About the Resurrection - 1 Corinthians 15

The Resurrection: 1 Corinthians 15

Read 1 Corinthians 15

This chapter lays the foundation and constructs the pillar for our faith: the resurrection of Jesus. The apostle Paul takes an apologetic approach in validating the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. He says Jesus was seen first by the twelve disciples, and then appeared to over 500 brothers and sisters in Christ shortly after His resurrection! Many were still alive to testify even while Paul was writing this letter to the Corinthians!

The Sadducees taught that there was no resurrection of the dead. It was this life and that was it. It appears some of their teachings influenced some of the people associated with the Corinthian church. Paul wanted to firmly address this issue: there will be a resurrection of the dead because Christ beat death for us. His resurrection is proven by the many eyewitnesses that saw Him after His death and burial.

Paul makes it clear the resurrection of Jesus is the pillar of our faith; if He had not risen from the dead, we would still be in our sins. This is our hope, that because Christ has risen from the dead, we now also will experience eternal life through faith in Him, and will be risen from the dead as well. Death is destroyed by Christ. We now get to receive our glorious bodies from Him and spend life with Him for eternity.

“in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (v. 52).

“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?” (v. 55)