1. The First Epistle to the Corinthians
1 Corinth 15: Facts of Christ's Resurrection
This is the most simple and clearest presentation of the gospel, deeply seeded upon the essentioal fact that Christ was risen from the dead!
I Corinth 15:1,2 – “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.”
Moreover, - what’s really important here anyway?
Notice what text in 1 Corinthians immediately preceded this.
Why is Paul needing to declare what he has already preached (Acts 18:1) and that they had received (aorist active indicative)?
Receive – to take to oneself, appropriated, enlightened, converted
Gospel – good tidings, glad announcments 1
October 30, Bob Eckel 1

2. The First Epistle to the Corinthians
1 Corinth 15: Facts of Christ's Resurrection
Of interest same root word as for preach – euaggelizō
e.g. the gospel which I ‘gospitalized’
in which you stand (perfect active indicative)
by which also you are saved (present passive indicative), if you hold fast that word
Therefore, is salvation conditional?
If so, it would contradict endless NT scripture.
What does it mean to hold fast?
To keep secure, in memory of, hold profession of
The alternative is to have believed in vain
And only the Lord and each one of us knows for sure, and for us the security of our salvation is so very important!
I Corinth 15:3,4 – “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,” 2
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3. The First Epistle to the Corinthians
1 Corinth 15: Facts of Christ's Resurrection
When and how did Paul receive this truth?
From the Lord directly – Gal 1:12
From Ananias – Acts 9:17
The verbs died and buried are in the aorist tense (active and passive indicative, respectively) whereas rose again is perfect passive indicative tense; what do you make of this?
Think of our position today.
according to the scriptures was used twice here – what scriptures?
Gen 3:15; Isaiah 53:1-12; Psalm 22:1-31, 69:1-36; Dan 9:24-27, Zech 13:7; Matt 12:40, 16:21
And His resurrection is everything, and without it our faith is dead.
Psalm 16:10, 68:18, 11:1,7: Isaiah 26:19; Matt 12:39,40 (sign of Jonah), 27:52: Mark 10:34; Acts 2:24-32 3
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4. The First Epistle to the Corinthians
1 Corinth 15: Facts of Christ's Resurrection
I Corinth 15:5-7 – “and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.”
Mankind depends on evidence for what is true; so what about this evidence?
Was Christ resurrected or not according to the evidence?
Again, the validity of our faith is totally dependent on these facts; if Christ was not resurrected from the dead our faith is in vain!
McCalley – ‘The verb appeared occurs four times and is translated 4
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5. The First Epistle to the Corinthians
1 Corinth 15: Facts of Christ's Resurrection
as though it were active voice (subject producing the action of the verb). The word in the original is passive voice (subject acted upon by some outside agency). The normal meaning of the word is to see. Thus, we should have He was seen by Cephas, the twelve, etc. The translation appeared emphasizes what He did; the translation was seen emphasizes what happened to Him. The correct emphasis is the latter—the human testimony to the resurrected Christ. It should also be added that this verb is always used of the physical act of seeing. The witnesses did not see Him in their mind’s eye; they saw Him with their physical eyes.”
Where was He seen by the 500?
Presumably in Galilee (Matt 26:32, 28:7,10)?
Why do you think Cephas was the first apostle mentioned?
Because of his preparation of the others - Luke 24:42?
Who were the twelve; Judas Iscariot is dead and Thomas was not there (John 20:24)? 5
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6. The First Epistle to the Corinthians
1 Corinth 15: Facts of Christ's Resurrection
Authorization to those that would follow?
After that He was seen by James then by all the apostles.
James was one of the brothers of Jesus, Thomas would ultimately be included.
I Corinth 15:8-11 – “Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”
Last of all relates to the timing of His conversion, Acts 9:3-7,17 6
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7. The First Epistle to the Corinthians
1 Corinth 15: Facts of Christ's Resurrection
Born out of due time, prematurely or abortion (Num 12:12: Job 3:16).
Only NT use, and in many ways this seems to tie into Paul’s unworthiness and 1 Corinth 15:9; or could this relate to his ultimate inclusion in the apostles?
And did Paul persecute the church of God.
Gill - ‘He not only consented to the death of Stephen, the first martyr, and held the clothes of them that stoned him; but he made havoc of the church, haling men and women to prison, and continued to breathe out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord; and had letters of commission from the high priest in his pocket, to seize any of this way at Damascus, and bring them bound to Jerusalem.’
And his unworthiness harvests his humility
Eph 3:8: 1 Tim 1:15; 2 Corinth 11:5,23, 12:11
And in verse 15:10 notice the repleting theme of God’s Grace here.
But by the grace of God I am what I am – eimi
Christ’s claim repeatedly 7
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8. The First Epistle to the Corinthians
1 Corinth 15: Facts of Christ's Resurrection
And because of this grace Paul labored more abundantly than they all
How does that apply to us; is this a competition (Phil 2:13,16)?
And it wasn't easy – 2 Corinth 6:4-10, 11:23
Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”
Remember, salvation is past, present and future
Thus, as Christ saves us by grace through faith (Eph 2:8), we not only by faith bring the unsaved to the Lord, but encourage the growth of those in the body in Christ – Acts 20:31-37. 8
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