1 Corinthians 15

30 If there is no resurrection, why should we Christians risk death? asks Paul. Rather, let us try to live as long as possible, because after we die there’ll be nothing to look forward to (see verse 14).

31 I die every day, says Paul. This can have two meanings. First, it can mean that Paul is ready to die every day. He endangers himself every hour (verse 30). He faces death all day long (Romans 8:36).

The second possible meaning is this: Paul’s old self is dying every day (Romans 6:6). That is, Paul is crucifying his old sinful self every day, so that he might live a righteous life. He is “denying himself’ and “taking up his cross daily” (Luke 9:23).

Paul “glories over” the Corinthians. They are his spiritual children, and like any father, he is proud of his children. But he glories over them in Christ Jesus. The Corinthian church was the fruit of Paul’s work in Christ; therefore, he is ready to die for them every day (see 1 Thessalonians 2:1920).

32 If there is no resurrection, why should we take risks for Christ? Paul had faced great risks in Ephesus.⁶⁰ He had fought wild beasts. If he had done this for merely human reasons and not for spiritual reasons, he would have been foolish indeed. What would he have gained by becoming a meal for wild beasts!

Paul had suffered much at the hands of men. And according to this verse, he had even been forced to fight with wild animals. In the Roman Empire, one of the ways of executing criminals was to let lions eat them.

Here Paul quotes from Isaiah 22:13. “Let’s enjoy ourselves today, because tomorrow our life will end.” Even in Isaiah’s time, this was a common saying among worldly men, and it has been a common saying ever since. And indeed, if there is no reward in the next life, it makes sense to follow this saying and get all the advantage one can out of this life!

What is to be gained by dying for Christ? Paul asks here. What will be gained is the resurrection of the body and eternal life. Therefore, it is better not to run after the pleasures of this life, lest we lose the reward that awaits us in the next.

33 When Paul mentions “bad company” here, he is thinking mainly of those who deny the resurrection. Such people spend their lives eating and drinking and enjoying themselves. They are worldly; they love only the things of this world. Do not be misled by them. Do not associate with them, Paul advises, lest they corrupt your character.

But we believers seek our reward in heaven. Let us not be misled by those who say that the only rewards are here on earth.

34 Come back to your senses, Paul tells the Corinthians. Let the Corinthians not deny the resurrection. Let them not seek their reward in this life; to do so is a sin.

Those who deny the resurrection deny God’s promises; they are ignorant of God.

35 How can a dead body come to life again? the Corinthians asked. Does the corpse itself rise up out of the ground where it was buried?

36 Paul calls this a foolish question. Then he gives the illustration of a seed. When we plant a seed in the ground, it’s not the seed that rises up but a plant. That’s how our resurrected bodies will be.

When we plant a seed in the ground, we “bury” it—much as we bury a corpse. In a sense, the seed dies; it is destroyed. But then, a little later, new life arises out of that seed.

Our physical bodies are like that seed. Whether our bodies are burned or buried, it makes no dif ference. No matter what happens to our physical bodies, we shall receive new resurrected bodies.

It’s the same with our spiritual life. Like that seed, our old sinful self must die (see John 12:24; Romans 6:3-7 and comments). Only after that can we be spiritually reborn (John 3:3) and receive new spiritual life (Romans 8:11).

37-38 We are now like seeds. When we die, out of us will come a glorious resurrected body. Just as the plant is more glorious than the seed, so our resurrected body will be more glorious than our present body.

God will give each person a new body. God is the giver of both the seed and the plant. God is the Creator of every living thing; He is the source of all life. How can the Corinthians doubt that there is a resurrection? Every year they sow seeds and see new plants spring from the ground. If God can bring new life out of a tiny perishable seed, then He can surely bring new life out of our bodies.

39-41 There are many kinds of bodies, both heavenly and earthly (verse 40). Each kind of body has its own splendor. In the same way, each of our resurrected bodies will have its own splendor (verse 42).

42-44 Our present bodies are like seeds that will soon be sown in the ground—that is, burned or buried. A corpse is perishable (verse 42); it is characterized by dishonor and weakness (verse 43). Our new bodies will be imperishable; they will be characterized by glory and power.

Our new bodies will be spiritual (verse 44). What that means in detail is uncertain. For example, will we eat and drink in heaven? Christ ate and drank with His disciples after His own resurrection (Luke 24:39-43). What we do know for certain, however, is that our new bodies will never die (see John 6:40,63; 11:25-26).

45 The first Adam became a living being—that is, an ordinary earthly man (Genesis 2:7). The last Adam (Christ) became a life giving spirit—that is, a spiritual man (see John 5:21; 6:33-35). Christ was not only a spirit; He was also fully a man. Christ is God Himself, who came to earth in the form of a man (see General Article: Jesus Christ).

46 First we receive our natural bodies; afterward we receive our spiritual bodies.

47 Adam was made from the earth (Genesis 2:7). Christ was born of the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 1:18; John 6:33,38 and comments).

48-49 From Adam we receive our earthly body. From Christ we receive our heavenly body.

Now we are like Adam. After our resurrection, we shall be like Christ (see 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 John 3:2 and comments).

50 Paul says that flesh and blood (that is, unbelieving earthly man) cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Unspiritual earthly man will not enter God’s kingdom; he will not be saved. Because in order to enter God’s kingdom, man must first be changed (verse 53). And in order to be changed, the first step is to be born anew of the Spirit (see John 3:3,5-6 and comment).

All who truly believe in Jesus Christ are born again spiritually. Even in this world we begin the process of being changed, because when we are born again, we receive new life through the Holy Spirit. As soon as we believe in Jesus, we receive eternal spiritual life which begins right here on earth. But we will receive our resurrected bodies only after Jesus comes again at the end of the world (verses 22-23). At that time we shall be fully changed. Now we have received the Holy Spirit as an advance of what is to come (see 2 Corinthians 1:2122; Ephesians 1:13-14). Later we shall receive our full inheritance: namely, the resurrection, or redemption of our bodies (see Romans 8:23 and comment).

There will be no redemption of the body for those who do not believe in Christ. For them there will be no resurrection in heaven. Their resurrection will be in hell (see John 5:29 and comment).

51 Here a new question arises. When Christ comes again, what will happen to the believers who are alive at that time? Will they be resurrected too? Yes, says Paul.

52 At the time of Christ’s second coming, the dead will be raised instantly—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye. And we (the believers living at that time) will be changed. For the dead, this is called a “resurrection.” For the living, it is called a “change.” But it’s really the same thing. When Christ comes, both the dead and the living will get new bodies. This will occur at the last trumpet (Revelation 11:15)—that is, at the end of the world (see Matthew 24:27; Mark 13:26-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17).

Jesus Himself was changed for a short time while He was here on earth (see Mark 9:2-10). At Christ’s second coming, we shall be changed in the same way.

53-54 In these verses, Paul repeats the thought of verse 42.

When the dead are raised, then death will truly be defeated. Death will be swallowed up in victory (Isaiah 25:8).

55 Here Paul quotes from Hosea 13:14.

56 The sting of death is sin. Sin is like the sting of a hornet. It is sin that causes death, eternal death (see Romans 5:12; 6:23).

But Christ has removed the “sting,” because He has forgiven our sin and taken our punishment—that is, death (see Mark 10:45; John 1:29; Colossians 1:14; 1 John 1:7; 2:2; 3:5 and comments).

The power of sin is the law. Sin receives its power to cause death from the law, because the law condemns to death all who sin (Romans 7:10-11).

57 Because Christ was resurrected, we also shall be resurrected. Because Christ obtained victory over death, we also shall obtain victory over death—that is, forgiveness of sins and eternal life. … thanks be to God! (see Romans 7:24-25; 8:1-2,10-11 and comments).

58 Here Paul comes to the final and main point of this entire chapter: Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm … your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Why is our labor in the Lord not in vain? Because we shall obtain an eternal reward when our labor is finished: namely, the resurrection and redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23)—or, more simply, SALVATION.

But, remember, it is not by our labor that we are saved, but by grace (Ephesians 2:89). We don’t receive salvation because of our labor; we labor because of our salvation. We labor in gratitude for what Christ has done for us. And our reward is waiting for us in heaven.

Therefore, Paul says: Let nothing move you. Let us not be discouraged. Let us not be overwhelmed by trouble or sorrow or persecution. Because there is nothing that can overcome us—not even death (see Romans 8:35-39). God has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (verse 57). Hallelujah!