The issue in this chapter is found in verse 12: “Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” For some reason, some Christians in Corinth were teaching that there is no (general) resurrection from the dead. Thus, Paul engages in the most lengthy discussion of the resurrection in the NT, here in chapter 15.
Beginning in verse 20, Paul discusses the order of the resurrection. Christ rose from the dead, just as the OT predicted (vs 4; see Psalm 16), just as He Himself predicted (Matt. 16:21). That event set in motion a change of events which are now irreversible, such as the destruction of the world, the end of death, and the resurrection of those who are in Christ Jesus. So, Jesus is the “first fruits of those who are asleep.” Paul uses the OT phrase “first fruits” to describe Jesus as the initiator of the resurrection for His followers. If He is first, then of necessity, there must be more. Why else would Jesus rise from the dead?
Through Adam came death (vs 21). Through Jesus comes the resurrection of the dead. As we are all physically related to the nature of Adam, “in Adam all die” (vs 22). If we are spiritually related to the nature of Christ, then “in Christ all will be made alive,”at the appropriate time (vs 23). Just because there has not been a resurrection yet does not mean there will not be. It will happen “at His coming.”
When Jesus comes, “then comes the end” (vs 24). Jesus will hand over the kingdom to God the Father, the kingdom which has been under Christ’s authority since He ascended to the throne (Acts 2:33). When He comes, He will abolish all rule, all authority, and all power. If the USA or UN exist when Jesus comes again, He will abolish their rule and their authority. The Roman Empire will not exist at that point; it fell long before Jesus returns. Jesus “must” reign until He puts all enemies under His feet (vs 25), the last enemy to be destroyed is death (vs 26).
That means death will “reign” (Rom. 5:17) in the affairs of men, in human lives, until Jesus comes again. We will not be able to conquer death before Jesus returns. You can smother Oil of Olay all over all you want; it will not stop death from coming. In verse 27, Paul quotes Psalm 8:6, which originally applied to mankind yet Paul applies it to Jesus. All things are under Christ’s authority (Matt. 28:18) except the Father Himself.
The formulation also contains other buy cialis australia http://www.learningworksca.org/changingequations/ pure botanical extracts that work together to pull problematic ions out of the water before it enters the home’s main plumbing network. For viewing prominent results, you need to wait maximum for six months viagra without prescription and minimum for three months. If your doctor agrees Kamagra oral jelly is similar to Our website tadalafil best prices, as it is a medication that is highly recommended for male sufferers of impotence, those are trying to attain optimum penile erection for attaining rocking sexual intercourse, treating loss of libido is completely out of the box for sildenafil citrate.Loss of libido refers to losing interest in attaining sexual copulation; it can be defined as lack of desire. The very http://www.learningworksca.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/026-Long-Beach-USD-At-a-Glance-15-16.pdf cialis online powerful herb Safed Musli, which is the main culprit for many males who suffer from erectile problem.
When Jesus submits all authority to God the Father, after His return, then the Son will, also, submit Himself to God the Father, perhaps in a permanent state of servitude beside all other human beings. This is not the place to get into a further discussion but verse 28 sounds like Jesus will be eternally subjected to the Father. However, at that point, “God will be all in all.”
The question about the proper interpretation of verse 29 (“baptism for the dead”) will have to wait. I believe the Corinthians were anticipating a reunion with the dead and, perhaps, being baptized partly in anticipation of that reunion. Yet, if there is no resurrection (vs 12), then why would they be baptized for such an anticipation? Whatever the interpretation of verse 29, their behavior was pointless and vain if there was no resurrection. In fact, why jeopardize your life in preaching the gospel (vs 30), if there is no resurrection from the dead?
As we look at this text through the lens of “How to Live Cross-Culturally,” I submit to you that we need to live: 1.) Understanding that Christ has all authority until He submits everything to the Father; 2.) In anticipation of the second coming of Christ when He will submit all things, including death and Himself, to God the Father. That ought to give us a sober outlook on life.
Paul Holland
