John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 15:35

"But some one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what manner of body do they come?" — 1 Corinthians 15:35 (ASV)

How will they be raised up? There is nothing more contrary to human reason than this article of faith. For who but God alone could persuade us that bodies, which are now subject to decay, will, after having rotted away, or after they have been consumed by fire, or torn in pieces by wild beasts, will not merely be fully restored, but in a much better condition.

Does not all our understanding of things immediately reject this as something mythical, indeed, most absurd? Paul, in order to remove this appearance of absurdity entirely, makes use of an anhypophora, that is, he raises as an objection, as if spoken by another person, what appears at first glance to be contrary to the doctrine of a resurrection.

For this question is not from someone who doubtfully asks about the method, but from one who argues from its impossibility—that is, what is said about the resurrection is unbelievable. Therefore, in his reply, he severely rejects such an objection. Let us observe, then, that the people who are presented here as speaking are those who try to discredit, scoffingly, a belief in the resurrection, on the grounds that it is impossible.