Journal: Chafer Theological Seminary Journal
Volume: CTSJ 12:1 (Spring 2006)
Article: The Triumph of the Resurrection: An Examination of 1 Corinthians 15:51–58
Author: Ron J. Bigalke, Jr.

---

CTSJ 12:1 (Spring 2006) p. 33

The Triumph of the Resurrection:
An Examination of 1 Corinthians 15:51–58

Ron J. Bigalke Jr.

Ron J. Bigalke Jr. (M.Apol., M.T.S., Ph.D.) is an author and lecturer. He is the founder and director of Eternal Ministries, a discipleship and evangelistic ministry, and associate pastor of Grace Community Church (Rincon, GA). Dr. Bigalke has taught classes for Moody Bible Institute, Tyndale Theological Seminary, and secondary schools and has served as a Christian school administrator and board member. He is a member of several Christian professional societies. His email address is [email protected].

The Corinthians did not believe the truth of the eschatological resurrection of believers. Although the text does not explicitly state it, they were likely influenced by the Greek teaching on the immortality of the soul, and possibly by a pre-Gnostic belief in the evil of physical matter. Therefore, Paul’s discussion of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15 is pertinent.

First Corinthians 15:12–16 implies that the Corinthians preached Christ’s resurrection from the dead and possibly realized that His triumph over death must be demonstrated by His bodily resurrection. However, it appears that they did not see it as anything more. Therefore, Paul returned to the basics in 1 Corinthians 15. He began with the resurrection of Christ and worked his way to the relationship between Jesus’ resurrection and the eschatological resurrection of believers.

The centrality and certainty of Jesus’ resurrection is set forth in 15:1–19. The resurrection of Christ is true based on its historical verification (5–11) and is central to the salvation of sinners and the gospel message (1–4), to the eschatological resurrection of believers (12–13, 16, 19) and the remission of their sins (14, 17), and to the preaching of the apostles (15:14–15).

Jesus’ resurrection guarantees the resurrection of believers (20–28) and is the dynamic for their lives and for their subsequent suffering (29–34). The nature of the resurrection body is described in verses 35–50. Finally, Paul addresses the mystery of the resurrection in verses 51–58.

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. (15:51)

The mystery of the resurrection is that some believers will not die, yet all believers will overcome death either through translation or resurrection at the coming of Christ. The Greek parti...

visitor : : uid: ()