John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 15:19

"If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable." — 1 Corinthians 15:19 (ASV)

But if in this life—here is another absurdity: not only do we, by believing, lose our time and effort since its fruit perishes at our death, but it would also be better for us not to believe, for the condition of unbelievers would be preferable and more to be desired.

To believe in this life here means to limit the fruit of our faith to this life, so that our faith looks no further and does not extend beyond the limits of the present life. This statement shows more clearly that the Corinthians had been deceived by some mistaken notion of a figurative resurrection, like that of Hymenaeus and Philetus, as if the final fruit of our faith were set before us in this life (2 Timothy 2:17–18).

For as the resurrection is the completion of our salvation and is, so to speak, the ultimate goal concerning all blessings, the person who says that our resurrection is already past leaves us nothing better to hope for after death.

However this may be, this passage certainly gives no support to the delusion of those who imagine that the soul sleeps along with the body until the day of the resurrection. It is true, they bring forward this objection: that if the soul continued to live when separated from the body, Paul would not have said that, if the resurrection were taken away, we would have hope only in this life, since there would still be some blessedness remaining for the soul.

To this, however, I reply: Paul did not dream of Elysian fields and foolish fables of that kind. Instead, he assumes that the entire hope of Christians looks forward to the final day of judgment, that pious souls still rest today in the same expectation, and that, consequently, we are deprived of everything if a confidence of this nature deceives us.

But why does he say that we would be the most miserable of all men, as if the Christian's lot were worse than that of the wicked? For, as Solomon says, all things happen alike to the good and to the bad (Ecclesiastes 9:2). I answer that, it is true, all people, whether good or bad, are commonly liable to distresses, and they experience in common the same inconveniences and miseries. But there are two reasons why Christians have in all ages fared worse, and there was an additional one peculiar to Paul's times.

1. The first is that while the Lord frequently also chastises the wicked with His lashes and begins to inflict His judgments upon them, He at the same time especially afflicts His own in various ways. This is, in the first place, because He chastises those whom He loves (Hebrews 12:6), and secondly, so that He may train them to patience, test their obedience, and gradually prepare them by the cross for a true renewal. However this may be, that statement always holds true for believers: It is time that judgment should begin at the house of God (Jeremiah 25:29; 1 Peter 4:17). Again,

   we are reckoned as sheep appointed for slaughter.
   (Psalms 44:22).

   Again,

   you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
   (Colossians 3:3).

   Meanwhile, the condition of the wicked is for the most part more desirable, because the Lord fattens them up, like hogs for the day of slaughter.

2. The second reason is that believers, even though they may abound in riches and in blessings of every kind, nevertheless do not go to excess and do not indulge themselves excessively at their ease. In short, they do not enjoy the world as unbelievers do, but go forward with anxiety, constantly groaning (2 Corinthians 5:2), partly from a consciousness of their weakness and partly from an eager longing for the future life. Unbelievers, on the other hand, are entirely focused on intoxicating themselves with present delights.

3. The third reason, which was peculiar, as I have said, to the Apostle's time, is that at that time the name of Christians was so hateful and detestable that no one could then take upon himself the name of Christ without exposing his life to imminent peril. It is, therefore, not without good reason that he says Christians would be the most miserable of all men if their confidence were confined to this world.