1Cor 15:1-4 | Clarke | e4.org | CHAPTER XV. The Gospel which the apostle preached to the Corinthians; viz. that Christ died for our sins, and rose again the third day , 1-4. The witnesses of his resurrection, Peter, James, and more than five hundred brethren , 5-7. Lastly, Paul himself saw him, and was called by him to the apostleship , 8-11. Objections against the resurrection of the dead answered , 12-34. The manner in which this great work shall be performed , 35-49. The astonishing events that shall take place in the last day , 50-57. The use we should make of this doctrine , 58. NOTES ON CHAP. XV. It appears from this chapter that there were some false apostles at Corinth, who denied the resurrection , see ; in consequence of which St. Paul discusses three questions in this chapter:- 1. Whether there be a resurrection of the dead? . 2. What will be the nature of the resurrection bodies? . 3. What should become of those who should be found alive in the day of judgment? . I. The resurrection he proves, 1. From Scripture , . 2. From eye witnesses , . II. He proves the resurrection by showing the absurdity of the contrary doctrine:- 1. If the dead rise not, Christ is not risen, . 2. It would be absurd to have faith in Him, according to the preaching of the Gospel, if he be not risen, . 3. The apostles must be false witnesses who attest this resurrection, . 4. The faith of the Corinthians must be vain who believe it, . 5. All the believers who have died in the faith of Christ have perished, if Christ be not risen, . 6. Believers in Christ are in a more miserable state than any others, if there be no resurrection, . 7. Those who were baptized in the faith that Christ died for them and rose again , are deceived, . 8. The apostles, and Christians in general, who suffer persecution on the ground that, after suffering awhile here they shall have a glorious resurrection, are acting a foolish and unprofitable part, . Verse 1. The Gospel which I preached unto you ] This Gospel is contained in Christ dying for our sins, being buried , and rising again the third day . See the following verses.

‏ 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

CHAPTER XV.

The Gospel which the apostle preached to the Corinthians; viz. that Christ died for our sins, and rose again the third day,

1-4.

The witnesses of his resurrection, Peter, James, and more than five hundred brethren, 5-7.

Lastly, Paul himself saw him, and was called by him to the apostleship, 8-11.

Objections against the resurrection of the dead answered, 12-34.

The manner in which this great work shall be performed, 35-49.

The astonishing events that shall take place in the last day,

50-57.

The use we should make of this doctrine, 58.

NOTES ON CHAP. XV.

It appears from this chapter that there were some false apostles at Corinth, who denied the resurrection, see 1Co 15:12; in consequence of which St. Paul discusses three questions in this chapter:-

1. Whether there be a resurrection of the dead? 1Co 15:1-35.

2. What will be the nature of the resurrection bodies?

1Co 15:35-51.

3. What should become of those who should be found alive in

the day of judgment? 1Co 15:51-57.

I. The resurrection he proves,

1. From Scripture, 1Co 15:1-4.

2. From eye witnesses, 1Co 15:5-12.

II. He proves the resurrection by showing the absurdity of the

contrary doctrine:-

1. If the dead rise not, Christ is not risen, 1Co 15:13.

2. It would be absurd to have faith in Him, according to the

preaching of the Gospel, if he be not risen, 1Co 15:14.

3. The apostles must be false witnesses who attest this

resurrection, 1Co 15:15.

4. The faith of the Corinthians must be vain who believe it,

1Co 15:16, 17.

5. All the believers who have died in the faith of Christ have

perished, if Christ be not risen, 1Co 15:18.

6. Believers in Christ are in a more miserable state than any

others, if there be no resurrection, 1Co 15:19.

7. Those who were baptized in the faith that Christ died for

them and rose again, are deceived, 1Co 15:29.

8. The apostles, and Christians in general, who suffer

persecution on the ground that, after suffering awhile here

they shall have a glorious resurrection, are acting a foolish

and unprofitable part, 1Co 15:30-32.

Verse 1. The Gospel which I preached unto you] This Gospel is contained in Christ dying for our sins, being buried, and rising again the third day. See the following verses.

Verse 2. By which also ye are saved] That is, ye are now in a salvable state; and are saved from your Gentilism, and from your former sins.

If ye keep in memory] Your future salvation, or being brought finally to glory, will now depend on your faithfulness to the grace that ye have received.

Verse 3. For I delivered unto you first of all] ενπροτοις. As the chief things, or matters of the greatest importance; fundamental truths.

That which I-received] By revelations from God himself, and not from man.

That Christ died for our sins] The death of Jesus Christ, as a vicarious sacrifice for sin, is ενπρωτοις; among the things that are of chief importance, and is essential to the Gospel scheme of salvation.

According to the Scriptures] It is not said any where in the Scriptures, in express terms, that Christ should rise on the third day; but it is fully implied in his types, as in the case of Jonah, who came out of the belly of the fish on the third day; but particularly in the case of Isaac, who was a very expressive type of Christ; for, as his being brought to the Mount Moriah, bound and laid on the wood, in order to be sacrificed, pointed out the death of Christ; so his being brought alive on the third day from the mount was a figure of Christ's resurrection. Bishop Pearce and others refer to Mt 12:40; 16:21; and Lu 9:22; "which two Gospels, having been written at the time when Paul wrote this epistle, were properly called by the name of the Sacred Scriptures." It might be so; but I do not know of one proof in the New Testament where its writings, or any part of them, are called the Scriptures.