What does 1 Corinthians 15:15 mean?
Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 1 Corinthians 15:15
Explanation
1 Corinthians 15:15 is a part of the Apostle Paul’s discourse to the Corinthian church regarding the resurrection of the dead. In this verse, Paul addresses the logical consequences of claiming that there is no resurrection. He highlights that if there is no resurrection, then the apostles themselves are liars because they have been preaching that Christ rose from the dead. The verse plays on the integrity of the apostles’ testimony, showing that their preaching and faith would be in vain if the dead are not raised, making them false witnesses about God’s power and promises.
Historical Context
1 Corinthians was written by Paul to the church in Corinth around A.D. 53-55. The city of Corinth was a major trade center in ancient Greece and known for its cultural diversity and moral laxity. The church in Corinth was plagued by various problems, including internal divisions, moral issues, and misunderstandings about Christian doctrine, including the resurrection. In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of bodily resurrection was often met with skepticism. Against this backdrop, Paul emphasizes the centrality of the resurrection to the Christian faith.
Theological Insights
Theologically, 1 Corinthians 15:15 emphasizes the truthfulness and reliability of apostolic witness. From an orthodox Christian perspective, it underscores the belief in the bodily resurrection of Christ as a non-negotiable tenet of faith. The verse also confronts doubts about the afterlife that were present in the Corinthian context.
Different viewpoints may arise from groups that contest the physical resurrection, suggesting it was allegorical or spiritual, but such views conflict with the traditional understanding presented by Paul in the text.
Practical Applications
Practically, this verse can be understood to demonstrate the importance of truthfulness in testimony, especially concerning matters of faith. It encourages believers to stand with conviction on the foundational truths of Christianity. Additionally, it can reassure Christians in their own hope of resurrection and eternal life, since the apostles’ preaching was validated by Christ’s resurrection.
Cross-References
- Acts 2:32 – “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.”
- Acts 3:15 – “And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.”
- 1 Corinthians 15:14 – “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.”
Language Study
The key words in the original Greek language of this verse are:
- μάρτυρες (martyres): Meaning witnesses. This term carries legal connotations, as in someone who bears witness in a court.
- ψευδόμενοι (pseudomenoi): From the root “pseudomai,” meaning to lie or deceive. The use of this wordunderscores the severity of misleading others about divine truth.
By understanding these terms, the accusation Paul levels against himself and the apostles if the resurrection were not true becomes clear: they would be legal testifiers of a falsehood.
Cultural and Religious Comparisons
In comparing this verse to other ancient myths and religious interpretations, one must consider the broader Greco-Roman beliefs about the afterlife, which often involved an immortal soul rather than a bodily resurrection. The Egyptian belief in an afterlife involved complex rituals and preservation of the body for resurrection-like concepts but were distinct from the Jewish and Christian understanding of bodily resurrection.
Scientific Perspectives
From a scientific perspective, the resurrection is a supernatural event and thus lies outside the scope of scientific explanation or verification. While modern science delves deeply into understanding life and death, the concept of resurrection as described in the New Testament is a matter of faith rather than empirical evidence.
Commentaries
Commentators throughout history have provided insights into 1 Corinthians 15:15:
- John Chrysostom, an early Church Father, emphasized the boldness of Paul’s argument and his willingness to recognize the gravity of preaching falsely.
- Matthew Henry, a renowned biblical scholar, notes that if there is no resurrection, the apostles would not just be mistaken, but gravely immoral in spreading a lie about God.
- More contemporary commentators like Gordon D. Fee have discussed the existential and theological crisis that the denial of resurrection would bring to the Christian faith, as it is central to Christian eschatology and soteriology.
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