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If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.
Verse Takeaways
1
A Pitiable Condition
Commentators explain that Paul isn't saying Christians are unhappy people. Rather, if the resurrection isn't real, their overall situation would be the most tragic. They would have endured persecution, practiced self-denial, and built their lives on the highest of hopes, only to have it all be for nothing. This ultimate disappointment would make them pitiable above all others.
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Book Overview
1 Corinthians
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11
18th Century
Presbyterian
If in this life only we have hope in Christ. If our hope in Christ is not to be followed by the resurrection of the dead and future glory,…
We have hoped (ηλπικοτες εσμεν). Periphrastic perfect active indicative. Hope limited to this life even if "in Christ."
19th Century
Baptist
Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
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Paul draws additional hypothetical conclusions from the thesis that Christ has not risen from the dead: (1) Faith is not only vain or meaningless (…
16th Century
Protestant
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 deat…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
If in this life only we have hope in Christ The object of a believer's hope is not any creature, man, or angel; nor any creatu…
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Having shown that Christ was risen, the apostle answers those who said there would be no resurrection. There would have been no justification or sa…
13th Century
Catholic
Having built up faith in the resurrection of Christ, the Apostle now proves the future resurrection of the dead by means of Christ's resurrection. …
