TEXT. 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep : 7 After that, he was seen of James: then, of all the apostles. 8 And, last of all, he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace, which was bestowed upon me, was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. PARAPHRASE. 5 And that he was seen by Peter; afterwards by the 6 twelve apostles: And after that, by above five hundred christians at once; of whom the greatest part remain alive to this day, but some of them are deceased: 7 Afterwards he was seen by James; and after that, by 8 all the apostles: Last of all, he was seen by me also, 9 as by one born before my time. For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy the name of an apostle; be10 cause I persecuted the church of God. But, by the free bounty of God, I am what it hath pleased him to make me: and this favour, which he hath bestowed on me, hath not been altogether fruitless; for I have laboured in preaching of the gospel, more than all the other apostles: which yet I do not ascribe to any thing of myself, but to the favour of God, which accompanied me. 11 But whether I, or the other apostles, preached, this was that which we preached, and this was the faith ye were baptized into, viz. that Christ died, and rose again the NOTES. 8 An abortive birth, that comes before its time, which is the name St. Paul gives himself here, is usually sudden and at unawares, and is also weak and feeble, scarce deserving to be called, or counted a man. The former part agrees to St. Paul's being made a christian and an apostle; though it be in regard of the latter, that, in the following verse, St. Paul calls himself abortive. 10 St. Paul drops in this commendation of himself, to keep up his credit in the church of Corinth, where there was a faction labouring to discredit him. TEXT. 12 Now, if Christ be preached, that he rose from the dead, how say some among you, that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen. 14 And, if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 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. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also, which are fallen asleep in Christ, are perished. PARAPHRASE. 12 third day. If, therefore, this be so, if this be that, which has been preached to you, viz. that Christ has been raised from the dead; how comes it that some amongst you say, as they do, that there is no resurrection of the 13 dead? And if there be no resurrection of the dead, 14 then even Christ himself is not risen: And if Christ be not risen, our preaching is idle talk, and your believing 15 it is to no purpose. And we, who pretend to be witnesses for God, and his truth, shall be found lyars, bearing witness against God, and his truth, affirming, that he raised Christ, whom in truth he did not raise, if it 16 be so, that the dead are not raised. For if the dead 17 shall not be raised, neither is Christ raised. And if Christ be not risen, your faith is to no purpose; your sins are not forgiven, but you are still liable to the pu18 nishment due to them. And they also, who died in the NOTE. 12 This may well be understood of the head of the contrary faction, and some of his scholars: 1st, Because St. Paul introduces this confutation, by asserting his mission, which these his opposers would bring in question. 2dly, Because he is so careful to let the corinthians see, he maintains not the doctrine of the resurrection, in opposition to these their new leaders, it being the doctrine he had preached to them, at their first conversion, before any such false apostle appeared among them, and misled them about the resurrection. Their false apostle was a jew, and in all appearance judaized: may he not also be suspected of sadducism? For it is plain, he, with all his might, opposed St. Paul, which must be from some main difference in opinion at the bottom. For there are no footsteps of any personal provocation. TEXT. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But, now, is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For, as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man, in his own order: Christ the first-fruits, afterwards they that are Christ's, at his coming." 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority, and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. PARAPHRASE. 19 belief of the gospel, are perished and lost. If the advantages we expect from Christ, are confined to this life, and we have no hope of any benefit from him, in another life hereafter, we christians are the most miserable 20 of all men. But, in truth, Christ is actually risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of those who were 21 dead. For, since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead, or restoration to life. 22 For, as the death that all men suffer, is owing to Adam, so the life, that all shall be restored to again, is procured 23 them by Christ. But they shall return to life again not all at once, but in their proper order: Christ, the firstfruits, is already risen; next after him shall rise those, who are his people, his church, and this shall be at his 24 second coming. After that shall be the day of judgment, which shall bring to a conclusion and finish the whole dispensation to the race and posterity of Adam, in this world: when Christ shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, the Father; which he shall not do, till he hath destroyed all empire, power, and authority, that 25 shall be in the world besides. For he must reign, till NOTE. 20 The first-fruits were a small part, which was first taken and offered ta God, and sanctified the whole mass, which was to follow. TEXT. 26 The last enemy, that shall be destroyed, is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, "All things are put under him," it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And, when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him, that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they, then, baptized for the dead? 30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 31 I protest, by your rejoicing, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 66 PARAPHRASE. he has totally subdued and brought all his enemies into 26 subjection to his kingdom. The last enemy, that shall 27 be destroyed, is death. For God hath subjected all things to Christ: but when it is said, "All things are subjected," it is plain that he is to be excepted, who 28 did subject all things to him. But when all things shall be actually reduced under subjection to him, then, even the Son himself, i. e. Christ and his whole kingdom, he and all his subjects and members, shall be subjected to him, that gave him this kingdom, and universal dominion, that God may immediately govern and influence 29 all. Else, what shall they do, who are baptized for 30 the dead? And, why do we venture our lives continu31 ally? As to myself, I am exposed, vilified, treated so, that I die daily. And for this I call to witness your glorying against me, in which I really glory, as coming NOTES. 29 "Else," here relates to ver. 20, where it is said, "Christ is risen:" St. Paul, having, in that verse, mentioned Christ being the first-fruits from the dead, takes occasion from thence, now that he is upon the resurrection, to inform the corinthians of several particularities, relating to the resurrection, which might enlighten them about it, and could not be known, but by revelation. Having made this excursion, in the eight preceding verses, he here, in the 29th, re-assumes the thread of his discourse, and goes on with his arguments, for believing the resurrection. f What this baptizing for the dead was, I confess I know not: but it seems, by the following verses, to be something, wherein they exposed themselves to the danger of death. TEXT. S2 If, after the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? and drink; for to morrow we die. Let us eat 33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. $5 But some man will say, "How are the dead raised up? And "with what body do they come?" PARAPHRASE. 32 on me for our Lord Jesus Christ's sake. And particularly, to what purpose did I suffer myself to be exposed to wild beasts at Ephesus, if the dead rise not? If there be no resurrection, it is wiser a great deal to preserve ourselves, as long as we can, in a free enjoyment of all the pleasures of this life; for when death comes, as it 33 shortly will, there is an end of us for ever. Take heed that you be not misled by such discourses: for evil com34 munication is apt to corrupt even good minds. Awake from such dreams, as it is fit you should, and give not yourselves up sinfully to the enjoyments of this life. For there are some atheistical people among you: this 35 I say to make you ashamed. But possibly it will be asked, "How comes it to pass, that dead men are raised, and with what kind of bodies do they come? “ Shall they have, at the resurrection, such bodies as NOTES. 34 8 May not this, probably, be said, to make them ashamed of their leader, whom they were so forward to glory in? For it is not unlikely, that their ques tioning, and denying the resurrection, came from their new apostle, who raised such opposition against St. Paul. plain, from what questions: First, Would it not be Secondly, With 35 *If we will allow St. Paul to know what he says, it is he answers, that he understands these words to contain two How it comes to pass, that dead men are raised to life again? better they should live on? Why do they die to live again? what bodies shall they return to life? To both these he distinctly answers, viz. That those, who are raised to an heavenly state, shall have other bodies: and next, that it is fit that men should die, death being no improper way to the attaining other bodies. This, he shows there is so plain and common an instance of, in the sowing of all seeds, that he thinks it a foclish thing to make a difficulty of it; and then proceeds to declare, that, as they shall have other, so they shall have better bodies, than they had before, viz. spiritual and incor. ruptible. |
