1 Corintios 15

1 Ahora os hago saber, hermanos, el evangelio que os prediqué, el cual también recibisteis, en el cual también estáis firmes,

2 por el cual también sois salvos, si retenéis la palabra que os prediqué, a no ser que hayáis creído en vano.

3 Porque yo os entregué en primer lugar lo mismo que recibí: que Cristo murió por nuestros pecados, conforme a las Escrituras;

4 que fue sepultado y que resucitó al tercer día, conforme a las Escrituras;

5 que se apareció a Cefas y después a los doce;

6 luego se apareció a más de quinientos hermanos a la vez, la mayoría de los cuales viven aún, pero algunos ya duermen;

7 después se apareció a Jacobo , luego a todos los apóstoles,

8 y al último de todos, como a uno nacido fuera de tiempo, se me apareció también a mí.

9 Porque yo soy el más insignificante de los apóstoles, que no soy digno de ser llamado apóstol, pues perseguí a la iglesia de Dios.

10 Pero por la gracia de Dios soy lo que soy, y su gracia para conmigo no resultó vana; antes bien he trabajado mucho más que todos ellos, aunque no yo, sino la gracia de Dios en mí.

11 Sin embargo, haya sido yo o ellos, así predicamos y así creísteis.

12 Ahora bien, si se predica que Cristo ha resucitado de entre los muertos, ¿cómo dicen algunos entre vosotros que no hay resurrección de muertos?

13 Y si no hay resurrección de muertos, entonces ni siquiera Cristo ha resucitado;

14 y si Cristo no ha resucitado, vana es entonces nuestra predicación, y vana también vuestra fe.

15 Aún más, somos hallados testigos falsos de Dios, porque hemos testificado contra Dios que El resucitó a Cristo, a quien no resucitó, si en verdad los muertos no resucitan.

16 Pues si los muertos no resucitan, entonces ni siquiera Cristo ha resucitado;

17 y si Cristo no ha resucitado, vuestra fe es falsa; todavía estáis en vuestros pecados.

18 Entonces también los que han dormido en Cristo han perecido.

19 Si hemos esperado en Cristo para esta vida solamente, somos, de todos los hombres, los más dignos de lástima.

20 Mas ahora Cristo ha resucitado de entre los muertos, primicias de los que durmieron.

21 Porque ya que la muerte entró por un hombre, también por un hombre vino la resurrección de los muertos.

22 Porque así como en Adán todos mueren, también en Cristo todos serán vivificados.

23 Pero cada uno en su debido orden: Cristo, las primicias; luego los que son de Cristo en su venida;

24 entonces vendrá el fin, cuando entregue el reino al Dios y Padre, después que haya abolido todo dominio y toda autoridad y poder.

25 Pues El debe reinar hasta que haya puesto a todos sus enemigos debajo de sus pies.

26 Y el último enemigo que será abolido es la muerte.

27 Porque EL HA PUESTO TODO EN SUJECION BAJO SUS PIES. Pero cuando dice que todas las cosas le están sujetas, es evidente que se exceptúa a aquel que ha sometido a El todas las cosas.

28 Y cuando todo haya sido sometido a El, entonces también el Hijo mismo se sujetará a aquel que sujetó a El todas las cosas, para que Dios sea todo en todos.

29 De no ser así, ¿qué harán los que se bautizan por los muertos? Si de ninguna manera los muertos resucitan, ¿por qué, entonces, se bautizan por ellos?

30 Y también, ¿por qué estamos en peligro a toda hora?

31 Os aseguro, hermanos, por la satisfacción que siento por vosotros en Cristo Jesús nuestro Señor, que cada día estoy en peligro de muerte .

32 Si por motivos humanos luché contra fieras en Efeso, ¿de qué me aprovecha? Si los muertos no resucitan, COMAMOS Y BEBAMOS, QUE MAÑANA MORIREMOS.

33 No os dejéis engañar: Las malas compañías corrompen las buenas costumbres.

34 Sed sobrios, como conviene, y dejad de pecar; porque algunos no tienen conocimiento de Dios. Para verguenza vuestra lo digo.

35 Pero alguno dirá: ¿Cómo resucitan los muertos? ¿Y con qué clase de cuerpo vienen?

36 ¡Necio! Lo que tú siembras no llega a tener vida si antes no muere;

37 y lo que siembras, no siembras el cuerpo que nacerá, sino grano desnudo, quizás de trigo o de alguna otra especie.

38 Pero Dios le da un cuerpo como El quiso, y a cada semilla su propio cuerpo.

39 No toda carne es la misma carne, sino que una es la de los hombres, otra la de las bestias, otra la de las aves y otra la de los peces.

40 Hay, asimismo, cuerpos celestiales y cuerpos terrestres, pero la gloria del celestial es una, y la del terrestre es otra.

41 Hay una gloria del sol, y otra gloria de la luna, y otra gloria de las estrellas; pues una estrella es distinta de otra estrella en gloria.

42 Así es también la resurrección de los muertos. Se siembra un cuerpo corruptible, se resucita un cuerpo incorruptible;

43 se siembra en deshonra, se resucita en gloria; se siembra en debilidad, se resucita en poder;

44 se siembra un cuerpo natural, se resucita un cuerpo espiritual. Si hay un cuerpo natural, hay también un cuerpo espiritual.

45 Así también está escrito: El primer HOMBRE, Adán, FUE HECHO ALMA VIVIENTE. El último Adán, espíritu que da vida.

46 Sin embargo, el espiritual no es primero, sino el natural; luego el espiritual.

47 El primer hombre es de la tierra, terrenal; el segundo hombre es del cielo.

48 Como es el terrenal, así son también los que son terrenales; y como es el celestial, así son también los que son celestiales.

49 Y tal como hemos traído la imagen del terrenal, traeremos también la imagen del celestial.

50 Y esto digo, hermanos: que la carne y la sangre no pueden heredar el reino de Dios; ni lo que se corrompe hereda lo incorruptible.

51 He aquí, os digo un misterio: no todos dormiremos, pero todos seremos transformados

52 en un momento, en un abrir y cerrar de ojos, a la trompeta final; pues la trompeta sonará y los muertos resucitarán incorruptibles, y nosotros seremos transformados.

53 Porque es necesario que esto corruptible se vista de incorrupción, y esto mortal se vista de inmortalidad.

54 Pero cuando esto corruptible se haya vestido de incorrupción, y esto mortal se haya vestido de inmortalidad, entonces se cumplirá la palabra que está escrita: DEVORADA HA SIDO LA MUERTE en victoria.

55 ¿DONDE ESTA, OH MUERTE, TU VICTORIA? ¿DONDE, OH SEPULCRO, TU AGUIJON?

56 El aguijón de la muerte es el pecado, y el poder del pecado es la ley;

57 pero a Dios gracias, que nos da la victoria por medio de nuestro Señor Jesucristo.

58 Por tanto, mis amados hermanos, estad firmes, constantes, abundando siempre en la obra del Señor, sabiendo que vuestro trabajo en el Señor no es en vano.

1 Corintios 15 Commentary

Chapter 15

The apostle proves the resurrection of Christ from the dead. (1-11) Those answered who deny the resurrection of the body. (12-19) The resurrection of believers to eternal life. (20-34) Objections against it answered. (35-50) The mystery of the change that will be made on those living at Christ's second coming. (51-54) The believer's triumph over death and the grave, An exhortation to diligence. (55-58)

Verses 1-11 The word resurrection, usually points out our existence beyond the grave. Of the apostle's doctrine not a trace can be found in all the teaching of philosophers. The doctrine of Christ's death and resurrection, is the foundation of Christianity. Remove this, and all our hopes for eternity sink at once. And it is by holding this truth firm, that Christians stand in the day of trial, and are kept faithful to God. We believe in vain, unless we keep in the faith of the gospel. This truth is confirmed by Old Testament prophecies; and many saw Christ after he was risen. This apostle was highly favoured, but he always had a low opinion of himself, and expressed it. When sinners are, by Divine grace, turned into saints, God causes the remembrance of former sins to make them humble, diligent, and faithful. He ascribes to Divine grace all that was valuable in him. True believers, though not ignorant of what the Lord has done for, in, and by them, yet when they look at their whole conduct and their obligations, they are led to feel that none are so worthless as they are. All true Christians believe that Jesus Christ, and him crucified, and then risen from the dead, is the sun and substance of Christianity. All the apostles agreed in this testimony; by this faith they lived, and in this faith they died.

Verses 12-19 Having shown that Christ was risen, the apostle answers those who said there would be no resurrection. There had been no justification, or salvation, if Christ had not risen. And must not faith in Christ be vain, and of no use, if he is still among the dead? The proof of the resurrection of the body is the resurrection of our Lord. Even those who died in the faith, had perished in their sins, if Christ had not risen. All who believe in Christ, have hope in him, as a Redeemer; hope for redemption and salvation by him; but if there is no resurrection, or future recompence, their hope in him can only be as to this life. And they must be in a worse condition than the rest of mankind, especially at the time, and under the circumstances, in which the apostles wrote; for then Christians were hated and persecuted by all men. But it is not so; they, of all men, enjoy solid comforts amidst all their difficulties and trials, even in the times of the sharpest persecution.

Verses 20-34 All that are by faith united to Christ, are by his resurrection assured of their own. As through the sin of the first Adam, all men became mortal, because all had from him the same sinful nature, so, through the resurrection of Christ, shall all who are made to partake of the Spirit, and the spiritual nature, revive, and live for ever. There will be an order in the resurrection. Christ himself has been the first-fruits; at his coming, his redeemed people will be raised before others; at the last the wicked will rise also. Then will be the end of this present state of things. Would we triumph in that solemn and important season, we must now submit to his rule, accept his salvation, and live to his glory. Then shall we rejoice in the completion of his undertaking, that God may receive the whole glory of our salvation, that we may for ever serve him, and enjoy his favour. What shall those do, who are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Perhaps baptism is used here in a figure, for afflictions, sufferings, and martyrdom, as ( matthew 20:22 matthew 20:23 ) . What is, or will become of those who have suffered many and great injuries, and have even lost their lives, for this doctrine of the resurrection, if the dead rise not at all? Whatever the meaning may be, doubtless the apostle's argument was understood by the Corinthians. And it is as plain to us that Christianity would be a foolish profession, if it proposed advantage to themselves by their faithfulness to God; and to have our fruit to holiness, that our end may be everlasting life. But we must not live like beasts, as we do not die like them. It must be ignorance of God that leads any to disbelieve the resurrection and future life. Those who own a God and a providence, and observe how unequal things are in the present life, how frequently the best men fare worst, cannot doubt as to an after-state, where every thing will be set to rights. Let us not be joined with ungodly men; but warn all around us, especially children and young persons, to shun them as a pestilence. Let us awake to righteousness, and not sin.

Verses 35-50 1. How are the dead raised up? that is, by what means? How can they be raised? 2. As to the bodies which shall rise. Will it be with the like shape, and form, and stature, and members, and qualities? The former objection is that of those who opposed the doctrine, the latter of curious doubters. To the first the answer is, This was to be brought about by Divine power; that power which all may see does somewhat like it, year after year, in the death and revival of the corn. It is foolish to question the Almighty power of God to raise the dead, when we see it every day quickening and reviving things that are dead. To the second inquiry; The grain undergoes a great change; and so will the dead, when they rise and live again. The seed dies, though a part of it springs into new life, though how it is we cannot fully understand. The works of creation and providence daily teach us to be humble, as well as to admire the Creator's wisdom and goodness. There is a great variety among other bodies, as there is among plants. There is a variety of glory among heavenly bodies. The bodies of the dead, when they rise, will be fitted for the heavenly bodies. The bodies of the dead, when they rise, will be fitted for the heavenly state; and there will be a variety of glories among them. Burying the dead, is like committing seed to the earth, that it may spring out of it again. Nothing is more loathsome than a dead body. But believers shall at the resurrection have bodies, made fit to be for ever united with spirits made perfect. To God all things are possible. He is the Author and Source of spiritual life and holiness, unto all his people, by the supply of his Holy Spirit to the soul; and he will also quicken and change the body by his Spirit. The dead in Christ shall not only rise, but shall rise thus gloriously changed. The bodies of the saints, when they rise again, will be changed. They will be then glorious and spiritual bodies, fitted to the heavenly world and state, where they are ever afterwards to dwell. The human body in its present form, and with its wants and weaknesses, cannot enter or enjoy the kingdom of God. Then let us not sow to the flesh, of which we can only reap corruption. And the body follows the state of the soul. He, therefore, who neglects the life of the soul, casts away his present good; he who refuses to live to God, squanders all he has.

Verses 51-58 All the saints should not die, but all would be changed. In the gospel, many truths, before hidden in mystery, are made known. Death never shall appear in the regions to which our Lord will bear his risen saints. Therefore let us seek the full assurance of faith and hope, that in the midst of pain, and in the prospect of death, we may think calmly on the horrors of the tomb; assured that our bodies will there sleep, and in the mean time our souls will be present with the Redeemer. Sin gives death all its hurtful power. The sting of death is sin; but Christ, by dying, has taken out this sting; he has made atonement for sin, he has obtained remission of it. The strength of sin is the law. None can answer its demands, endure its curse, or do away his own transgressions. Hence terror and anguish. And hence death is terrible to the unbelieving and the impenitent. Death may seize a believer, but it cannot hold him in its power. How many springs of joy to the saints, and of thanksgiving to God, are opened by the death and resurrection, the sufferings and conquests of the Redeemer! In verse ( 58 ) , we have an exhortation, that believers should be stedfast, firm in the faith of that gospel which the apostle preached, and they received. Also, to be unmovable in their hope and expectation of this great privilege, of being raised incorruptible and immortal. And to abound in the work of the Lord, always doing the Lord's service, and obeying the Lord's commands. May Christ give us faith, and increase our faith, that we may not only be safe, but joyful and triumphant.

Footnotes

• [a]. O, Santiago
• [b]. Lit., muero diariamente

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CORINTHIANS 15

The apostle, in this chapter, recommends the Gospel, and gives a summary of it, proves the resurrection of Christ, and by various arguments establishes the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, and answers objections made unto it. He also sets forth the glory there will be upon the bodies of risen saints, and the change that will be made on living ones; and concludes with an exhortation to perseverance in faith and holiness. As his chief view is the doctrine of the resurrection, he introduces this by recommending the Gospel in general, or by observing that this is a principal doctrine which should be remembered and retained, because it was the Gospel which he had preached, and they had received, and had hitherto persevered in, 1Co 15:1 and besides was essential to salvation, and the means of it, by which they would be saved, if they retained it, except their faith in it was in vain, as it would be should they drop it, 1Co 15:2. And moreover, the apostle had received it by divine revelation, and had faithfully delivered it to them, and therefore it became them to hold it fast; the sum of which were the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, agreeably to the Scriptures of the Old Testament, 1Co 15:3,4 and then he reckons up the eyewitnesses of the latter, as first Peter, then the twelve disciples, then five hundred brethren at one time; next James, and all the apostles; and last of all himself, 1Co 15:5-8 of whom he speaks in a very diminishing style, describing himself as an abortive, affirming himself to be the least of the apostles, and unworthy to be in that office, or bear that name, giving this as a reason for it, because he had been a persecutor of the church of Christ, 1Co 15:9 wherefore he ascribes the dignity he was raised to entirely to the free grace of God; and yet he magnifies his office, and observes, that the gifts of grace bestowed upon him were not in vain, and that he was a more abundant labourer than the rest of the apostles, and had more success; but then he freely declares that all he had, and all he did, were by the grace of God, 1Co 15:10. But however, not to insist upon the difference between him and other apostles; he observes, that the subject matter of their ministry was the same, namely, a suffering and risen Saviour, and who was also the object of the faith of the believing Corinthians, 1Co 15:11 wherefore the apostle proceeds to blame some among them for denying the doctrine of the resurrection from the dead, seeing it was a principal part of the ministry of the Gospel, that Christ was risen from the dead, 1Co 15:12 whereas that would not be true, if there is no resurrection of the dead, 1Co 15:13 but that Christ is risen, is not only evident from the testimonies of eyewitnesses before produced, but from the absurdities that follow upon a denial of it, as that the preaching of the Gospel was a vain thing, and faith in it also, 1Co 15:14 yea, the apostles would be no other than false witnesses of God, testifying that he raised up Christ, when he is not risen, if the dead rise not, 1Co 15:15 which argument is repeated, 1Co 15:16 and other absurdities following such an hypothesis are added; as besides what was before mentioned, that faith becomes hereby a vain thing, such as have believed in him must be in an unregenerate state, and both under the power and guilt of sin, 1Co 15:17 nay, not only so, but such who are dead in Christ, or for his sake are lost and perished, 1Co 15:18 and even those of the saints who are alive must be the most unhappy and miserable of all mortals, 1Co 15:19. But inasmuch as it is a certain point that Christ is risen, it is as clear a case that the saints will rise, which is argued from Christ being the firstfruits of those that are fallen asleep in him, which secures their resurrection to them, 1Co 15:20 and from his being their covenant head, as Adam was to his posterity; so that as all his offspring died in him, all the saints will be quickened by Christ, death coming by the one, and the resurrection by the other, 1Co 15:21,22. And whereas it might be objected, if this is the case, why did not the saints, who were dead before the resurrection of Christ, rise from the dead when he did, or quickly after? To which it is answered, there is an order observed agreeable to the firstfruits and lump: Christ, the firstfruits, is first, and then they that believe in him, 1Co 15:23 and this will not be until the second coming of Christ, and the end of all things, when all the elect of God shall be gathered in; and then they will be raised and presented to the Father complete in soul and body, and all rule and authority among men will cease, 1Co 15:24. But in the mean while Christ must reign until all enemies are subject to him, and the last of all that will be destroyed by him is death; which is another argument proving the resurrection of the dead; for if death is destroyed, the dead must rise, and never die more, 1Co 15:25,26 That all things will be put under the feet of Christ, every enemy, and so death, is proved from a testimony out of Ps 8:6. But to prevent a cavil, and secure the honour of God the Father, he is excepted from being subject to him, 1Co 15:27 so far is he from being so, that the Son shall be subject to him, and appear to be so as Mediator, by giving up the account of things to him; the end of which is, that God, Father, Son, and Spirit, may be all in all, 1Co 15:28. The resurrection of the dead is further argued from the sufferings of the saints and martyrs of Jesus, for the sake of him and his Gospel, and particularly this doctrine of it, which are first figuratively expressed under the notion of a baptism, 1Co 15:29 and then more literally and clearly signified by being in jeopardy, and exposed to danger of life continually, 1Co 15:30 and which is exemplified in the case of the apostle himself, who was liable to death daily, 1Co 15:31 of which he gives a particular instance in his fighting with beasts at Ephesus. Moreover, another absurdity would follow upon this, should this doctrine not be true; and that is, that a loose and licentious life, such an one as the Epicureans live, would be encouraged hereby, 1Co 15:32 from which the apostle dissuades; partly from the pernicious effect of it, which he shows by a passage cited out of one of the Heathens, 1Co 15:33 and partly from its being contrary to a righteous conversation, and from the stupidity, sinfulness, and ignorance, which such a course of life, upon such principles, declares, 1Co 15:34. And then the apostle proceeds to answer questions, and remove objections relating to the resurrection of the dead; which questions and objections are put, 1Co 15:35 which suppose the thing to be impossible and absurd, and to which answers are returned, first by observing, that grain which is sown in the earth first dies before it is quickened, and that it does not rise up bare grain as it was sown, but in a different form and shape, with additional circumstances greatly to its advantage; and has a body given by the power, and according to the pleasure of God, and suitable to the nature of the seed; by which is suggested, that in like manner the body first dies, and then is raised;, and though the same body, yet it is raised in a different form with different qualities, by the power, and according to the will of God; and therefore seeing there are every year such innumerable instances in nature, of dead and putrefied grain being revived, it need not be thought incredible, impracticable, and absurd, that God should raise the dead, 1Co 15:36-38 and that the body, though the same shall rise different from what it was when laid in the grave, is illustrated by the difference of flesh in men, beasts, fishes, and birds; which, though all of it flesh, differs from each other; and so will the flesh of the body, in the resurrection, differ from the flesh it is now clothed with, 1Co 15:39. And the same is further illustrated by the difference there is in the heavenly and earthly bodies, in the sun, and moon, and stars, and in one star from another; all which have respect to the same, showing not any difference there will be in risen bodies among themselves, but in risen bodies from what they now are, 1Co 15:40,41 as appears by the accommodation of these similes to the resurrection of the dead; and which differences are clearly expressed, the present bodies being corrupt, dishonourable, weak, and natural, the risen ones being incorruptible, glorious, powerful, and spiritual, 1Co 15:42-44. And that the risen bodies will be spiritual, the apostle proves, by comparing Adam and Christ together; the one had a natural body, the other had a spiritual body after his resurrection, 1Co 15:45 the order of which is given, the natural body of Adam was before the spiritual body of Christ, 1Co 15:46. Their original is also taken notice of, the one being of the earth, the other front heaven, 1Co 15:47 and so accordingly the offspring of the one, and of the other, are different; the offspring of the first Adam are earthly like him, and have a natural body, as he had; the offspring of the second Adam are heavenly, as he was, and will have a body like to his; for as they bear the image of the first man, from whom they naturally descend, by having a natural body like to his, so they must bear the image of the second man, the Lord from heaven, by having a spiritual body fashioned like to his glorious body, 1Co 15:48,49. And there is an absolute necessity for this, seeing bodies, in their present state, and case, as natural, mortal, and sinful, cannot be admitted into the possession of the kingdom and glory of the Lord, 1Co 15:50 but inasmuch as all will not die, and so be raised again, but some will be alive at the coming of Christ and the resurrection of the dead, a difficulty arises how the living saints will come by spiritual bodies, in order to inherit the kingdom of God, without which they cannot inherit it: this difficulty the apostle removes, by making known a secret never divulged before, that at the same time the dead will be raised, which will be at the sounding of a trumpet; in a moment, at once the living saints will be changed, and become immortal and incorruptible, as the raised ones, 1Co 15:51,52 for so it must be that these corruptible and mortal bodies be clothed with incorruption and immortality, either by the resurrection of them, or a change upon them, when either way they will become spiritual, 1Co 15:53. And hereby some prophecies in Isaiah and Hoses will have their accomplishment, 1Co 15:54,55 on the mention of which, some things in them are explained, as that sin is the sting of death, and the law is the strength of sin, which regard the prophecy in Hosea, 1Co 15:56 and the victory obtained over death, which is mentioned in the prophecy of Isaiah, is ascribed to God, who gives it through Christ, to whom thanks are returned for it, 1Co 15:57. And the chapter is concluded with an exhortation steadfastly to abide by the cause of Christ, and in his service; to which the saints are encouraged from this consideration, that they will find their account in it, 1Co 15:58.