Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; Christ's resurrection rests on many eye-witnesses, including Paul, and is the great fact preached as the groundwork of the Gospel. They who deny resurrection in general... [ Continue Reading ]
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. YE ARE SAVED - rather, 'ye are being saved.' IF YE KEEP IN MEMORY WHAT I PREACHED UNTO YOU. Bengal, etc, prefer, 'I declare unto you the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1) in what words I preach... [ Continue Reading ]
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; I DELIVERED UNTO YOU. A short summary of articles of faith was probably even then existing (cf. Ephesians 4:4; Hebrews 6:1, etc.; 1 John 4:2); and a profession of it w... [ Continue Reading ]
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: BURIED ... ROSE AGAIN (foretold, ). At the moment of His death the power of His inextinguishable life exerted itself... [ Continue Reading ]
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: SEEN OF CEPHAS - Peter (). THE TWELVE - the round number for "the eleven" (; ). "The twelve" was their ordinary appellation. Possibly, too, Matthias was present (Acts 1:22). Delta G f g, Vulgate, read 'the eleven;' but 'Aleph (') A B, "the tw... [ Continue Reading ]
After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. FIVE HUNDRED - probably on the mountain (Thabor, according to tradition) in Galilee, when His most public appearance, according to His special promise, wa... [ Continue Reading ]
After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. SEEN OF JAMES - the less, the brother of our Lord (). The Gospel according to the Hebrews (Jerome, 'Catalogus Scriptorium Ecclesiasticorum,' p. 170 D.) records that 'James swore he would not eat bread from the hour that he drank the cup of... [ Continue Reading ]
And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ONE BORN OUT OF DUE TIME, [ too (G3588) ektroomati (G1626)] - 'the ONE untimely born' in the family of the apostles. As such a child, though born alive is yet not of the proper size, and scarcely worthy of the name of man, so... [ Continue Reading ]
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. LEAST. 'Paulus' means least. I PERSECUTED THE CHURCH OF GOD. Though God forgave him, Paul could hardly forgive himself for his past sin.... [ Continue Reading ]
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. BY THE GRACE ... AND HIS GRACE. The repetition implies the prominence of God's grace in his mind as t... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. WHETHER IT WERE I OR THEY (the apostles) - who "laboured more abundantly" (), the subject of our preaching was the truth stated in 1 Corinthians 15:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? IF. Since it is an admitted fact that Christ IS preached by us eye-witnesses as having risen from the dead, how is it that some of you (while admitting Christ's resurrection) d... [ Continue Reading ]
But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: If there be no general resurrection, which is the consequent, then there can have been no resurrection of Christ, which is the antecedent. The head and the members stand on the same footing (); what does not hold good of them,... [ Continue Reading ]
And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. YOUR FAITH IS ALSO VAIN (1 Corinthians 15:11). The Greek for "vain" here is empty, unreal [ kenon (G2756)]; in 1 Corinthians 15:17 [ mataia (G3152)], it is without use, frustrated. The principal argument of the f... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. TESTIFIED OF GOD - i:e., concerning God, or 'against God;' the Greek preposition [ kata (G2596)], with the genitive, implies, not direc... [ Continue Reading ]
For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: The repetition implies the unanswerable force of the argument.... [ Continue Reading ]
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. VAIN. Ye are, if the case be as the sceptics maintain, frustrated of all which "your faith" appropriates: ye are still under the everlasting condemnation of your sins (even in the disembodied state here referred to), from... [ Continue Reading ]
Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. FALLEN ASLEEP IN CHRIST - in communion with Christ as His members. 'In Christ's case the term used is death, to assure us of the reality of His suffering; in ours, sleep, to give us consolation. In His case, His resurrection having t... [ Continue Reading ]
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. If our hopes in Christ were limited to this life only, we should be, of all men, most robe pitied-namely, because, while others live unmolested, we are exposed to every trial, and after all are doomed to disappointment... [ Continue Reading ]
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. NOW - as the case really is. AND BECOME. Omitted in 'Aleph (') A B Delta G f g, Vulgate. THE FIRST-FRUITS - the earliest and most costly, and so consecrated to God; the earnest that the whole resurrection h... [ Continue Reading ]
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. BY MAN CAME DEATH, BY MAN CAME ALSO THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. The first-fruits are of the same nature as the ensuing harvest: so Christ, our life, is of the same nature as we men to whom He brings it; just as Adam, t... [ Continue Reading ]
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. IN ADAM ALL - in union of nature with Adam, the representative head of mankind in their fall. IN CHRIST SHALL ALL - in union of nature with Christ, the representative head of mankind in their recovery. The seed of life brought... [ Continue Reading ]
But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. BUT EVERY MAN IN HIS OWN ORDER, [ tagmati (G5001)] - rank. The Greek is not abstract, but concrete: image from troops, 'each in his own regiment.' Though all shall rise, not all shall be saved;... [ Continue Reading ]
Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. THEN, [ eita (G1534)] - after that: next in the succession of 'orders' or 'ranks.' THE END - the general resurrection, final judgment, and... [ Continue Reading ]
For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. MUST - because Scripture foretells it. TILL - there be no further need of His mediatorial kingdom, its object having been realized. ENEMIES UNDER HIS FEET (; ).... [ Continue Reading ]
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. SHALL BE - Greek (), 'is being done away with' (; cf. ). Christ's victory, already won, is earnest of the final 'abolition' of Death; the abolition is being effected continuously up to the consummation (; ). It is to believers especially this appli... [ Continue Reading ]
For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. ALL THINGS - including death (cf. ; ,; ; ). It is said, "hath put," for what God has said is as it were already done, so sure is it.... [ Continue Reading ]
And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. SON ALSO HIMSELF BE SUBJECT - not as creatures are, but as a Son, voluntarily subordinate to, though co-equal with the Father. In the medi... [ Continue Reading ]
Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? ELSE - if there be no resurrection. WHAT SHALL THEY DO? - what profit do they get? BAPTIZED FOR THE DEAD - third person: a class distinct from that in which the apost... [ Continue Reading ]
And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? WE - apostles (; ).... [ Continue Reading ]
I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. BY YOUR (so 'Aleph (') B Delta G f g, Vulgate) REJOICING - by the glowing which I have concerning you, as the fruit of my labours. A and Origen read 'our,' with the same sense. 'Aleph (') A B, Vulgate insert 'breth... [ Continue Reading ]
If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. Punctuate - "If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me? If the dead rise not, let us eat," etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. BE NOT DECEIVED - as though denial of the resurrection were a mere harmless speculation (): nay, association with such unbelievers will corrupt good morals. EVIL COMMUNICATIONS CORRUPT GOOD MANNERS - a current saying, from the Thais of... [ Continue Reading ]
Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. AWAKE - literally, 'Out of the sleep' [ ekneepsate (G1594)] of carnal intoxication into which ye are thrown by these sceptics (1 Corinthians 15:32; Joel 1:5). TO RIGHTEOUSNESS - literally,... [ Continue Reading ]
But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? HOW? It is folly to deny a fact of REVELATION because we do not know the "how." Some measure God's power by their intelligence, and won't admit, even on His assurance, what they cannot explain. Ezekiel answer of... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: FOOL - with all thy boasted philosophy (Psalms 14:1). THAT WHICH THOU - appeal to the objector's own experience: 'The seed which thou thyself [ su (G4771)] sowest.' Paul, in this verse and 1 Corinthians 15:42, answers 1 Corinthi... [ Continue Reading ]
And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: NOT THAT BODY THAT SHALL BE - but beautiful, and no longer a "bare grain," but clothed with blade and ears, yielding many grains, instead of only one. The plant fal... [ Continue Reading ]
But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. AS IT HATH PLEASED HIM - at creation, when He gave to each of the (kinds of) seeds (so the Greek is for "to every seed") a body of its own (, "after its kind," suited to its species). So God will give to the blessed... [ Continue Reading ]
All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. Suitability of bodies, however various to their species: the flesh of the several species of animals; bodies celestial and terrestrial; the various kinds of li... [ Continue Reading ]
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: SOWN - following up the image. A delightful word instead of burial. IN CORRUPTION - liable to corruption: not merely a prey when dead to corruption; as the contrast shows, "raised in incorruption -... [ Continue Reading ]
It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: IN DISHONOUR - answering to "our vile body" (); literally, 'our body of humiliation:' liable to various humiliations of disease, injury, and decay. IN GLORY - the garment of incorruption (1 Corinthia... [ Continue Reading ]
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. A NATURAL BODY - literally, 'an animal [ psuchikon (G5591)] body;' a bodily organism of "flesh and blood" (1 Corinthians 15:50), to suit the animal soul, which predominates in it. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. SO - in accordance with the distinction between the natural, or animal-souled, and the spiritual bodies. IT IS WRITTEN (Genesis 2:7), "Man became (was made to become) [ egeneto (G1096) eis... [ Continue Reading ]
Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. AFTERWARD. Adam had "a living soul," framed for eternal life by eating the tree of life (): still, his body was but an animal-souled, not a spiritual body, such as believers, shall ha... [ Continue Reading ]
The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. OF (FROM) THE EARTH. Being sprung from the earth, he is "earthy" (Genesis 2:7; Genesis 3:19) - i:e., not merely earthly or born upon the earth, but terrene, or of earth; literally, 'of heaped clay' [ choikos (G5517)],... [ Continue Reading ]
As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. AS IS THE EARTHY - namely, Adam. THEY ALSO THAT ARE EARTHY - all Adam's posterity in their natural state (John 3:6). THE HEAVENLY - Christ. THEY ALSO THAT ARE HEAVENLY - His... [ Continue Reading ]
And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. AS, [ kathoos (G2531)] - 'even as' (see Genesis 5:3). WE SHALL ALSO BEAR - wear as a garment. So B. 'Aleph (') A C Delta G f g, Vulgate, read 'let us also bear' [ foresomen (G5409)]. It implies the divin... [ Continue Reading ]
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. NOW THIS I SAY - I concede this much to your objections against the earthly bodies rising again (see notes, ; ). FLESH AND BLOOD - of the same mortal, corruptible, sin-t... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, BEHOLD - calling attention to the "mystery" heretofore hidden in God's purposes, but now revealed. YOU - emphatic, 'I tell (namely, by the word of the Lord, 1 Thessalonians 4:15) YOU [ humin (G5213) legoo (G3004)... [ Continue Reading ]
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. THE LAST TRUMP - at the sounding of the trumpet on the last day (; ). Or, the Spirit hints that the other trumpets mentioned subsequently i... [ Continue Reading ]
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. THIS - pointing to his own and their body. PUT ON - as a garment (2 Corinthians 5:2). IMMORTALITY - athanasia (G110). Here only, besides 1 Timothy 6:16, the word "immortality" is found (note, 1 Corinthians... [ Continue Reading ]
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. THEN - not before. Death has as yet a sting even to the believer, in that his body is under its powe... [ Continue Reading ]
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? From Hosea 13:14 substantially, but freely quoted by the warrant of the Spirit. The Hebrew may be translated, 'O death, where are thy plagues? where, O hades, is thy destruction?' The Septuagint, 'Where is thy victory [ dikee (G1349)] (l... [ Continue Reading ]
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. If there were no sin, there would be no death. Man's transgression of the law gives death its lawful power. STRENGTH OF SIN IS THE LAW. Without the law, sin is not discerned or imputed (; ; ). The law aggravates sin by making its co... [ Continue Reading ]
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. TO GOD. The victory was in no way due to ourselves (). GIVETH - a present certainty. THE VICTORY - which death and Hades sought, but which, notwithstanding the opposition of them, the law, and sin, we have gaine... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. BELOVED. Sound doctrine kindles Christian love. Doubters of the resurrection have no motive to zeal in the Lord's work. STEADF... [ Continue Reading ]