-10, Gal. 5:19-21, Heb. 6:12, 1 Pet. 3:9, Rev. 21:7-8.
So given the context of the other passages that talk about who does/doesn't inherit the kingdom, and the immediate context of immorality, it is clear that 1 Cor. 15:50 says that those who live according to the flesh will not inherit the kingdom.
In 1 Cor. 15:50b, Paul writes "nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable." As Paul declares in Rom. 8:13 (which is also in the conext of discussing the resurrection, see Rom. 8:9-11), "if you are living according to the flesh, you must die." But those who live and walk by the Spirit "will live." Thus, those who are immoral walk the way of death and will not inherit eternal life.
1 Cor. 15:58
Paul urges Christians to stand firm in the true Christian faith - the resurrection of the dead, and do not be led astray by those who deny it. He also encourages them to continue living holy lives and resist the temptation to seek an immoral life of pleasure. This is worth enduring suffering because, contrary to the scoffers, the deeds done in the body do matter, for we will one day be resurrected in our bodies.
Does this Teach a Spirit vs. a Physical Resurrection?
A non-physical resurrection does not fit the context of 1 Cor. 15. If Paul taught a non-physical resurrection, the scoffers would not have a reason to object to the resurrection of the dead, since they would both be teaching the same thing - that once you die, you will never return to your physical body. Their objection only makes since if Paul taught a physical resurrection.
The way that Paul assumes they will mock the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:35) only comes across as mockery if they are talking about a physical resurrection. If they are objecting to a spiritual resurrection, would they be mocking Paul about what kind of body it would be? The mocking questions only make sense when asked about a physical resurrection of someone who has been dead a long time.
