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If I fought with animals at Ephesus like men, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, then "let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."
Verse Takeaways
1
Resurrection Gives Suffering Purpose
Paul refers to having "fought with beasts at Ephesus." Scholars debate whether this was a literal fight in an arena or a metaphor for his conflict with savage human opponents. Regardless, the point is the same: he endured extreme, life-threatening danger for the gospel. He argues that such sacrifice would be utterly foolish if there were no resurrection. The promise of eternal life is what gives profound meaning and purpose to Christian suffering.
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1 Corinthians
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11
18th Century
Presbyterian
Regarding the phrase If after the manner of men—a marginal note offers, To speak after the manner of men; Greek, kata anyrwpo…
After the manner of men (κατα ανθρωπον). Like men, for applause, money, etc. (4:9ff.).
If I fought with wild beasts…
19th Century
Anglican
If after the manner of men . . .—These words imply here, as elsewhere (1 Corinthians 3:3), “merely from a human point …
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Baptist
If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not?
It is quite possible…
Another argument for the resurrection is that if it is not true, then suffering and hardship for the sake of Christ are useless. By “endangering ou…
16th Century
Protestant
If according to the manner of men—He brings forward a notable instance of death, from which it might be clearly seen that he would have be…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus
This is one of the particulars of the j…
All who are by faith united to Christ are by His resurrection assured of their own resurrection. Just as through the sin of the first Adam all huma…
13th Century
Catholic
After showing the resurrection of the dead from the resurrection of Christ, the Apostle then shows the resurrection of the dead from the life of th…
