1 Corinthians 15

services and funerals - where mourners are assured of the "sure and certain expectation of the resurrection to a better life".

= The Resurrection of Jesus: 1-11 =

The chapter begins with a recitation of a statement of faith that Paul had himself received when he was baptised into the Christian faith. The account of the resurrection appearances of Jesus in verses 3-7 appears to be an early pre-Pauline credal statement. [Neufeld, "The Earliest Christian Confessions" (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1964) p. 47; Reginald Fuller, "The Formation of the Resurrection Narratives" (New York: Macmillan, 1971) p. 10; Wolfhart Pannenberg, "Jesus—God and Man" translated Lewis Wilkins and Duane Pribe (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1968) p. 90; Oscar Cullmann, "The Earlychurch: Studies in Early Christian History and Theology", ed. A. J. B. Higgins (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1966) p. 64; Hans Conzelmann, "1 Corinthians", translated James W. Leitch (Philadelphia: Fortress 1969) p. 251; Bultmann, "Theology of the New Testament" vol. 1 pp. 45, 80–82, 293; R. E. Brown, "The Virginal Conception and Bodily Resurrection of Jesus" (New York: Paulist Press, 1973) pp. 81, 92] :

quotation|3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 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. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. (King James Version)

The antiquity of the creed has been located by many biblical scholars to less than a decade after Jesus' death, originating from the Jerusalem apostolic community. [see Wolfhart Pannenberg, "Jesus—God and Man" translated Lewis Wilkins and Duane Pribe (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1968) p. 90; Oscar Cullmann, "The Early church: Studies in Early Christian History and Theology", ed. A. J. B. Higgins (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1966) p. 66–66; R. E. Brown, "The Virginal Conception and Bodily Resurrection of Jesus" (New York: Paulist Press, 1973) pp. 81; Thomas Sheehan, "First Coming: How the Kingdom of God Became Christianity" (New York: Random House, 1986 pp. 110, 118; Ulrich Wilckens, "Resurrection" translated A. M. Stewart (Edinburgh: Saint Andrew, 1977) p. 2; Hans Grass, "Ostergeschen und Osterberichte", Second Edition (Gottingen: Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht, 1962) p. 96; Grass favors the origin in Damascus.] Concerning this creed, Campenhausen wrote, "This account meets all the demands of historical reliability that could possibly be made of such a text," [Hans von Campenhausen, "The Events of Easter and the Empty Tomb," in "Tradition and Life in the Church" (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1968) p. 44] whilst A. M. Hunter said, "The passage therefore preserves uniquely early and verifiable testimony. It meets every reasonable demand of historical reliability." [Archibald Hunter, "Works and Words of Jesus" (1973) p. 100]

= The Resurrection of the Dead: 12-58 =

Jesus and the believers 12-19

In verses 12-19, St Paul, in response to some expressed doubts of the Corinthian congregation, whom he is addressing in the letter, adduces the fundamental importance of the resurrection as a Christian doctrine citing the resurrection of Jesus as the test case.

quotation|12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 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. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (King James Version)

The Last Enemy 20-28

In verses 20-28, Paul states that Christ will return in power and put his "enemies under his feet" (25) and even death, "the last enemy" shall be destroyed (26).

The Resurrection of the Body 35-58

The chapter concludes with an account of the nature of the resurrection. At the Last Judgement the dead will be raised and both the living and the dead transformed into "spiritual bodies" (44): [E.P. Sanders (1991) "Paul". Oxford University Press: 29-30]

Through the power of Christ "Death is swallowed up in victory" (54). Referencing a verse in Hosea, Paul asks: "O death where is they sting? O grave where is thy victory?" (55), equating sin with death and the Judaic Law which have now been conquered and superseded by the victory of Christ.

References

External links

[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20corinthians%2015;&version=9; 1 Corinthians: 15]

[http://www.apologetics.com/default.jsp?bodycontent=/articles/historical_apologetics/habermas-nt.html Why I Believe The New Testament Is Historically Reliable by Gary Habermas]

[http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=810 A Refresher Course on the Resurrection of the Dead]