Death, Resurrection, and Human Destiny: Christian and Muslim Perspectives

St. Paul on the Resurrection: I Corinthians 15

St. Paul on the Resurrection I Corinthians 15 RICHARD A. BURRIDGE Corinth was one of the most important cities in the ancient world. Straddling the narrow isthmus between the southern mass of the Peloponnese and the famous city of Athens to the north and on to the mountains, connecting to Europe, Corinth had two harbors: Cenchreae, facing east across the Saronic Gulf toward the eastern Mediterranean and Asia, and Lechaeum to the west, at the end of the Corinthian Gulf leading to Italy. Across the four miles of a narrow land bridge was built the diolkos causeway to transport cargo, or even smaller ships, to avoid the long, dangerous sea voyage around the south. A key city throughout the classical period of Greece and Hellenism, Corinth was sacked by the newly emerging Romans in 146 BC, and was refounded by Julius Caesar in 44 BC. In the first century AD, it was a thriving commercial center—a gateway between the eastern Mediterranean and the way to Rome, with all the opportunities for business, culture, sport, games, religion, sex, and power attracted by the heady mixture of sea and land. Paul came to Corinth from Athens. He stayed for eighteen months around AD 50, preaching, teaching, and building a new Christian community among Jews and Gentiles (Acts 18:1–18) before leaving for Asia and eventually Jerusalem . During the following years, Paul sent various letters with messengers to the young community he left behind, two of which are preserved in the New Testament. In I Corinthians, dating from 54–55 AD, Paul refers to at least one previous letter from himself, and he is replying to a letter from the Corinthians (see I Cor. 5:9 and 7:1); this correspondence continues in II Corinthians, which may contain parts of several letters. In the first six chapters of I Corinthians, Paul expresses concern about things which have been reported to him (see 1:11; 5:1), such as quarrels between different groups and sexual immorality, before turning to ‘‘the matters about which you wrote’’ (7:1). In response, he advises the Corinthian Christian community 129 130 Texts and Commentaries about marriage, food offered in temples to the gods, and instructions for public worship, before bringing it all to a rhetorical climax with an extended treatment of the resurrection, correcting various views about life after death, which were being debated among the Corinthians (chapter 15, all of which is printed preceding this essay). Personal remarks about individuals, the collection for the relief of the poor, and his travel plans conclude the letter (chapter 16).1 Structure of I Corinthians 15 Introduction (vv. 1–2) The importance of this topic for understanding the gospel and ultimately for our salvation; without this, our faith is in vain. Section 1 A: The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (vv. 3–11) The very early tradition handed on to Paul and from him to his readers (v. 3) of the death, burial, resurrection, and appearances of Jesus, including to Paul. B: If this is not true, our faith is in vain (vv. 12–19) The death and resurrection of Jesus is the absolute basis of Christianity. Section 2 A: The death and resurrection in Christ of all human beings (vv. 20–28) All human beings die in Adam, and all are made alive in Christ at the end of time when all things are subjected to him and to God the Father. B: If this is not true, the way we live is in vain (vv. 29–34) If there is no resurrection, ‘‘let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die.’’ St. Paul on the Resurrection 131 Section 3 A: The resurrection body and its relationship to the physical body (vv. 35–50) The relationship of seeds to their later bodies; earthly and heavenly bodies; the first Adam and the last (Christ); physical/natural and spiritual ; dust and heaven. B: If this is true, when and how will this happen? (vv. 51–57) The last trumpet and the resurrection of the dead to put on immortality ; the end of death’s sting and the victory of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Conclusion (v. 58) Therefore, be steadfast and labor not in vain. Commentary Introduction (vv. 1–2) The introduction to I Corinthians 15 (vv. 1–2) and the conclusion to the chapter (v. 58) balance each other and make it clear that...