1 Corinthians 15 provides for us as readers of this lengthy and valuable book, the importance of the resurrection, but, as we’ll see, the motivation that the resurrection should have on how we live our lives. First, though, I would like to introduce this topic by clearing up an interesting and ambiguous statement that Paul makes in this passage. He says in verse 29, “Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead?” As noted by Kenneth Bailey, author of Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes, there is no shortage of opinions on what this passage means. However, as Bailey relays, some who were followers of Jesus died or were martyred. Those alive, often, in this case, the unbelieving, would be baptized into the faith to be with the believing dead. This isn’t really a practice we follow today, though, the motivation was simply, those who were left behind at the death of a believing loved one wanted to be with those they lost and so were baptized with the hope of one day seeing them again. This leads Paul into the meat of what he wants to say about the resurrection and our response today in light of Paul’s lesson.
1 Corinthians 15:29-34 provides for you and me the motivation to make it through another day. In Paul’s day, the life of a believer was to take their life in their hands. To be a bit more poignant, it was to lay their lives in the hands of God. The life of the first century believer in Roman provinces would not be so bad if they were to add Jesus to the other gods, goddesses, and Caesar. After all, Caesar was the son of god, so to deny that was to commit treason, denying the authority and power of the Roman ruler. That’s precisely where Paul and others found themselves. And why? According to Paul, because of the resurrection of Christ from the dead.
To begin with, Paul asks the important question, “Why am I in peril every hour?” In the NIV, he says, “Why do we endanger ourselves every hour?” Paul goes on to say that in Ephesus he faced wild beasts. However, if it were not for the resurrection, doing so would have been in vain. Why would Paul, Apollos, and others place themselves in positions of torture and even death if it were not for the resurrection? Here in our part of the world at this time in history we aren’t in as much danger as Paul was or even as other believers today are in certain parts of the world. However, I don’t want to play the game of “I felt bad that I didn’t have any shoes until I saw a man with no feet.” That’s not a fair comparison because that man still doesn’t have any feet. However, we can look at our situation in life and make the decision in our hearts and in our minds that whatever place or situation we find ourselves in we can endure because of the resurrection. Bailey quotes Garland who says, “Resurrection means endless hope, but no resurrection means hopeless end – and hopelessness breeds dissipation” (Bailey, 452). In other words, if we do not hope in the resurrection, that hopelessness will breed within us a sense of carelessness and apathy. If there is no hope after this life, there is no hope in this one either. If that is the case, as Paul puts it, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” This quote is taken from Isaiah 22:13. In that chapter, Isaiah is speaking to God’s people about all the bad things that were happening around them, yet they were oblivious. Without the resurrection, we may go through life oblivious to our ultimate fate, saying to ourselves, “let’s live it up, this is the only life we have to live!” All the while awaiting our ultimate fate. However, with the resurrection in view, we use that future promise as a guide, keeping us on track, living our lives with a sense of purpose and ultimate destiny. With the resurrection in view, we make decisions today to live our lives loving God and loving our neighbors. Not everyone responds well to that kind of life. Some will call us legalists, radicals, fill in the blank phobic. Nonetheless, we keep our eyes on Jesus, the resurrected hope for our life now and beyond. We live our lives loving the lost and leading them to the ultimate hope of all things, the resurrection.
Paul concludes this passage with an interesting quote, “‘Bad company corrupts good character.'” This quote was taken from a Greek poet, Menander, who lived nearly two hundred years prior. This quote may also have been a contemporary proverb. Paul says in this passage, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God – I say this to your shame.” Some of the Corinthians who would have called themselves followers of The Way did not believe in the resurrection. Paul warns them that bad company, those that choose to believe that there is no resurrection, corrupts good character, those of you who still believe in the resurrection, and because of that choose to live for God. For Paul, believing in the resurrection encouraged him, and should encourage others, to live well, good, moral lives. Why? The resurrection is physical evidence of the existence of God. God expects his followers to be people worthy of the calling that we have received. Ultimately, that means choosing to live as citizens of the Kingdom of God rather than citizens of kingdoms on this earth. In Mark 10:35-45, Jesus responds to James’ and John’s request of sitting with Jesus in his glory, which means, sitting with as he becomes the ruler of Israel. Jesus’ response was, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” Jesus challenged James and John, and you and me to become servants rather than kings. Likewise, Paul warned the Corinthians to be careful with the kind of company you keep. If we allow ourselves to keep the company of people who do not believe in the resurrection, we too will find ourselves one day believing the same thing. When that happens we will be danger of losing our place in the kingdom of God. Rather, as members of the kingdom of God, we keep in sight the resurrection of Christ, and the resurrection of all things and allow that to motivate us to be servants.
So what should the resurrection mean for you and me? For Paul, the resurrection was the motivation to live every day committed to the call of God wherever that would lead him. Whether through good or difficult times, Paul focused on the resurrection to help strengthen him to do what he needed to do. You and I have a variety of issues throughout our days and weeks that can be difficult to face, or even a joy to participate in. In any of these situations, we can allow the resurrection to encourage and motivate us to do whatever we set our hearts and minds to do. In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul instructs Timothy that, “…the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” We have received the Spirit because Jesus has resurrected and because Jesus has ascended to heaven with the Father. However, Jesus tells his disciples and us in John 14:25-27, “25All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Today, we can stand with confidence and power from the Spirit in the face of celebration, difficulty, even danger, because Jesus has been resurrected from the dead.
Bailey, Kenneth E. Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes: Cultural Studies in 1 Corinthians. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2011.
X Marks the Spot 