Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

It is clear from what Paul says in this chapter that some in the Corinthian churches were trying to downplay the doctrine of the resurrection.  Paul encourages the Corinthians to continue to preach it, because the victory that the believer has is the resurrection.  If you take away the resurrection, Christianity is an empty religion with no real hope, and believers are “of all people most to be pitied” (19).   The reason is that all human beings are born mortal. We have a death sentence hanging over us because of Adam’s rebellion.  We imitate Adam by being creatures who return to the dust.  But the resurrection gives us an opportunity to imitate Christ, the man from heaven (48).  This will happen at the last trumpet, when Christ returns (52-53).    The resurrection is our victory.

LORD, give us the courage and the wisdom to keep preaching the resurrection.

Bible Standard June 1880