CLOSING ARGUMENTS IN DEFENCE OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION

Paul returns to the line of argument he had been developing before he digressed in the verses 20-28. It is clear that he had been impatient to declare the triumphant truth of Christ’s resurrection and all that followed on from it and so before he finished his negative presentation he had broke in on the affirmative truth.

I. AN ARGUMENT FROM THOSE WHO BAPTIZED FOR THE DEAD

We come to a passage which has many interpretations as far as commentators are concerned. Some of them very fanciful. I prefer to take its simply and most obvious meaning. 

1. He is referring to the practice of a none-Christian group. Consider the use of the word they in contrast to the use of our, your, we, in earlier verses, 14-19. This was not then a practice found amongst believers though in the next century it was.

2. Paul’s uncritical reference to it does not infer approval. He had earlier made reference to the heathen games, 9:24-27. These games were dedicated to the honour of the pagan deities and involved cruelty and murder and gratuitous violence. Paul’s using of the games as an argument or illustration does not show approval of them. Likewise, we often seek to demonstrate the existence of God from the universal practice of religion. Yet much that is called religion we do approve of or condone.

3. Paul’s argument was simply that belief in a resurrection was held also by those outside of Christianity. As stated before, heathen philosophers scoffed at the idea of the resurrection, Acts 17:22-32.

II. THE DANGERS ENDURED BY THE APOSTLES ARGUED FOR THE RESURRECTION

The human frame could not endure the stress of danger that the apostles and early believers endured except supported by the hope of the resurrection.

1. Note the constancy of the danger. Every hour. 1st century Christianity was surrounded by danger. This was especially so of its leaders. II Cor 11:26.

2. Life for Paul was a daily dying. He gave himself up to death every day. As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter, Romans 8:36. Such an attitude could not be sustained without a firm hope of resurrection unto glory. Verse 31 is a solemn swearing to the truthfulness of the statement that daily he faced death and gave himself up to it.

3. The dangers faced by the early church were more numerous than the New Testament records. Verse 32 refers to an incident of which there is no record in the acts of the apostles. The truth of John 20:30, 21:25 applies here. At what a cost the gospel has been handed down to us. The blood and sufferings of former generations testify to reality of the gospel message.

III. THE DOCTRINES OF THE GOSPEL, PARTICULARLY THAT OF THE RESURRECTION, TEND TO GODLINESS

The alternative lifestyle prompted by that of a denial of the resurrection, was wanton living, unfettered abandonment to sin.

1. This was the lifestyle of the Epicureans. It is the ultimate and final alternative to the gospel. It is what the world is sliding and descending into. Isa 22:5, 12-14; Amos 6:1-6.

2. Let us beware of false doctrine. People fear contaminated food and water. Doctors, policemen and any coming in contact with the blood of others seek protection by wearing rubber gloves. But far more contagious and destructive is false doctrine. Communications — Falsehood and its corruptions may be passed on by companionship with the wrong people. Rev 19:2 — Ecumenism is corrupting the land.Paul’s call to awake showed the effect that false doctrine was having upon the Corinthians. The word awake is commonly used of those wakening up from a drunken stupor. It is a call to return to the lifestyle that the doctrine of the resurrection promotes. 

Some have not the knowledge of God, verse 34. This is a strange statement indicating what the Corinthians had more than what they did not have. They had the non-knowledge of God. They suffered from a non-knowledge. It was not so much what they lacked as what they possessed. They possessed an evil, corrupted view of God. It was similar to the position of the Sadducees, Matt 22:29. Today, many Christians suffer from the same malady. They DO NOT WISH TO HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. This is because there is a desire to give oneself up to a lifestyle that a true knowledge of God would forbid.

These words were uttered by Paul to shame the offenders. Preachers need to seek that end still today.