Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Corinthians 15:34

"Awake to soberness righteously, and sin not; for some have no knowledge of God: I speak [this] to move you to shame." — 1 Corinthians 15:34 (ASV)

Awake to righteousness. (See Barnes on Romans 13:11).

The word here translated "awake" properly denotes waking up from a deep sleep or torpor and is usually applied to those who wake up, or become sober after drunkenness.

The phrase "to righteousness"—dikaiōs—may mean either "rouse to the ways of righteousness, to a holy life, to sound doctrine," etc., or it may mean "as it is right and just that you should."

Probably the latter is the correct idea. In that case, the sense will be: "Arouse from stupidity on this subject; wake up from your conscious security; be alarmed, as it is right and proper that you should be, for you are surrounded by dangers and by those who would lead you into error and vice. Rouse from such wild and delusive opinions as these persons have, and exercise constant vigilance, as befits those who are the friends of God and expectants of a blessed resurrection."

And sin not. Do not err; do not depart from the truth and from holiness. Do not embrace a doctrine that is not only erroneous, but the tendency of which is to lead into sin.

It is implied here that if they allowed themselves to embrace a doctrine which was a denial of the resurrection, the effect would be that they would fall into sin, or that a denial of that doctrine led to a life of self-indulgence and transgression.

This truth is everywhere seen, and Paul sought to guard them against this effect. He did not regard the denial of the doctrine of the resurrection as a harmless speculation, but as leading to most dangerous consequences regarding their manner of life or their conduct.

For some have not the knowledge of God. Some among you. You are surrounded by strangers to God; you have those among you who would lead you into error and sin.

I speak this to your shame. To your shame as a church; because you have had abundant opportunities to know the truth, and because it is a subject of deep disgrace that there are any among you who deny the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, and who are strangers to the grace of God.