Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Corinthians 15:1

"Now I make known unto you brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received, wherein also ye stand," — 1 Corinthians 15:1 (ASV)

Moreover, brethren.—This chapter deals entirely with the DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. The reason the Apostle dwelt at such length and with such emphasis on this subject was the denial of the resurrection by some members of the Corinthian Church.

It has been suggested by some writers that what the Apostle had to combat was a false conception of the resurrection—that at Corinth there were probably those who refined away the doctrine of the resurrection into merely a rising from the death of sin into a life of righteousness, in a way similar to Hymenæus and Philetus (2 Timothy 2:17–18), who taught that the resurrection was past already.

It seems clear, however, from the emphatic statement in 1 Corinthians 15:12, and from the overall scope and direction of the entire argument, that what the Apostle is addressing here is not a perversion, but a denial of the doctrine.

There were many elements in such a mixed body as the Corinthian Church that would have contributed to the growth of this error. Among the Jewish converts would be some traces of the Sadducean (Matthew 22:23) denial of the resurrection, and in the Gentile section of the Church there would linger the spirit of the Athenians who mocked when they heard of the resurrection of the dead (Acts 17:32), and of the Epicurean philosophers who said, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. From these and from other similar sources, a denial of the doctrine of the resurrection had subtly entered the Church itself.

In reading this chapter, it is good to remember that the Apostle probably intended it not only as a reply to these corruptors of the faith, but also as providing those who remained faithful with confirmation of their own faith and arguments with which they could counter their opponents. It is always difficult to give a clear, exhaustive analysis of an argument by a writer such as St. Paul. The enthusiasm of his nature leads him to mingle the syllogism of passion with the syllogism of logic; and, since he was not writing himself but dictating the composition, a word often leads him away from his argument into some splendid outburst of pathetic exhortation or prophetic utterance. Nevertheless, including such digressions, the general argument of this chapter may be tabulated as follows:—

I.—THE DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION (1 Corinthians 15:1–34).

Subdivided as follows:

1. The resurrection proved by the historical fact of Christ’s resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1–15).
2. The resurrection proved by an appeal to the moral consequences involved in a denial of it (1 Corinthians 15:16–28).
3. The truth of the resurrection involved in certain existing practices (1 Corinthians 15:29–34).

II.—THE METHOD AND PRINCIPLE OF THE RESURRECTION (1 Corinthians 15:35–58).

1. Illustration from analogy (1 Corinthians 15:35–44).
2. Illustration from our dual descent from Adam and from Christ (1 Corinthians 15:44–49).
3. The great change (1 Corinthians 15:50–53).
4. A song of triumph (1 Corinthians 15:54–57).
5. Concluding exhortation (1 Corinthians 15:58).

I declare unto you.—The Apostle opens his historical argument by reminding the Corinthians that this is neither a new nor an unimportant matter. It is the original gospel which he had preached to them, which they received, and in which they stand, and by which they are being saved (not “are saved,” as in the English version).