The apostle Paul established the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead. He did this by bringing forth reliable witnesses who saw him after his resurrection. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is one of the three fundamental facts of the gospel, which are (1) Jesus died for our sins, according to the scripture; (2) he was buried; (3) he arose the third day according to the scripture. Other than these witnesses, Luke records that Jesus showed him- self alive after his passion “by many infallible proofs” (Acts 1:3). But what if there be no resurrection of the dead as the Sadducees taught (Acts 23:8)? Some in the church at Corinth were teaching this hopeless doctrine.
Paul answers this false doctrine by what is sometimes called a chain argument or sorites. This type of argumentation consists of propositions so arranged that the predicate of any forms the subject of the next, and the conclusion unites the subject of the first with the predicate of the last. Rather than try to understand the definition, let us look at the argument by Paul in 1 Corinthi- ans 15:12-20.
“Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 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. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Cor. 15:12-20).
Here is Paul’s argument:
If there be no resurrection of the dead, then Christ was not raised from the dead.
If Christ be not raised from the dead, then is our preaching vain.
If our preaching is vain, then your faith if vain.
If your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins.
Thus, if there be no resurrection of the dead, you are yet in your sins.
Of course, Paul does not believe the conclusion. He was showing the consequences of the doctrine if there were no resurrection of the dead. However, it is not true because Paul wrote,“But now is Christ risen from the dead (1 Cor. 15:20). Other consequences stated parenthetically in the chain argument are that the doctrine of there being no resurrection would make the apostles false witnesses, or liars (1 Cor. 15:15). Those who died in Christ would perish (1 Cor. 15:18). Also, if Christ gives us hope only for this life, we would be of all men most miserable (1 Cor. 15:19).
So, let us list the consequences of the no-resurrection doctrine:
Christ would not have been raised from the dead.
The apostles’ preaching would have been in vain.
The faith of the Corinthians (or anyone else who holds to the false idea) is vain.
The apostle would have been false witnesses, liars.
The Corinthians were yet in their sins.
Those who died in Christ would perish.
We would be most miserable if the only hope in Christ is for this life.
Anyone who takes a false position needs to recognize the consequences of that false position. Surely this can be seen from Paul’s argument.
Paul states that Jesus was raised from the dead when he wrote, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” (1 Cor.15:20.) What is meant by his having become “the firstfruits of them that slept”? Israel was to bring the firstfruits of their crops to the Lord. This not only was giving the best to the Lord, but it was also a guarantee to Israel that more fruit was coming from their harvest. So, Jesus’ being the firstfruits of them that sleep, i.e., those who are dead, would be a guarantee that all men would one day be raised from the dead (John 5:28-29).
Further, Paul wrote, “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.” (1 Cor. 15:21.) A man brought physical death into the world. When Adam and Eve sinned, they began to die physically that day. “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen. 2:16-17.) The expression“thou shalt surely die” literally is “in dying thou shalt die.” They died spiritually that day; that is, they were separated from God that day because of their sin (Isa. 59:1-2), but their bodies began to go back to the dust because they were cast out of the garden and were no longer able to eat of the tree of life and live. Just as death came from one man (Adam); so, the resurrection of the dead would come from one man (Jesus Christ). It is the corruptible body that dies; it is the corruptible body that is raised from the dead, though the corruptible will put on incorruption.
First Corinthians 15:22 tells us who these men are: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” So, with Adam, in the manner of Adam, all die (physically). Like- wise, with Christ, in the manner of Christ’s resurrection, all will be made alive. This is not universal salvation, but a universal resurrection (Acts 24:15; John 5:28-29). The expression “They that are Christ’s” in verse 23 refers to Christians. The resurrec- tion of Christ from the dead is a guarantee that when Christ comes, all men will be raised from the dead.
I will write more on this great chapter later if the Lord wills, but the most important thing is for each of us to be ready to meet the Lord, whether in death or at his coming.