1 CORINTHIANS 15

THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST OFFERS HOPE OF A FUTURE RESURRECTION

After offering correction and wisdom to the believers in Corinth, Paul reminds them that their faith hinges on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Paul recalls his personal encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) and shares his testimony. Paul, who once hated Christians, became a messenger of the gospel through the work of the Holy Spirit. Realizing all that God has done through his own story, Paul knows there is hope for the Corinthians.

Focusing on the importance of the resurrection as the foundation of faith, Paul says that if Jesus did not rise from the dead, their faith is worthless. If Jesus was not who he claimed to be, the living Son of God who died as a sacrifice for the sin of believers, the faith is entirely false. Paul offers this statement as a challenge to the believers and a reminder of the most important belief of followers of Jesus.

The significance of Christ’s resurrection points to the hope of a future resurrection for believers. Although there is death for all of humanity because of the sin introduced by Adam (Genesis 3), there is resurrection and eternal life for all believers in Christ. Paul introduces the idea of heavenly bodies, which have different glory than earthly bodies. Just as God created humanity from dust (Genesis 2), God will recreate the eternal beings of believers. Instead of perishable bodies, believers will be given imperishable, everlasting bodies. Boasting in the victory of Jesus, Paul knows that death has ultimately lost.