1 Corinthians 15:20

But now is Christ risen, &c.— It is a great mistake to imagine that the Apostle is employed throughout this chapter in proving a resurrection: the proof lies in a very narrow compass, chiefly from 1 Corinthians 15:12 and almost all the rest of the chapter is taken up in illustrating, vindicating, or applying it. The proof is, indeed, very short, but most solid and convincing;—that which arose from Christ's resurrection. Now that not only proved a resurrection to be in fact possible, but, which was much more, as it proved Christ to be a divine teacher, it proved the doctrine of a general resurrection, which he so expressly taught. It was natural too for so good a man as St. Paul to insist on the sad consequences which would follow, with respect to himself and his brethren, from giving up so glorious a hope; and the cordial manner in which he speaks of this, is a noble internal argument, which every reader of sensibility must feel. Instead of—become the first fruits of them that slept, some render the passage—the first fruits of them that are fallen asleep. The first fruits was a small part, first taken and offered to God, and which sanctified the whole mass that was to follow. See on 1 Corinthians 15:18.