What does 1 Corinthians 6:14 mean?

And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. 1 Corinthians 6:14

Explanation

1 Corinthians 6:14 states: “And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.” In this verse, the Apostle Paul is conveying the assurance of resurrection for believers in Christ. The “Lord” here refers to Jesus Christ, whose resurrection is a historical event acknowledged by Christians as the cornerstone of their faith. The verse implies that just as God raised Jesus from the dead, He will also raise believers from the dead through the same divine power. It underscores a belief in life after death and the promise of bodily resurrection for those who are united with Christ.

Historical Context

The First Epistle to the Corinthians was written by the Apostle Paul around 55 AD to the church of Corinth, a city known for its wealth, diversity, and moral laxity. The Christians in Corinth were facing numerous challenges, including internal divisions, moral issues, and misunderstandings about the Christian doctrine. Paul wrote this letter to address these problems and to provide guidance on living a life that reflected their faith in Christ. Resurrection was a vital part of early Christian belief, and Paul addressed it to correct misunderstandings and to give hope to the believers in the face of death.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse underlines several key doctrines:

1. The Resurrection of Christ: Christ’s resurrection is seen as the first fruit of those who have died (1 Corinthians 15:20), proving His victory over death and sin.
2. The Power of God: It affirms the divine power capable of overcoming death, not only in the case of Jesus but also for all who believe in Him.
3. The Bodily Resurrection: It speaks to the future bodily resurrection of Christians, which contrasts with the Greek philosophical view that devalued the physical body.

Theological interpretations may vary among denominations. For example, some may emphasize a spiritual resurrection in the present life, while others hold a more literal view of a future bodily resurrection.

Practical Applications

The verse encourages Christians to live a life free from the fear of death and with the hope of eternal life. It can result in:

1. Greater confidence in facing life’s challenges, knowing that there is divine power at work within them.
2. Moral and ethical living with the understanding that the body is valuable and will be raised up by God.
3. Comfort in grief, with the hope that death is not the end but a transition to a future resurrection.

Cross-References

• Romans 8:11: “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
• 1 Thessalonians 4:16: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”
• 1 Corinthians 15:22: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

Language Study

The key words in this verse in the original Greek are:

• “raised” (ἤγειρεν, egeiren): This term is in the aorist tense, indicating a past, completed action. It is used in the passive voice, indicating that Jesus was raised by God.
• “raise up” (ἐξεγερεῖ, exegerei): This term is in the future tense, predicting an action that God will do for believers.
• “power” (δυνάμει, dynamei): This word refers to strength or ability. In the New Testament, it is often associated with miraculous power and the divine energy of God.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of resurrection in 1 Corinthians 6:14 is distinct within the context of ancient myths and religions, many of which had various beliefs about the afterlife. For instance, the Egyptian concept of an afterlife was tied to the preservation of the body in mummification, while Greco-Roman views were often more focused on the immortality of the soul rather than bodily resurrection.

Scientific Perspectives

The concept of bodily resurrection transcends scientific explanation and is a matter of faith. Science deals with repeatable and observable phenomena, whereas resurrection, as described in this verse, is a unique event attributed to divine power beyond scientific scrutiny.

Commentaries

Commentators from various traditions have reflected on this verse. For instance:

• Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary suggests that the verse assures the faithful of their resurrection from the dead, echoing the power and promise of God.
• The Pulpit Commentary observes that the resurrection of believers is tied to the resurrection of Christ Himself, indicating that one is the proof and guarantee of the other.
• John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible emphasizes that the resurrection of the saints is certain, and it is ascribed solely to the power of God, as it was beyond human capability.

Different commentators align on the centrality of resurrection both as a historical event in Christ’s rising and as a future hope for believers, despite differing nuances in their theological perspectives.