1Corinthians 15 bible study guide (2024)

15:2 by which also you are saved, if you holdfirmly the word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain.

15:3 For I delivered to you first ofall that which I also received:
that Christ died for our sins accordingto the Scriptures,
15:4 that he was buried, that he was raisedon the third day according to the Scriptures,
15:5 and that he appeared to Cephas,thento the twelve.
15:6 Then he appeared to over fivehundredbrothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have alsofallenasleep.
15:7 Then he appeared to James, then toall the apostles,
15:8 and last of all, as to the child born atthe wrong time, he appeared to me also.

15:9 For I am the least of theapostles,who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted theassemblyof God.

15:10 But by the grace of God I am what Iam.His grace which was bestowed on me was not futile, but I worked morethanall of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

15:11 Whether then it is I orthey, sowe preach, and so you believed.

15:13 But if there is noresurrectionof the dead, neither has Christ been raised.
15:14 If Christ has not been raised,
then our preaching is in vain, and your faithalso is in vain.

15:15 Yes, we are found false witnesses ofGod,
because we testified about God that he raisedup Christ,
whom he didn't raise up, if it is so that thedead are not raised.

15:16 For if the dead aren'traised,neither has Christ been raised.

15:17 If Christ has not been raised, yourfaithis vain; you are still in your sins.
15:18 Then they also who are fallen asleep inChrist have perished.

15:19 If we have only hoped in Christ inthislife,
we are of all men most pitiable.

15:20 But now Christ has been raised from thedead.
He became the first fruits of those who areasleep.

15:21 For since death came by man,
the resurrection of the dead also came by man.
15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christall will be made alive.

15:23 But each in his own order: Christ thefirstfruits,
then those who are Christ's, at his coming.

15:24 Then the end comes, when he willdeliverup the Kingdom to God,
even the Father; when he will have abolishedall rule and all authority and power.

15:25 For he must reign until he has putall hisenemies under his feet.
15:26 The last enemy that will be abolished isdeath.

15:27 For, "He put allthings insubjection under his feet." (Ps 8:6)

But when he says, "All things are put insubjection,"
it is evident that he is excepted whosubjectedall things to him.
15:28 When all things have been subjected tohim,
then the Son will also himself be subjectedtohim
who subjected all things to him, that God maybe all in all.

15:30 Why do we also stand in jeopardy everyhour?

15:31 I affirm, by the boasting inyouwhich I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
15:32 If I fought with animals at Ephesus forhuman purposes, what does it profit me?
If the dead are not raised, then "let us eatand drink, for tomorrow we die."

15:36 You foolish one, that whichyouyourself sow is not made alive unless it dies.
15:37 That which you sow, you don't sow the bodythat will be,
but a bare grain, maybe of wheat, or of someother kind.

15:38 But God gives it a body even as itpleasedhim, and to each seed a body of its own.

15:39 All flesh is not the sameflesh,but there is one flesh of men,
another flesh of animals, another of fish,andanother of birds.
15:40 There are also celestial bodies, andterrestrialbodies;
but the glory of the celestial differs fromthatof the terrestrial.
15:41 There is one glory of the sun, anotherglory of the moon,
and another glory of the stars; for one stardiffers from another star in glory.

15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead.
It is sown in corruption; it is raised inincorruption.
15:43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised inglory.
It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raiseda spiritual body.
There is a natural body and there is also aspiritualbody.

15:45 So also it is written,
"The first man, Adam, became a livingsoul."
The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

15:46 However that which is spiritualisn't first,
but that which is natural, then that which isspiritual.

15:47 The first man is of the earth, madeof dust.
The second man is the Lord from heaven.

15:48 As is the one made of dust, suchare thosewho are also made of dust;
and as is the heavenly, such are they alsothatare heavenly.

15:49 As we have borne the image of thosemadeof dust,
let's also bear the image of the heavenly.

15:50 Now I say this, brothers, that fleshandblood can't inherit the Kingdom of God;
neither does corruption inherit incorruption.

For the trumpet will sound, and thedeadwill be raised incorruptible,
and we will be changed.

15:53 For this corruptible must put onincorruption,
and this mortal must put on immortality.

15:54 But when this corruptible will haveputon incorruption,
and this mortal will have put on immortality,then what is written will happen:
"Death is swallowed up in victory."

15:55 "Death, where is your sting? Hades,whereis your victory?"
15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the powerof sin is the law.
15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us thevictory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Cor 15:1,2 Now, brothers, I want toremindyou of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on whichyouhave taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmlyto the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

To take a stand implies there being opposition, such as thePhilippiansfaced to whom Paul wrote, "Whatever happens,conductyourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether Icome and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know thatyou stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for thefaithof the gospel without being frightened in any way by those whoopposeyou. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that youwillbe saved— and that by God." Php 1:27,18 Consider whatoppositionyou are willing to face in the light of the gospel. How will you take astand? Courage communicates convictions.

Now the faith that saves is the faith that endures, as Jesus said, "Allmen will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end willbe saved." Mk 13:13 How do we know we have come to sharein Christ? "We have come to share in Christif we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first." Heb3:14 Of those who leave the faith, it is written,"if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; buttheirgoing showed that none of them belonged to us." 1John 2:19b

Such faith which does not endure is vain, being useless, of nosavingvalue. Those who fall away from the faith "areworseoff at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have beenbetterfor them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have knownit and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passedonto them." 2Peter 2:20b-21

1Cor 15:3-7 For what I receivedIpassed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sinsaccording to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised onthe third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared toPeter,and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than fivehundredof the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, thoughsome have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all theapostles,

Consider the content of these important truths. The gospel ispropositionaltruth in light of historic facts as confirmed by eyewitness accounts.

One historic fact, a fact denied by Islam, is that Jesus died on thecross. But it's not just the historic fact of his death one mustaccept,but the propostional truth concerning this fact - namely that he diedforour sins, in accordance with God's plan for salvation laid out for usinthe Old Testament such as Isaiah 53:5,6 "hewas pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds weare healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turnedto his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." LikewisePeter says, "Christ died for sins once for all,therighteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." 1Peter3:18Indeed "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins"1John2:2a

His resurrection from the dead affirmed this gospel truth. Thuswheneverthe gospel is preached, so is the resurrection, as Paul preached to theAthenians in Acts 17. "He has set a day when hewilljudge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He hasgivenproof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." Acts17:31 Likewise Peter preached, "Men ofIsrael,listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God toyouby miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you throughhim,asyou yourselves know." Acts 2:22 And he goes on tospeakof the resurrection.

But unlike other religions, like Islam, that also may claimmiracles,but which are merely alleged being done in secret, Jesus miracles andhisresurrection were affirmed by multitudes of eyewitnesses. And this ispartof the gospel. In fact the gospel of Luke starts off, "Manyhave undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have beenfulfilledamong us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from thefirstwere eyewitnesses and servants of the word." Luke 1:1,2 Andin his introduction to Acts Luke writes, "Afterhissuffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincingproofsthat he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days andspoke about the kingdom of God." Acts 1:3

1Cor 15:8,9 and last of all heappearedto me also, as to one abnormally born. For I am the least of theapostlesand do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecutedthechurch of God.

Paul writes of himself, "I thank Christ Jesusour Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful,appointingme to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutorand a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance andunbelief.The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with thefaithand love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying thatdeservesfull acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners— ofwhomI am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so thatinme, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimitedpatienceas an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternallife."1Tim1:12-16

There are those who grow into the faith. But others like Paul, whoisa precedent for those who would come to believe in Christ, come tofaithsuddenly, dramatically, in repentance from their former lifestyle ofsin,the Lord pursing them into the faith. This speaks of the grace inherentin the gospel. The least likely person can not only be saved, but usedeffectively by the Lord in his service.

As for details concerning the history of Paul's conversion see Acts22:3-21 and Acts 9:1-31

1Cor 15:10,11 But by the grace of GodIam what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I workedharder than all of them— yet not I, but the grace of God that was withme. Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and thisiswhat you believed.

The grace of God is meant to have a impact on a person'slifestyle.Whateffect has the grace of God had on you? The degree to which a personrealizesGod's grace towards them is the degree to which they will love God byworkingfor Him. For "he who has been forgiven littleloveslittle." Luke 7:47 But while faith produces work, butloveproduces labor, and hope inspires endurance, as it is written, "Wecontinually remember before our God and Father your workproducedby faith, your labor prompted by love, and yourenduranceinspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." 1Th 1:3That is, while faith will have its effect, love intensifies a person'sworks. For it's one thing to go to work, but another to go into labor.How hard we work at the ministry is a measure of our revelation ofGod'sgrace towards us.

Now there are heretics who pit Paul against the Twelve claiming Paulpreaches a different gospel. He doesn't. Luke, his traveling companionwrote the gospel of Luke. Mark, who wrote the gospel of Markservedhim to the end. (2Tim 4:11) Peter affirmed Paul's writings asscripturein 2Peter 3:1, and Peter defended him against the cult of thecultof the circumcsion in Acts 15. Both the content oftheirmaterial and the relationship between Paul and the others as recordedinActs and elsewhere in the New Testament affirms the common fellowshiptheyhad in the gospel.

But Paul worked harder than them. For example while the Lord hadcommissionedthe twelve to go into all the world, they stayed in Jerusalemuntilpersecution finally drove them out. Peter acknowleged the God hadchosenhim to preach the gospel to the Gentiles saying, "Brothers,you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that theGentilesmight hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe." Acts15:7, and yet later he turned over that responsibility to Paul."James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me andBarnabasthe right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given tome.They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews." Gal2:9 In fact after the Twelve declared, "Itwouldnot be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in orderto wait on tables." Acts 6:2, even though the Lord haddoneso, we read little of the apostles in the book of Acts, and the NewTestamentletters are dominated by Paul's writings. Likewise when it comes togettingpaid for ministry Paul writes, "Don’t we have theright to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostlesand the Lord’s brothers and Cephas (Peter)? ... If others havethisright of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But wedid not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anythingratherthan hinder the gospel of Christ." 1Cor 9:5,12 Paulworkedfor a living. He wrote to the Ephesian elders,"Youyourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs andthe needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that bythiskind of hard work we must help the weak" Acts 20:34,35

And Paul declares to the churches, "Weproclaimhim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we maypresent everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, strugglingwithall his energy, which so powerfully works in me." Col 1:28,29

1Cor 15:12-14 But if it ispreachedthat Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say thatthere is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection ofthedead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not beenraised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

Among Jews, the Sadducees didn't believe in a resurrection, some hadno doubt influence the Christian community along these lines just asthecult of the circumcision had. "The Sadducees saythat there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels norspirits,but the Pharisees acknowledge them all" Acts 23:8

Also when Paul preached the gospel to the Greek philosopher, "whenthey heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered." Acts17:32 Greek philosophy later infilitrated Chistian theology tobecomeGnosticism. One idea of Gnostism, that held by the Docetists, was thatphysical things are innately sinful, which is why they had troubleacceptingthe idea that Jesus, as a physical man, was sinless. Thus they proposedthat Jesus was not a physical man, but a ghost of some kind. Theydenieda resurrection because they held that which is physical with contempt.

Even today there are alleged Christians who believe only in anon-corporealresurrection.- that the body is not raised. But Christ's body was gonefrom the grave. He rose in corporeal form. The resurrection will be arealhistorical event which cannot be mistaken for some vagueexistentialisticfeeling.

The resurrection of Christ is a basis for belief in the gospel.Disprovethe resurrection and you would have disproved the gospel. Every timethegospel is preached in the New Testament, the resurrection is mentioned.Peter spoke of it in the first Christian sermon. "Godhas raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact." Acts2:32 All the enemies of Christ had to do was produce a body todisproveChristianity. They could not even deny Christ's public miracles. Yettheywere in charge. All they had to do was produce the body.

The physical nature of the resurrection is part of the gospel. It isnot a reincarnation as the Hindus believe, nor a merely spiritualresurrection.Your body matters.

1Cor 15:15-18 More than that, we arethenfound to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about Godthat he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if infactthe dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christhasnot been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faithisfutile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallenasleepin Christ are lost.

"Paul was preaching the good news aboutJesus and the resurrection." Acts 17:18b Paul believedthat"therewill be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked." Acts24:15

The gospel is not just about who Christ was or what he taught. It isalso about the historic facts of the death, burial and resurrection, ofwhich a large portion of the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and Johnaredevoted. It is like no other religion in this respect - founded uponhistoricfact - the fact of miracles, affirmed by a multitude of eyewitnesses,whichthe hostility of the religious elite could not suppress. One cannot becalled a Christian if they deny the resurrection of Christ.

But if Christ wasn't raised, then the gospel is false. If the gospelis false, then Jesus did not atone for sin, and as such there is noprovisionto escape the wrath of God, and those who have died have gone to hell.

1Cor 15:19 Ifonly for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied morethanall men.

Job declared, "I know that my Redeemer lives,and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin hasbeen destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will seehim with my own eyes— I, and not another. How my heart yearns withinme!"Job19:25-27

If some have become Christians just to improve their lives, thentheyhave a misconception about what Christianity is all about. Inpresentingthe gospel, some today often include promises which are not part of theBiblical message - promises that you will be prosperous and everyonewillthink well of you - promises that everything will go well in your life.

Is your life viewed as pitiful by those who live only for this life?"Wefix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what isseenis temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."2Cor 4:18 Assuch the grace of God "teaches us to say"No"to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled,uprightand godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessedhope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ" Titus2:12,13 And "If we have food andclothing,we will be content with that." 1Tim 6:8

King David writes, "Arise, O LORD,Confronthim, cast him down; Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword,WithYour hand from men, O LORD, From men of the world who have theirportionin this life, And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure.Theyare satisfied with children, And leave the rest of their possession fortheir babes. As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; Ishall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness." Ps17:13-14(NKJV)

1Cor 15:20 ButChrist has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of thosewhohave fallen asleep.

For those in the faith, the New Testament uses the phrase "fallenasleep"to refer to believers who have died, as Paul also used in verse 18. Forit's not really death, seeing as Jesus said, "Whoeverhears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and willnotbe condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." John5;24 Today sometimes people refer to death as "crossing over". In asense, believers "cross over" at the point of conversion. Death is nota tragedy for Christians, but rather it's viewed as the time God putshischildren to bed. In fact "Precious in thesightof the LORD is the death of his saints." Ps 116:15

"firstfruits" have Biblical significance in that it was thefirstfruitsof the harvest which belonged to the Lord. "Honorthe LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all yourincrease"Pr3:9 Likewise it was firstborn son which belonged to the Lord."Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of everywombamong the Israelites belongs to me, whether man or animal." Ex13:2 Furthermore the firstborn of their domesticated animals Israelwas to sacrifice to the Lord, just as Christ, the firstborn Son, wassacrificedand became the firstfruit of the resurrection.

1Cor 15:21,22 For since death camethrougha man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as inAdam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Paul talks about the analogy between Adam and Christ in more detailin the second part of Romans chapter 5. However some tend to deviatefromthe context and read certain theologies (i.e. Calvinism/Augustiniantheology)into such analogies which are not really supported by the context. Paulis talking about physical death. And it doesn't say, "in Adam allsinned".It says, "In Adam all die". God does notholdpeople accountable for things they have no control over, like whatsomeoneelse did thousands of years before they were born. That would becontraryto God's judicial nature as portrayed in His command,"Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children putto death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin." Deut24:16 For this to be the case, the guilt of sin cannot beinherited.However, the temptation to sin (i.e. the sinful nature) is a differentmatter.

Adam's descendants experienced death because of Adam's misbehavior.Not that they were reckoned guilty because of his misbehavior. For evenChrist was a descendant of Adam, according to the genealogy record in Luke3:38. And "who was born of the seed ofDavid according to the flesh" Rom 1:3 Christdied."Yet was without sin" Heb 4:15b

Paul's point is with regards to the physical body. All of Adam'speoplephysically died. So also all who belong to Christ will be physicallyraisedfrom the dead.

1Cor 15:23 But each in his own turn:Christ,the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

Just to dispell some misconceptions, "the firstfruits" refers toChristhimself and not to some category of special saints. The plural throwssomepeople, but notice again verse 20 "Christhas indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of thosewhohave fallen asleep." Christ himself is the firstfruits. He isthetithe - the firstborn to be dedicated to God.

Secondly the resurrection occurs when Christ returns. This dispellsthe misconception that some have the Christ returned in 70ad. But checkany Christian grave sites and you'll the bodies are still there.Likewise, as I'll mention later concerning verse 45, there are some whoare under the misconception that Jesus was the Holy Spirit. In thatcase"Jesus" returned in Acts chapter 2. Sorry, no resurrection thereeither.And this is just one evidence against such misconceptions. Jesus returnwill be a visible event that no one can mistake.

That is, "the Lord himself will come down fromheaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and withthetrumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Afterthat, we who are still alive and are left will be caught uptogetherwith them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will bewith the Lord forever." 1Th 4:16,17 For "atthat time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and allthenations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming onthe clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he willsendhis angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his electfrom the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." Mt24:30,31 I comment on this further in verses 51,52

The preceeding was the resurrection of the righteous - the firstresurrection."Therest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years wereended.This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who havepartin the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, butthey will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for athousand years." Rev 20:5,6

1Cor 15:24-26 Then the end willcome,when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyedall dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has putallhis enemies under his feet. (Ps 110:1) Thelast enemy to be destroyed is death.

During the Millenial Kingdom, Christ will be defeating his enemies.During that time, "The Son of Man will send outhisangels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causessinand all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, wherethere will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Mt 13:41,42

And "when the thousand years are over,Satanwill be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nationsin the four corners of the earth— Gog and Magog— to gather them forbattle.In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched acrossthebreadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the cityhe loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And thedevil,who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, wherethebeast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented dayand night for ever and ever." Rev 20:7-10

"Then the righteous will shine like the sun inthe kingdom of their Father." Mt 13:43

Thus there are three dispensations to the kingdom of God.Pre-Millenial(also kinown as the Church age - in which we are living), theMillenial,and then the Son hands the Kingdom over to his Faither in thepost-MillenialKingdom in which "He will wipe every tear fromtheireyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying orpain,for the old order of things has passed away." Re 21:4

1Cor 15:27,28 For he "has puteverythingunder his feet." Now when it says that "everything" has been put underhim, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who puteverythingunder Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be madesubject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all inall.

What about Chrsit's reign will end? In the New Jerusalem there willno longer be his need for mediation. There will be nor more need fordispensingjustice, having disposed of evil. In the dispensation of the NewJerusalem- the new heavens and earth - God and the Lamb will reign together.

(New Jerusalem)
Rev 22:3-5 "No longer will there be anycurse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city,andhis servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name willbe on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not needthe light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will givethem light. And they will reign for ever and ever."

Formerly God could not show himself for as he said,"no one may see me and live." Ex 33:20 And "withoutholiness no one will see the Lord." Heb 12:14 Buthavingpurged creation of sin and death, God will reign together with the Lambof God who took away the sins of the world.

"Now the dwelling of God is with men,andhe will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself willbewith them and be their God." Rev 21:3

1Cor 15:29 Now if there is noresurrection,what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are notraisedat all, why are people baptized for them?

This verse is one which heretics would grab hold of to derive ideasand applications which are contrary to sound doctrine - doctrine wellestablishedin the New Testament. When a person comes to faith in Christ, the Lordhas ordained that such people are to be baptized. You cannot bebaptizedby proxy, dead or alive. You who believe in Christ, if you have notbeenbaptized, then get baptized. No one can do it for you.

Now in his book "Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament",Robertsoncomments, "This passage remains a puzzle. Stanley gives thirteeninterpretations,no one of which may be correct. Over thirty have been suggested. ...Tertulliantells of some heretics who took it to mean baptized in the place ofdeadpeople (unsaved) in order to save them."

What Paul could have meant was, by way of ellipsis,"whatwill those do who are baptized for[the resurrection of] the dead?",much as people are baptized for the forgiveness of sin"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of JesusChrist for the forgiveness of your sins." Acts 2:38 StJohn Chrysostom (AD 347-407) made note of this in hiscommentaryon this verse. That is, that people are baptized with a view towardstheirphysical resurrection from the dead. Else such baptism is in vain. Butthe particular phrasing and the Greek words used don't lend themselfeasilyto this interpretation. The word "for" in "for" the dead and "for" themin this verse is "uper" which means "on behalf of"

But if the heretics denying the resurrection were also involved intheheretical practice of baptism on behalf of others who had already died,in this case Paul would have simply been pointing out a logical fallacyin their reasoning - their hypocrisy in doing that which theythemselvesshould reckon vain by their own heretical beliefs, and was notendorsingsuch a pratice itself.

1Cor 15:30-32 And as for us, why do weendanger ourselves every hour? I die every day— I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If Ifoughtwild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? Ifthe dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

Why "fight the good fight of the faith." 1Tim6:12a, if it's just about this life? Why "takehold of the eternal life to which you were called" 1Tim 6:12bif there is no eternal life?

Our battle is in three arenas - the world, the flesh, the devil.

The World
The world pressures us with temptations outwardly. But "Theworld and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of Godlivesforever." 1John 2:17 The persecutes the saintss. ThusPaulasks, "pray that we may be delivered from wickedand evil men, for not everyone has faith." 2Th 3:2

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern ofthisworld, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Rom12:2 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does thewill of God lives forever.

The Flesh
The flesh works evil in us. "I know that nothinggood lives in me, that is, in my flesh (sinful nature)."Rom7:18

"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs toyour earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desiresandgreed, which is idolatry." Col 3:5

The Devil
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers ofthis dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in theheavenlyrealms." Eph 6:12 "and do notgivethe devil a foothold." Eph 4:27

As for the phrase "Let us eat anddrink,for tomorrow we die.", it comes from Isaiah 22:12-14which says, "The Lord, the LORD Almighty, calledyou on that day to weep and to wail, to tear out your hair and put onsackcloth.But see, there is joy and revelry, slaughtering of cattle and killingofsheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine! "Let us eat and drink," yousay, "for tomorrow we die!" The LORD Almighty has revealed this in myhearing:"Till your dying day this sin will not be atoned for," says the Lord,theLORD Almighty."

God has made no provision of atonement for people who don't respondto the gospel message in repentance from sin. And "everyonemust die once, and after that comes judgement." Heb 9:27

1Cor 15:33,34 Do not be misled:"Badcompany corrupts good character." Come back to your senses as youought,and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God— I saythisto your shame.

Pr 13:20 "He who walks with thewisegrows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm." Earlier inCorinthiansPaul spoke of disassociating oneself from sinful Christians. "Iam writing you that you must not associate with anyone who callshimselfa brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or aslanderer,a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. Whatbusinessis it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judgethoseinside? God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from amongyou."" 1Cor 5:11-13 Chose your friends carefully, foryouwill become like them.

As for the some who are ignorant of God, Paul is referring to someinthe Christian community. Else why would it be to their shame? There aresome who call themselves Christians but are under misconceptions as towhat constitutes a Christian. Many are Christians simply by tradition,having little idea about what the Bible actually says. They may thinkthatit's just about this life. They may just have wanted to befriend someChristians.And while it's good to draw in seekers, the message should not bemodifiedto accomodate their worldly point of view, nor any heresies theyintroducego uncritiqued. Else "Their teaching will spreadlike gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wanderedaway from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already takenplace,and they destroy the faith of some." 2Tim 2:17,18FalseChristians often taken advantage of the gullible both in business andindoctrine.

1Cor 15:35-38 But someone mayask,"How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?" Howfoolish!What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you donot plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat orofsomething else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and toeachkind of seed he gives its own body.

Don't be misled by some who claim that the resurrection body will bethe same as that which we have now. "TheSadducees,who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question." Mt22:23 (I guess that's why they were so sad, you see?) They askedaboutmarriage in the resurrection if a man had more than one wife due tobeingwidowed a number of times. But Jesus said, "Attheresurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; theywillbe like the angels in heaven." Mt 22:30 Likewise youngmuslimmen commit suicide and commit mass murder at the false promise ofhavingsexual relations in heaven with multiple virgins. The Biblical conceptof the resurrection is characteristically different than the Islamicconceptof resurrection - as much as the Biblical Jesus is characteristicallydifferentthan the Islamic version of Jesus.

Marriage is a shadow which will be done away with when the lightcomes.Marriage was designed to represent the relationship between Christ anhischurch. "For this reason a man will leave hisfatherand mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become oneflesh.This is a profound mystery— but I am talking about Christ and thechurch."Eph5:31,32 Likewise "The law is only a shadowofthe good things that are coming— not the realities themselves." Heb10:1a "These are a shadow of the things thatwere to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ." Col2:17

Look at a tree and then look at the seed from which it came. SameDNA.Common origin, but significantly different. Such is the differencebetweenthe body which is planted and that which is raised. The body will belikethat of Jesus at his resurrection. He could eat, but he didn't have to.He could vanish, walk through walls, change his appearance and yet wasnot a ghost, as some are under the misconception days, as he said,"Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; aghostdoes not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." Luke 24:39

And by the way concerning "planting", Christian's generally do notchoseto be cremated but buried as Jesus was, as that is more in keeping withthe picture the Bible gives of death and resurrection. The body istreatedwith respect rather than burned. While burning is more symbolic ofhell-fireand God's wrath. But it matters not from what state the body is to beraised."Fordust you are and to dust you will return." Gen 3:19 Andfromthat dust you will be raised.

1Cor 15:39-41 All flesh is notthesame: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds anotherandfish another. There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthlybodies;but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendorofthe earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, themoonanother and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.

What is flesh but one's outward manifestation. In a sense Jesus wasthe "flesh" of God in that "no one has ever seenGod, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has madehimknown." John 1:18 "The Son is theradianceof God’s glory and the exact representation of his being,"Heb1:3 However there are those fleshly, earthly-minded, thenaturalists,who think the flesh is all there is. Not so. Jesus was born with samehumannature as our. "Since the children have fleshandblood, he too shared in their humanity" Heb 2:14 He didnotbecome a different person upon his resurrection. He just took on adifferentoutward manifestation. And likewise for Christians. 1John 3:2a"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has notyet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be likehim."

I don't know how well Paul realized the truth of his statement "stardiffers from star in splendor", only seeing them with one'seyes.Yes some are brighter than others, but with modern instrumentation andthe science of astrophysics, today we recognize a greater diversityamongthe stars. I get the sense that such will likewise be the caseconcerningalot of issues of eschatology, such as the resurrection. "Fornow we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face" 1Cor13:12Now we're given bits and pieces, probably because we don't need to knowthe whole picture of the future in order to accomplish the mission. Butwhen it comes, I suspect it will be much greater and more diverse thanChristians have anticipated. Though there's no need to get side-trackedspeculating on the details of which we are not given at this time.

1Cor 15:42-44 So will it be withthe resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, itisraised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; itis sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body,it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there isalsoa spiritual body.

And remember that while the seed looks different than the tree,"a man reaps what he sows. He who sows to his flesh will of the fleshreapcorruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reapeverlastinglife." Gal 6:7,8 Indeed while Paul speaks here of theresurrectionof the righteous, there will also be a resurrection of the wicked."I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be aresurrectionof both the righteous and the wicked." Acts 24:15 Eachwillreap what they have sown.

By "spiritual body" he doesn't mean a ghost. For Jesus in hisresurrectedstate denied being a ghost, but rather having flesh and blood and beingable to eat things, as I noted previously. "Lookat my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost doesnot have flesh and bones, as you see I have. ... They gave him a pieceof broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence."Luke 24:39,42,43 Such will be the bodies of the resurrected saints.They will be incorruptible, no longer having sin dwelling in them;neitherbeing subject to the processes of decay and death. Nonetheless onemightbe mistaken for a ghost as Jesus was. Similarly Jesus speaks of theresurrectedsaints being as angels. Mt 22;30 But at times the Bible speaksofangels and spirits as different entities. (Acts 23:8,9) Butthesekind of distinctions will become clearer upon the resurrection.

1Cor 15:45-49 So it is written: "Thefirstman Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.Thespiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that thespiritual.The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man fromheaven.Aswas the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is themanfrom heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we havebornethe likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of themanfrom heaven.

Iin saying "the last Adam, a life-givingspirit",remember that Jesus, in his resurrected state denied being a ghost. Hedidn't become a "spirit" (which is the same word in Greek). Somehereticsclaim that Jesus became the Holy Spirit, of which some translationsreferto as "the Holy Ghost". But first of all the Bible, and Jesus inparticular, spoke of the Holy Spirit as a separate person from himself,even after his resurrection. And secondly, as I noted previously,Jesus,in his resurrected state denied being a ghost. And thirdly the HolySpiritwho dwells in the Church today has never manifest himself as Jesus didin his resurrected body. (And one could go on and on making more pointsalong these lines)

Paul is referring to Jesus' resurrected body - a body of flesh andbones,which was nonetheless incorruptible, glorious, and powerful. It was notsubject to natural law. It was not a natural body which decays anddies,but a spiritual body. But as from Adam came death to his offspring,analogouslythrough Christ comes life to his offspring.

"As is the man from heaven, so also are thosewho are of heaven." Jesus said, "Theyarenot of the world, even as I am not of it." John 17:16Or as John says, "in this world we are likehim."1John4:17b This is the case both for the present and future. Our presentstate is much like Jesus's earthly state, and likewise our heavenlystatewill be as Jesus is presently.

1Cor 15:50 I declare to you,brothers,that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does theperishableinherit the imperishable.

Here Paul is not referring to the Millenial Kingdom. which has anendto it as it transitions into the kingdom of the New Jerusalem. TheMillenialKingdom does have people of flesh and blood, even sinners, as well asresurrectedsaints. Note what it says of the end of the Millenial Kingdom. "Whenthe thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prisonand will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of theearth—Gog and Magog— to gather them for battle. In number they are like thesandon the seashore." Rev 20:7,8 The Millenial Kingdom is noparadise.

But the kingdom which follows will be incorruptible, sin having beenremoved. Sinful flesh cannot exist in such a place. But again as apointof interpretation, Jesus in his resurrected state claimed to have abodyof flesh and bones, yet being incorruptible it was not of the same kindPaul is referring to in this verse of which he characterizes ascorruptible,referring to the corruptible bodies in which we presently live.

1Cor 15:51,52 Listen, I tell you amystery:We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in thetwinklingof an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the deadwillbe raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

The mystery Paul is referring to here is what has become known astheRapture. It's most explicitly taught in 1Thess 4:15-17 "Accordingto the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, whoareleft till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precedethosewho have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpetcall of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that,we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together withthem in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will bewiththe Lord forever."

Now given Paul's emphasis on the order of events here - theresurrectionoccuring prior to the rapture, it would seem to imply some measurabletimeperiod between the two. Else if they occurred simultaneously, why say "willcertainlynot precede"? In fact as I've worked out a timing scheme for theend times events, reference all relevant verses, I calculate that therewill be about 45 days between the two events. See http://www.bcbsr.com/survey/revtim.htmlPaul's statement "twinkling of an eye" isa figure of speech referring to the time it takes to change one's statefrom the corruptible flesh to a glorious body.

"At the last trumpet" is to be taken inthe context of which end times events are referred. i.e"This is the last hour" 1John 2:18, "Yes,I am coming soon." Rev 22:20. In fact the phrase"the day of the Lord", which is often referred to inscripture,covers a whole series of events often alluding to the entire Millenialreign. For "with the Lord a day is like athousandyears, and a thousand years are like a day" 2Peter 3:8

1Cor 15:54-57 When the perishable hasbeenclothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, thenthesaying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up invictory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is yoursting?"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. Butthanksbe to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul is alluding to Isa 25:8 "hewill swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe awaythetears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people fromallthe earth. The LORD has spoken." Of which is also alluded to inRev 21:4 "He will wipe every tear from theireyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, fortheold order of things has passed away." And Paul also alludes to Hosea13:14 "I will ransom them from the power ofthegrave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are yourplagues?Where, O grave, is your destruction?"

There are many who don't presently realize the real sting of death.Some think it's just an end to one's existence. But the real sting ofdeathis the eternal condemnation which follows it, which is a consequence offalling short of God's standards. Thus "He willpunishthose who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out fromthepresence of the Lord." 2Th 2:8,9 But thanks be to Godforthe grace given by Jesus Christ as revealed in the gospel for those whobelieve. "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and youwillbe saved" Acts 16:31 "Bythisgospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.Otherwise, you have believed in vain." 1Cor 15:2

1Cor 15:58 Therefore, my dearbrothers,stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to theworkof the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not invain.

"As God’s fellow workers we urge you not toreceiveGod’s grace in vain." 2Cor 6:1"Whateveryou do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, notformen, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lordas a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Col3:23,24

Consider yourself commissioned for the Lord's work.

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in amannerworthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you oronlyhear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in onespirit,contending as one man for the faith of the gospel. without beingfrightenedin any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that theywillbe destroyed, but that you will be saved— and that by God." Php1:27,28

"The world and its desires pass away, but theman who does the will of God lives forever." 1John 2:17