No. XXVIII. THE RESURRECTION. THE following arrangement of 1 Corinthians xv. is given, accompanied by an annotation or two, with the hope that the order thereof, may help to throw it into stronger and clearer relief, than that in which it is commonly seen. Here we discover a chain of reasoning, so exquisitely framed, and linked together with such wonderful skill, that it is impossible that it can be the work of any but ONE HAND ALONE. It naturally divides itself, as will be seen, into eight leading subjects, each comprising a series of parallelisms and contrasts, all bearing on the main point-the doctrine of THE RESURRECTION; and as the believer, having proceeded, step after step, through the argument, reaches at last the close of the chapter, he will, in reviewing all the power, the goodness, the love here displayed, gladly echo the words of the apostle, and exclaim, "Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" 1 CORINTHIANS XV. (VERSES 1-4). Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you THE GOSPEL which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he ROSE AGAIN THE THIRD DAY according to the Scriptures. CHRIST'S APOSTLES AND MESSENGERS (ayyeλoi) OF WHOM HE WAS SEEN WHEN RISEN (VERSES 5—11). And that he was seen of CEPHAS, then of THE TWELVE after that, he was seen of ABOVE FIVE HUNDRED BRETHREN at once;. of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some ALL THE APOSTLES. are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of JAMES; then of And last of all he was seen of ME ALSO, as of one born out of due time (see 1 Cor. ix. 1). For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed-(" preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world"-1 Tim. iii. 16). : THE RESURRECTION DENIED. ANSWER.-A CHAIN OF HYPOTHESES AND CONSEQUENCES (VERSES 12-19). Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you, that there is NO RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD? JHYP.-But if there be no resurrection of the dead, { { HYP.-And if Christ be not risen, CON. Then IS OUR PREACHING vain, AND YOUR FAITH IS ALSO VAIN. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that he CON.-Whom he raised not up, HYP.-For if the dead rise not, CON. Then is not Christ raised : HYP.-And if Christ be not raised, CON.-Your faith is vain; ye are yet IN YOUR Sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ ARE PERISHED. J HYP.-If in this life only we have hope in Christ, CON. We are of all men MOST MISERABLE. CHRIST'S RESURRECTION. ITS RESULTS IN THE KINGDOM, AND FOR EVER, ETC. (VERSES 20-34). But now IS CHRIST RISEN FROM THE DEAD, And become the FIRSTFRUITS OF THEM THAT SLEPT. 1 For since by man came death, By man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, Even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: (1.) CHRIST the firstfruits; (2.) Afterward THEY THAT ARE CHRIST's at his coming.— (3.) THEN COMETH THE END, when he shall have DELIVERED UP THE KINGDOM тo GOD, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. THE LAST ENEMY THAT SHALL BE DESTROYED IS DEATH (see Rev. xx. 13, 14). For he hath put all things under his feet. (But when he saith, All things are put under him, it is manifest that HE IS EXCEPTED, which did put all things under him.) And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto Him that put all things under him, THAT GOD MAY BE ALL IN ALL (see Rev. xxi. 3-5). Else what shall they do which are BAPTIZED FOR THE DEAD (or over the dead," vπеρ тWV VEкрwv), if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead? And why stand we IN JEOPARDY every hour? I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we die.. BE NOT DECEIVED: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some HAVE NOT THE KNOWLEDGE of God (see Matt. xxii. 29): I speak this to your shame. TWO QUESTIONS, AND ANSWERS But some man will say, (1st Question). How are the dead raised up? (answered in verses 36-38; 42—44). and (2nd Question).—With WHAT BODY do they come? (answered in the parenthesis, verses 39-41). FIRST ANSWER (VERSES 36-38). Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. (N. B. This shows, whether the human body or wheat be considered, that while a wonderful CHANGE is effected, IDENTITY nevertheless is maintained-that, in both cases, the original germ is preserved). Flesh or Bodies. Glories. SECOND ANSWER.-A PARENTHESIS (VERSES 39-41). All FLESH is not the same flesh: Another flesh of beasts, And another of birds. ILLUSTRATION of the following fact. FACT illustrated above by the varieties of flesh amongst men and animals. FACT afterwards illustrated ILLUSTRATION of the above fact. FIRST ANSWER RESUMED AFTER THE PARENTHESIS (VERSES 42-44). So also is the RESURRECTION OF THE dead. It is sown in corruption; It is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; It is sown in weakness; It is sown a natural body; It is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, And there is a spiritual body (see verses 39-41). CHRIST THE SECOND ADAM (VERSES 45—50). And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; The last Adam was made a quickening Spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; And afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: The second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, Such are they also that are earthy: And as is the heavenly, Such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, We shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, That flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; THE RAPTURE OF THE SAINTS. THEIR BODIES BEING CHANGED AND FITTED FOR HEAVEN (VERSES 51-54). BEHOLD, I SHOW YOU A MYSTERY; We shall not all sleep, But we shall all be changed (i.e. the living, and the dead), in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump : FOR THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND, And the dead shall be raised incorruptible, And we (in LIVING bodies, though “mortal”) shall be CHANGED (see 1 Thess. iv, 17). For this corruptible must put on incorruption (i. e. the dead), And this mortal must put on immortality (i. e. the living). |