1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (NRSVUE)
15 Now I want you to understand, brothers and sisters, the good news[a] that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, 2 through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.
3 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures 4 and that he was buried and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.[b] 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you believed.
Reflection
Jerry Vines “Vines Expository Bible Notes” writes the following interesting paragraphs.
“Paul comes to one final problem in the Corinthian church, probably the most serious of all because it involves doctrine. All behavior is basically determined by what we believe. So, Paul is addressing a very serious doctrinal matter. Some in the Corinthian church were denying the resurrection of the body of the believer. We know this is true because of this question: “Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” (1 Cor. 15:12) That is serious because “if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen” (15:13). The chief cornerstone of the Christian faith is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The whole Christian doctrine stands or falls on the reality of the resurrection of Jesus.
Several years ago, I picked up a Time magazine and began to read an article in the religion section. It described some bones found in a tomb outside Jerusalem. Immediately, when I read that, I felt my heart leap. Of course, as I read on down in the article, I learned that it was something altogether unrelated, but my heart leaped within me because if retrieving the bones of the Lord Jesus from some abandoned tomb in Jerusalem were possible, then you and I would have no Christian faith. All stands or falls on whether or not three days after He was buried Jesus Christ bodily rose again from the dead.
That’s the doctrinal problem that Paul is dealing with here. I almost am glad that they had the problem. If not, we would not have the greatest chapter in the Bible about the resurrection. Paul climbed the heights of inspiration as he set forth again the resurrection of the body of the believer and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
by Clarence Beverage
For Pondering and Prayer
No other letter in the New Testament gives us a more practical picture of applying the Christian faith to the day-to-day issues of life and work than 1 Corinthians. Topics such as career and calling, the lasting value of work, overcoming individual limitations, leadership and service, the development of skills and abilities (or “gifts”), fair wages, environmental stewardship, and the use of money and possessions are prominent in the letter. The unifying perspective on all these topics is love. Love is the purpose, means, motivation, gift, and glory behind all work done in Christ.
Have you thought of 1 Corinthians in this way before? I honestly did not.
I hope you find some enjoyment looking for something that interests you in 1 Corinthians.
I like 1 Corinthians 10:26 which teaches that everything belongs to God as that transforms caring for nature into an act of worship.
Prayer: Dear Lord, we come before you today claiming the promise that “the earth is the Lord’s, and its fullness.” We thank you for being the creator and owner of all things, and for providing us with everything we need to live and thrive on this earth. We pray that you would help us to always remember that everything we have belongs to you, and to use it for your glory. Amen.
