1 Corinthians 15:32

If after the manner of men. fought with beasts at Ephesus, what doth it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.

'after the manner of men' -'to use the popular expression' (Phi); 'If with only human hopes' (TCNT). 'If there were no future rewards, no blessed immortality, why, humanly speaking. had he "fought with beasts at Ephesus?"' (Erdman p. 162) 'As men ordinarily do, for temporal reward; and not under the influence of any higher principle or hope.' (Vincent p. 277)

Point to Note:

Paul is saying, if there is no resurrection, then that demands that. am motivated to risk my life by. purely human motive, i.e. money, fame, etc...The Corinthian's haven't realized that their denial of the resurrection makes Paul and the other Apostles look really bad. Their false doctrine makes it appear that Paul and his companions are teachers of false doctrine (1 Corinthians 15:15), it makes them look pitiful (1 Corinthians 15:19). In these verses it makes them look really stupid and not as smart as the rest of men. For if you are risking your present life and happiness for. future life that doesn't exist, you come out looking like. fool. Paul says, 'your teaching not only undermines everything we believe in, it makes me and the other apostles look like men motivated by some human ulterior motive.'

'I fought with beasts at Ephesus' -the question has always been is this literal or figurative?

Many commentators cite the fact that Paul's Roman citizenship would have exempted him from such punishment. 'But Paul was. Roman citizen..If he were cast to the lions unlawfully, he could have prevented it by claiming his citizenship.' (Robertson p. 193)

'No such (literal) experience is recorded in the list of his woes in 2 Corinthians 11:1; moreover it appears from Acts 19:31 that Paul had friends in high quarters at Ephesus who would have prevented this outrage if attempted.' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 932)

The reference is probably figurative, although it is tempting to imagine the Apostle Paul endowed with miraculous strength, fighting off lions and other wild animals in. Roman arena. While in Ephesus, Paul was challenged by men who behaved like wild beasts. (Acts 19:23 ff) He indicates at the end of this letter that things in Ephesus hadn't improved much. (1 Corinthians 16:8-9...there are many adversaries.') See also: 2 Corinthians 1:8.

'what doth it profit me?' -'What do. gain' (RSV); 'what is the good of an ordeal like that if there is no life after this one' (Phi) 'Even such. feat (figurative or literal) would bring no advantage if the dead are not raised.' (F.F. Bruce p. 150)

'let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die' -'If there is no resurrection, then instead of "fighting wild beasts in Ephesus", one may as well go the route of despair--and dissolution-- and "eat and drink, for tomorrow we die...to be without hope in the resurrection life is. constant round of nothing.' (Fee p. 772)

Points to Note:

1. 'If death ends all, life has really little more to offer than eating and drinking, creature comforts like those of the brute.' (Lenski p. 698)

2. 'If...men persuade themselves that they shall die like beasts, they soon will live like beasts too.' (McGarvey p. 154)

Consider the last statement, and then ponder the fact that especially for the last 30 years our society has been indoctrinating it's children with the belief that we are just evolved forms of animal life. The problems seen in many adults, young adults and teenagers, are predictable behaviors considering what they have been taught.