1 Corinthians #31 – Weekly Study Questions
Basic Reminders – The Resurrection of the Dead
1 Corinthians 15:12-34 (CGS #31)
INTRODUCTION – Hope. We all want it. No one wants to live a life without hope. But what can we base our hope in? If we want a flourishing hope tree, what kind of sturdy soil must we bury our roots in? In this week’s passage (and chapter 15 in general), Paul gives us that firm grounding we need in order to bury our seeds of hope. He starts with several “if/then” statements to connect Christ’s resurrection with believers’. Apparently, the Corinthian Christians accepted that Christ was raised from the dead (v. 12a), but some were struggling with the idea that believers would also be raised (v. 12b). In the ancient world (as today), belief in a physical, embodied life after death was laughable by popular culture. If you’ve read any Greek or Roman stories that include a trip to the Underworld (e.g. Orpheus and Eurydice, Hercules, Persephone, Aeneas, etc.), you know that the dead are typically described as “shades,” or something like wispy ghosts; nothing physical. Such was the perception of the dead in the 1st century Roman world. Into this world, Christians were teaching not only that Jesus rose bodily from the dead, but that his followers would as well when he returned. This is the belief Paul is defending in this week’s passage. In doing so, he’s also providing justification for profound hope.
First, the anti-argument. Follow his train of thought in verses 13-19: If the dead are not raised, then Christ was not raised (v. 13, 16). If Christ was not raised, then Christianity is a false religion that misrepresents the God of Israel (v. 15), our faith is futile (v. 14,17), and the dead are really dead (v. 18). In fact, Paul says that if Jesus wasn’t raised from the dead, then our hope is in this life only, and therefore Christians are to be pitied more than anyone (v. 19). Why? Because we’ve wasted our lives for a lie. We placed our hope in something that couldn’t support it. The soil holding our roots was too weak.
But then comes the glorious corrective, Paul’s actual argument: “Christ has been raised from the dead” (v. 20a). And not only that, but he is “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (v. 20b). That’s incredible news! What’s a firstfruit? It’s the first batch of crop a farmer collects. It’s not the whole field, it’s just a sample; a promise of what’s to come. If the firstfruits are rotten, he worries the whole field will be rotten. But if the firstfruits are rich and abundant, he gets excited. Christ is the firstfruits of our resurrection. He shows us what’s to come. What happened to him will happen to us. Conclusion: If he rose bodily from the dead, so will we.
Verses 21-23 remind us that this glorious promise of unkillable hope is only for those who belong to Christ. The contrast here is between union with Adam and union with Jesus. All of humanity is either “in Adam,” or “in Christ.” Sin and death came through Adam (Genesis 3), so everyone who is “in Adam” shares his fate: sin and death. But everyone who places their faith in Christ becomes united to Christ and shares his fate: righteousness and life, even life after death.
This is only possible because Jesus defeated death on the cross. Not completely, but he took away its sting (v. 55-57). When he returns in glory, then death will be completely done away with. How amazing is it that in the end, even death will die? Death is still our enemy—a bitter, heartbreaking enemy—but a limited one. Because of Christ’s work on the cross, death is “in subjection under his feet” (v. 27). We’ll see more implications of this in the coming weeks, but for now, the biggest effect is hope. We have hope that our ultimate enemy will one day be totally destroyed. Hope that our faith is not in vain. Hope that our suffering, pain, risk-taking, even death is totally meaningful. All who are in Christ, even if they die, will rise again. We know because Jesus rose again. If he did, we will. And in the soil of that promise, the roots of our faith can grow deep and strong.
GETTING STARTED – As a group, take time to answer this question: What something you’re really looking forward to in the future? What gives you confidence that it will happen?
IN THE WORD – Let’s dig back into the passage. It’s important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.
First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below (O.P.A.).
Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.
Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?
Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday-Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?
DISCUSS – Another way to approach your time together is to talk through the following discussion questions:
- What did you hear God’s Spirit say to you through the passage this week? How does it encourage you? How does it sharpen you?
- How have you seen God at work in your life this week? Have you enjoyed him? Have you heard his voice and the leading of his Spirit? Big ways or small ways.
- Have you ever hoped for something that didn’t happen? How did it feel?
- Where does Paul anchor his confidence in the believer’s resurrection?
- What’s at stake if we’re wrong about Christ’s resurrection?
- How can we have confidence that Jesus really did rise from the dead?
- Does this passage give you hope? Why or why not?