1Now I am going to make clear to you, my brothers, what the good news was which I gave to you, and which you took, and on which your faith is based, 2By which you have salvation; that is to say, the form in which it was given to you, if it is fixed in your minds, and if your faith in it is not without effect. 3For I gave to you first of all what was handed down to me, how Christ underwent death for our sins, as it says in the Writings; 4And he was put in the place of the dead; and on the third day he came back from the dead, as it says in the Writings; 5And he was seen by Cephas; then by the twelve; 6Then by more than five hundred brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, but some are sleeping; 7Then he was seen by James; then by all the Apostles. 8And last of all, as by one whose birth was out of the right time, he was seen by me. 9For I am the least of the Apostles, having no right to be named an Apostle, because of my cruel attacks on the church of God. 10But by the grace of God, I am what I am: and his grace which was given to me has not been for nothing; for I did more work than all of them; though not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11If then it is I who am the preacher, or they, this is our word, and to this you have given your faith. 12Now if the good news says that Christ came back from the dead, how do some of you say that there is no coming back from the dead? 13But if there is no coming back from the dead, then Christ has not come back from the dead: 14And if Christ did not come again from the dead, then our good news and your faith in it are of no effect. 15Yes, and we are seen to be false witnesses of God; because we gave witness of God that by his power Christ came again from the dead: which is not true if there is no coming back from the dead. 16For if it is not possible for the dead to come to life again, then Christ has not come to life again: 17And if that is so, your faith is of no effect; you are still in your sins. 18And, in addition, the dead in Christ have gone to destruction. 19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most unhappy. 20But now Christ has truly come back from the dead, the first-fruits of those who are sleeping. 21For as by man came death, so by man there is a coming back from the dead. 22For as in Adam death comes to all, so in Christ will all come back to life. 23But every man in his right order: Christ the first-fruits; then those who are Christ's at his coming. 24Then comes the end, when he will give up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have put an end to all rule and to all authority and power. 25For his rule will go on till he has put all those who are against him under his feet. 26The last power to come to an end is death. 27For, as it says, He has put all things under his feet. But when he says, All things are put under him, it is clear that it is not said about him who put all things under him. 28And when all things have been put under him, then will the Son himself be under him who put all things under him, so that God may be all in all. 29Again, what will they do who are given baptism for the dead? if the dead do not come back at all, why are people given baptism for them? 30And why are we in danger every hour? 31Yes, truly, by your pride in me, my brothers in Christ Jesus our Lord, my life is one long death. 32If, after the way of men, I was fighting with beasts at Ephesus, what profit is it to me? If the dead do not come to life again, let us take our pleasure in feasting, for tomorrow we come to an end. 33Do not be tricked by false words: evil company does damage to good behaviour. 34Be awake to righteousness and keep yourselves from sin; for some have no knowledge of God: I say this to put you to shame. 35But someone will say, How do the dead come back? and with what sort of body do they come? 36Foolish man, it is necessary for the seed which you put into the earth to undergo death in order that it may come to life again: 37And when you put it into the earth, you do not put in the body which it will be, but only the seed, of grain or some other sort of plant; 38But God gives it a body, as it is pleasing to him, and to every seed its special body. 39All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one flesh of men, another of beasts, another of birds, and another of fishes. 40And there are bodies of heaven and bodies of earth, but the glory of the one is different from that of the other. 41There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for the glory of one star is different from that of another. 42So is it with the coming back from the dead. It is planted in death; it comes again in life: 43It is planted in shame; it comes again in glory: feeble when it is planted, it comes again in power: 44It is planted a natural body; it comes again as a body of the spirit. If there is a natural body, there is equally a body of the spirit. 45And so it is said, The first man Adam was a living soul. The last Adam is a life-giving spirit. 46But that which is natural comes before that which is of the spirit. 47The first man is from the earth, and of the earth: the second man is from heaven. 48Those who are of the earth are like the man who was from the earth: and those who are of heaven are like the one from heaven. 49And in the same way as we have taken on us the image of the man from the earth, so we will take on us the image of the one from heaven. 50Now I say this, my brothers, that it is not possible for flesh and blood to have a part in the kingdom of God; and death may not have a part in life. 51See, I am giving you the revelation of a secret: we will not all come to the sleep of death, but we will all be changed. 52In a second, in the shutting of an eye, at the sound of the last horn: for at that sound the dead will come again, free for ever from the power of death, and we will be changed. 53For this body which comes to destruction will be made free from the power of death, and the man who is under the power of death will put on eternal life. 54But when this has taken place, then that which was said in the Writings will come true, Death is overcome by life. 55O death, where is your power? O death, where are your pains? 56The pain of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law: 57But praise be to God who gives us strength to overcome through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58For this cause, my dear brothers, be strong in purpose and unmoved, ever giving yourselves to the work of the Lord, because you are certain that your work is not without effect in the Lord.
Matthew Henry's Commentary
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) 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. 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. 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 #Mt 20:22,23|. 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. 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. 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.