1 Corinthians 15 · Robertson's Word Pictures
1I make known (gnorizo). See on 12:3 for this common verb. As if in reproach.
The gospel which I preached unto you (to euangelion o euengelisamen umin). Cognate accusative, "the gospel which I gospelized unto you." Note augment e after eu- like compound verb with preposition. Note repetition of relative (o, en oi, d ou, and tin like relative) without ka (and), asyndeton.
2In what words I preached it unto you (tin logo euengelisamen umin). Almost certainly tis (tin logo, locative or instrumental, in or with) here is used like the relative os as is common in papyri (Moulton, Prolegomena, p. 93f.; Robertson, Grammar, p. 737f.). Even so it is not clear whether the clause depends on gnorizo like the other relatives, but most likely so.
If we hold it fast (e katechete). Condition of first class. Paul assumes that they are holding it fast.
Except ye believed in vain (ektos e me eike episteusate). For ektos e me see on 14:5. Condition of first class, unless in fact ye did believe to no purpose (eike, old adverb, only in Paul in N.T.). Paul holds this peril over them in their temptation to deny the resurrection.
3First of all (en protois). Among first things. In primis. Not to time, but to importance.
Which I also received (o ka parelabon). Direct revelation claimed as about the institution of the Lord's Supper ( 11:23) and same verbs used (paredoka, parelabon). Four items given by Paul in explaining "the gospel" which Paul preached. Stanley calls it (verses 1-11) the creed of the early disciples, but "rather a sample of the exact form of the apostle's early teaching, than a profession of faith on the part of converts" (Vincent). The four items are presented by four verbs (died, apethanen, was buried, etaphe, hath been raised, egegerta, appeared, ophthe).
Christ died (Christos apethanen). Historical fact and crucial event.
For our sins (uper ton amartion emon). Huper means literally over, in behalf, even instead of (Ga 3:13 ), where used of persons. But here much in the sense of per (Ga 1:14 ) as is common in Koine. In 1Pe 3:18 we have per amartion, uper adikon.
According to the Scriptures (kata tas graphas). As Jesus showed (Lu 22:37; 24:25 ) and as Peter pointed out (Ac 2:25-27; 3:35 ) and as Paul had done (Ac 13:24f.; 17:3 ). Cf. Ro 1:2f. .
4And that he was buried (ka ot etaphe). Note ot repeated before each of the four verbs as a separate item. Second aorist passive indicative of thapto, old verb, to bury. This item is an important detail as the Gospels show.
And that he hath been raised (ka ot egegerta). Perfect passive indicative, not egerthe like
rose of the King James' Version. There is reason for this sudden change of tense. Paul wishes to emphasize the permanence of the resurrection of Jesus. He is still risen.
On the third day (te emera te trite). Locative case of time. Whether Paul had seen either of the Gospels we do not know, but this item is closely identified with the fact of Christ's resurrection. We have it in Peter's speech (Ac 10:40 ) and Jesus points it out as part of prophecy (Lu 24:46 ). The other expression occasionally found "after three days" (Mr 10:34 ) is merely free vernacular for the same idea and not even Mt 12:40 disturbs it. See on Lu 24:1 for record of the empty tomb on the first day of the week (the third day).
5And that he appeared to Cephas (ka ot ophthe Kepha). First aorist passive indicative of the defective verb orao, to see. Paul means not a mere "vision," but actual appearance. John uses ephanerothe (Joh 21:14 ) from phaneroo, to make manifest, of Christ's appearance to the seven by the Sea of Galilee. Peter was listed first (protos) among the Apostles (Mt 10:2 ). Jesus had sent a special message to him (Mr 16:7 ) after his resurrection. This special appearance to Peter is made the determining factor in the joyful faith of the disciples (Lu 24:34 ), though mentioned incidentally here. Paul had told all these four facts to the Corinthians in his preaching. He gives further proof of the fact of Christ's resurrection. There are ten appearances given besides the one to Paul. Nine are in the Gospels (Mary Magdalene in John and Mark, the other women in Matthew, the two going to Emmaus in Luke, Simon Peter in Luke and I Corinthians, the ten apostles and others in Luke and John and Mark, the eleven and others in John, the seven by the sea in John, to over five hundred in Galilee in Matthew and Paul and Mark, to the apostles in Jerusalem in Luke and Mark and Acts and I Corinthians) and one in I Corinthians above (to James). It will be seen that Paul mentions only five of the ten, one, that to James, not given elsewhere. What he gives is conclusive evidence of the fact, particularly when re-enforced by his own experience (the sixth appearance mentioned by Paul). The way to prove this great fact is to start with Paul's own witness given in this undoubted Epistle. The natural way to understand Paul's adverbs of time here is chronological:
then (eita),
then (epeita),
then (epeita),
then (eita),
last of all (eschaton panton).
To the twelve (tois dodeka). The technical name. Only ten were present, for Judas was dead and Thomas was absent (Joh 20:24 ).
6To above five hundred brethren at once (epano pentakosiois adelphois ephapax). Epano here is just an adverb with no effect on the case. As a preposition with the ablative see Mt 5:14 . This incident is the one described in Mt 28:16 the prearranged meeting on the mountain in Galilee. The strength of this witness lies in the fact that the majority (o pleious) of them were still living when Paul wrote this Epistle, say spring of A.D. 54 or 55, not over 25 years after Christ's resurrection.
7To James (Iakobo). The brother of the Lord. This fact explains the presence of the brothers of Jesus in the upper room (Ac 1:14 ).
To all the apostles (tois apostolois pasin). The Ascension of Christ from Olivet.
8As unto one born out of due time (ospere to ektromat). Literally, as to the miscarriage (or untimely birth). Word first occurs in Aristotle for abortion or miscarriage and occurs in LXX (Nu 12:12; Job 3:16 ) and papyri (for miscarriage by accident). The verb titrosko means to wound and ek is out. Paul means that the appearance to him came after Jesus had ascended to heaven.
9The least (o elachistos). True superlative, not elative. Explanation of the strong word ektroma just used. See Eph 3:8 where he calls himself "less than the least of all saints" and 1Ti 1:15 the "chief" (protos) of sinners. Yet under attack from the Judaizers Paul stood up for his rank as equal to any apostle (2Co 11:5f.,23 ).
Because I persecuted the church of God (edioxa ten ekklesian tou theou). There were times when this terrible fact confronted Paul like a nightmare. Who does not understand this mood of contrition?
10What I am (o eim). Not,
who (os), but
what (o), neuter singular. His actual character and attainments. All "by the grace of God" (charit theou).
I laboured more abundantly than they all (perissoteron auton panton ekopiasa). This is sober fact as shown by the Acts and Paul's Epistles. He had tremendous energy and used it. Genius is work, Carlyle said. Take Paul as a specimen.
11So we preach, and so ye believed (outos kerussomen, ka outos episteusate). This is what matters both for preacher and hearers. This is Paul's gospel. Their conduct in response to his message was on record.
12Is preached (kerusseta). Personal use of the verb, Christ is preached.
How say some among you? (pos legousin en umin tines?). The question springs naturally from the proof of the fact of the resurrection of Christ (verses 1-11) and the continual preaching which Paul here assumes by condition of the first class (ei--kerusseta). There were sceptics in Corinth, possibly in the church, who denied the resurrection of dead people just as some men today deny that miracles happen or ever did happen. Paul's answer is the resurrection of Christ as a fact. It all turns on this fact.
13Neither hath Christ been raised (oude Christos egegerta). He turns the argument round with tremendous force. But it is fair.
14Vain (kenon). Inanis, Vulgate. Old word, empty. Both Paul's preaching and their faith are empty if Christ has not been raised. If the sceptics refuse to believe the fact of Christ's resurrection, they have nothing to stand on.
15False witnesses of God (pseudomartures tou theou). Late word, but pseudomartureo, to bear false witness, old and common. The genitive (tou theou) can be either subjective (in God's service) or objective (concerning God). Either makes good sense.
Because we witnessed of God (ot emarturesamen kata tou theou). Vulgate has adversus Deum. This is the more natural way to take kata and genitive,
against God not as equal to per (concerning). He would indeed make God play false in that case,
if so be that the dead are not raised (eiper ara nekro ouk egeironta). Condition of first class, assumed as true. Note both per intensive particle
indeed and ara inferential particle
therefore .
16Repeats the position already taken in verse 13.
17Vain (mataia). Old word from adverb maten (Mt 15:9 ), devoid of truth, a lie. Stronger word than kenon in verse 14.
Ye are yet in your sins (et este en tais amartiais umon). Because the death of Christ has no atoning value if he did not rise from the dead. In that case he was only a man like other men and did not die for our sins (verse 3).
18Then also (ara ka). Inevitable inference.
Have perished (apolonto). Did perish. Second aorist middle indicative of apollum, to destroy, middle, to perish (delivered up to eternal misery). Cf. 8:11.
19We have hoped (elpikotes esmen). Periphrastic perfect active indicative. Hope limited to this life even if "in Christ."
Only (monon) qualifies the whole clause.
Most pitiable (eleeinotero). Comparative form, not superlative, of old adjective eleeinos, to be pitied, pitiable. If our hope is limited to this life, we have denied ourselves what people call pleasures and have no happiness beyond. The Epicureans have the argument on us. Paul makes morality turn on the hope of immortality. Is he not right? Witness the breaking of moral ties today when people take a merely animal view of life.
20But now (nun de). Emphatic form of nun with - added (cf. 12:18). It is the logical triumph of Paul after the reductio ad impossibile (Findlay) of the preceding argument.
The first-fruits (aparche). Old word from aparchoma, to offer firstlings or first-fruits. In LXX for first-fruits. In papyri for legacy-duty, entrance-fee, and also first-fruits as here. See also verse 23; 16:15; Ro 8:23 , etc. Christ is "first-born from the dead" (Col 1:18 ). Others raised from the dead died again, but not so Jesus.
That sleep (ton kekoimemenon). Perfect middle participle as in Mt 27:52 which see. Beautiful picture of death from which word (koimaoma) comes our chemeterps.
21By man also (da di' anthropou). That is Jesus, the God-man, the Second Adam (Ro 5:12 ). The hope of the resurrection of the dead rests in Christ.
22Shall be made alive (zoopoiethesonta). First future passive indicative of zoopoieo, late verb (Aristotle) to give life, to restore to life as here. In verse 36 zoopoieita is used in the sense of natural life as in Joh 5:21; 6:63 of spiritual life. It is not easy to catch Paul's thought here. He means resurrection (restoration) by the verb here, but not necessarily eternal life or salvation. So also pantes may not coincide in both clauses. All who die die in Adam, all who will be made alive will be made alive (restored to life) in Christ. The same problem occurs in Ro 5:18 about "all," and in verse 19 about "the many."
23Order (tagmat). Old military term from tasso, to arrange, here only in N.T. Each in his own division, troop, rank.
At his coming (en te parousia). The word parousia was the technical word "for the arrival or visit of the king or emperor" and can be traced from the Ptolemaic period into the second century A.D. (Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, p. 368). "Advent-coins were struck after a parousia of the emperor." Paul is only discussing "those that are Christ's" (3:23; Ga 5:24 ) and so says nothing about judgment (cf. 1Th 2:19; 3:13; 4:15; 5:23 ).
24Then cometh the end (eita to telos). No verb gineta in the Greek. Supply "at his coming," the end or consummation of the age or world (Mt 13:39,49; 1Pe 4:7 ),
When he shall deliver up (otan paradido). Present active subjunctive (not optative) of paradidom with otan, whenever, and so quite indefinite and uncertain as to time. Present subjunctive rather than aorist parado because it pictures a future proceeding.
To God, even the Father (to theo ka patr). Better, "to the God and Father" or to "His God and Father." The Kingdom belongs to the Father.
When he shall have abolished (otan katargese). First aorist active subjunctive with otan, indefinite future time. Simply, "whenever he shall abolish," no use in making it future perfect, merely aorist subjunctive. On katargeo see 1Co 6:13; 13:8,10,11 .
Rule (archen),
authority (exousian),
power (dunamin). All forms of power opposing the will of God. Constative aorist tense covering the whole period of conflict with final victory as climax.
25Till he hath put (achr ou the). Second aorist active subjunctive of tithem, "till he put" (no sense in saying "hath put," merely effective aorist tense for climax. Achr (ou), mechr (ou), eos (ou) all are used for the same idea of indefinite future time.
26The last enemy that shall be abolished is death (eschatos echthros katargeita o thanatos). A rather free translation. Literally, "death (note article, and so subject) is done away (prophetic or futuristic use of present tense of same verb as in verse 24), the last enemy" (predicate and only one "last" and so no article as in 1Jo 2:18 ).
27He put (upetaxen). First aorist active of upotasso, to subject. Supply God (theos) as subject (Ps 8:7 ). See Heb 2:5-9 for similar use. Cf. Ps 8 .
But when he saith (otan de eipe). Here Christ must be supplied as the subject if the reference is to his future and final triumph. The syntax more naturally calls for God as the subject as before. Either way makes sense. But there is no need to take eipe (second aorist active subjunctive) as a futurum exactum, merely "whenever he shall say."
Are put in subjection (upotetakta). Perfect passive indicative, state of completion, final triumph.
It is evident that (delon ot). Supply estin (is) before ot.
He is excepted who did subject (ektos tou upotaxantos). "Except the one (God) who did subject (articular aorist active participle) the all things to him (Christ)."
28And when all things have been subjected (otan de upotage ta panta). Second aorist passive subjunctive of upotasso, not perfect. Merely, "when the all things are subjected unto him." The aorist subjunctive has given translators a deal of needless trouble in this passage. It is prophecy, of course.
That God may be all in all (ina e o theos panta en pasin). The final goal of all God's redemptive plans as Paul has so well said in Ro 11:36 . Precisely this language Paul will use of Christ (Col 3:11 ).
29Else (epe). Otherwise, if not true. On this use of epe with ellipsis see on 5:10; 7:14 .
Which are baptized for the dead (o baptizomeno uper ton nekron). This passage remains a puzzle. Stanley gives thirteen interpretations, no one of which may be correct. Over thirty have been suggested. The Greek expositors took it to be about the dead (uper in sense of per as often as in 2Co 1:6 ) since baptism is a burial and a resurrection (Ro 6:2-6 ). Tertullian tells of some heretics who took it to mean baptized in the place of dead people (unsaved) in order to save them. Some take it to be baptism over the dead. Others take it to mean that Paul and others were in peril of death as shown by baptism (see verse 30).
At all (olos). See on 5:1.
30Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour? (t ka emeis kinduneuomen pasan oran?). We also as well as those who receive baptism which symbolizes death. Old verb from kindunos (peril, danger), in N.T. only here and Lu 8:23 . Paul's Epistles and Acts (especially chapter Ac 19 ) throw light on Paul's argument. He was never out of danger from Damascus to the last visit to Rome. There are perils in Ephesus of which we do not know (2Co 1:8f. ) whatever may be true as to an Ephesian imprisonment. G. S. Duncan (St. Paul's Ephesian Ministry, 1930) even argues for several imprisonments in Ephesus. The accusative of time (pasan oran) naturally means all through every hour (extension).
31I protest by that glorying in you (ne ten umeteran kauchesin). No word for "I protest." Paul takes solemn oath by the use of ne (common in Attic) with the accusative. Only here in N.T., but in LXX (Ge 42:15f. ). For other solemn oaths by Paul see 2Co 1:18,23; 11:10f.,31; Ro 9:1 . For kauchesis see on 1Th 2:19 . The possessive pronoun (umeteran) is objective as emen in 1Co 11:24 .
I die daily (kath' emeran apothnesko). I am in daily peril of death (2Co 4:11; 11:23; Ro 8:36 ).
32After the manner of men (kata anthropon). Like men, for applause, money, etc. (4:9ff.; Php 3:7 ).
If I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus (e etheriomachesa en Epheso). Late verb from theriomachos, a fighter with wild beasts. Found in inscriptions and in Ignatius. Those who argue for an Ephesian imprisonment for Paul and Ephesus as the place where he wrote the imprisonment epistles (see Duncan's book just mentioned) take the verb literally. There is in the ruins of Ephesus now a place called St. Paul's Prison. But Paul was a Roman citizen and it was unlawful to make such a one be a theriomachos. If he were cast to the lions unlawfully, he could have prevented it by claiming his citizenship. Besides, shortly after this Paul wrote II Corinthians, but he does not mention so unusual a peril in the list in 2Co 11:23f . The incident, whatever it was, whether literal or figurative language, took place before Paul wrote I Corinthians.
What doth it profit me? (t mo to ophelos?). What the profit to me?
Let us eat and drink (phagomen ka piomen). Volitive second aorist subjunctives of esthio and pino. Cited from Isa 22:13 . It is the outcry of the people of Jerusalem during the siege of Jerusalem by the Assyrians. At Anchiale near Tarsus is a statue of Sardanapalus with the inscription: "Eat, drink, enjoy thyself. The rest is nothing." This was the motto of the Epicureans. Paul is not giving his own view, but that of people who deny the resurrection.
33Be not deceived (me planasthe). Do not be led astray (planao) by such a false philosophy of life.
Evil company (omilia kaka). Evil companionships. Old word, omilia, from omilos (a crowd, gang, bunch). Only here in N.T. Good manners (ethe). Old word (kin to ethos) custom, usage, morals. Good morals here. This line of poetry (iambic) occurs in Menander. It may be a current proverb. Paul could have gotten it from either source.
34Awake up righteously (eknepsate dikaios). Wake up as if from drunkenness. Eknepho, only here in N.T. sin not (me amartanete). Stop sinning.
No knowledge of God (agnosian theou). Old word for ignorance, in N.T. only here and 1Pe 2:15 . Ignorance of God, agnosticism. Some today (agnostics) even take pride in it instead of shame (entropen, turning in on oneself). See on 6:5 for entrope.
35But some one will say (alla ere tis). Paul knows what the sceptics were saying. He is a master at putting the standpoint of the imaginary adversary.
How (pos). This is still the great objection to the resurrection of our bodies. Granted that Jesus rose from the dead, for the sake of argument, these sceptics refuse to believe in the possibility of our resurrection. It is the attitude of Matthew Arnold who said, "Miracles do not happen." Scientifically we know the "how" of few things. Paul has an astounding answer to this objection. Death itself is the way of resurrection as in the death of the seed for the new plant (verses 36f. ).
With what manner of body (poio somat). This is the second question which makes plainer the difficulty of the first. The first body perishes. Will that body be raised? Paul treats this problem more at length (verses 38-54) and by analogy of nature (Cf. Butler's famous Analogy). It is a spiritual, not a natural, body that is raised. Soma here is an organism.
Flesh (sarx) is the soma for the natural man, but there is spiritual (pneumatikon) soma for the resurrection.
36Thou foolish one (aphron). Old word (a privative, phren), lack of sense. It is a severe term and justified by the implication "that the objector plumes himself on his acuteness" (Robertson and Plummer). Proleptic position of su (thou) sharpens the point. Sceptics (agnostics) pose as unusually intellectual (the intelligentsia), but the pose does not make one intelligent.
Except it die (ean me apothane). Condition of third class, possibility assumed. This is the answer to the "how" question. In plant life death precedes life, death of the seed and then the new plant.
37Not the body which shall be (ou to soma to genesomenon). Articular future participle of ginoma, literally, "not the body that will become." The new
body (soma) is not yet in existence, but only the seed (kokkos, grain, old word, as in Mt 13:31 ).
It may chance (e tucho). Fourth class condition as in 14:10 which see. Paul is rich in metaphors here, though usually not so (Howson, Metaphors of St. Paul). Paul was a city man. We sow seeds, not plants (bodies). The butterfly comes out of the dying worm.
38A body of its own (idion soma). Even under the microscope the life cells or germ plasm may seem almost identical, but the plant is quite distinct. On sperma, seed, old word from speiro, to sow, see on Mt 13:24f .
39The same flesh (e aute sarx). Paul takes up animal life to show the great variety there is as in the plant kingdom. Even if evolution should prove to be true, Paul's argument remains valid. Variety exists along with kinship. Progress is shown in the different kingdoms, progress that even argues for a spiritual body after the body of flesh is lost.
Of beasts (ktenon). Old word, from ktaoma, to possess, and so property. See Lu 10:34 .
Of birds (ptenon). Old word from petoma, to fly, winged, flying. Only here in N.T.
40Celestial (epourania). Old word, from ep, upon, ouranos, heaven, existing in heaven. Paul now rises higher in the range of his argument, above the merely
terrestrial (epigeia, upon earth, epi, ge) bodies. He has shown differences in the bodies here on earth in plants and in the animal kingdom and now he indicates like differences to be seen in the heavens above us.
Is one (etera men)
--is another (etera de). Antithesis that admits glory for bodies on earth and bodies in the heavens. Experience does not argue against a glory for the spiritual body (Php 3:21 ).
41For one star differeth from another star in glory (aster gar asteros diaphere en doxe). A beautiful illustration of Paul's point. Asteros is the ablative case after diaphere (old verb diaphero, Latin differo, our differ, bear apart). On aster see Mt 2:7 and astron Lu 21:25 . Stars differ in magnitude and brilliancy. The telescope has added more force to Paul's argument.
In glory (en doxe). Old word from dokeo, to think, to seem. So opinion, estimate, then the shekinah glory of God in the LXX, glory in general. It is one of the great words of the N.T. Jesus is termed the glory in Jas 2:1 .
42So is the resurrection of the dead (outos ka e anastasis ton nekron). Paul now applies his illustrations to his argument to prove the kind of body we shall have after the resurrection. He does it by a series of marvellous contrasts that gather all his points. The earthly and the risen beings differ in duration, value, power (Wendt).
It is sown (speireta). In death, like the seed ( 37).
In incorruption (en aphtharsia). Late word from a privative and phtheiro, to corrupt. In LXX, Plutarch, Philo, late papyrus of a Gnostic gospel, and quotation from Epicurus. Vulgate incorruptio. The resurrection body has undergone a complete change as compared with the body of flesh like the plant from the seed. It is related to it, but it is a different body of glory.
43In weakness (en astheneia). Lack of strength as shown in the victory of death.
In power (en duname). Death can never conquer this new body, "conformed to the body of His glory" (Php 3:21 ).
44A natural body (soma psuchikon). See on 2:14 for this word, a difficult one to translate since psuche has so many meanings. Natural is probably as good a rendering as can be made, but it is not adequate, for the body here is not all psuche either as soul or life. The same difficulty exists as to a spiritual body (soma pneumatikon). The resurrection body is not wholly pneuma. Caution is needed here in filling out details concerning the psuche and the pneuma. But certainly he means to say that the "spiritual body" has some kind of germinal connection with the "natural body," though the development is glorious beyond our comprehension though not beyond the power of Christ to perform (Php 3:21 ). The force of the argument remains unimpaired though we cannot follow fully into the thought beyond us.
If there is (e estin). "If there exists" (estin means this with accent on first syllable), a condition of first class assumed as true.
There is also (estin ka). There exists also.
45Became a living soul (egeneto eis psuchen zosan). Hebraistic use of eis in predicate from LXX. God breathed a soul (psuche) into "the first man."
The last Adam became a life-giving spirit (o eschatos Adam eis pneuma zoopoioun). Supply egeneto (became). Christ is the crown of humanity and has power to give us the new body. In Ro 5:12-19 Paul calls Christ the Second Adam.
46Howbeit that is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural (all' ou proton to pneumatikon, alla to psuchikon). Literally, "But not first the spiritual, but the natural." This is the law of growth always.
47Earthly (choikos). Late rare word, from chous, dust.
The second man from heaven (o deuteros anthropos ex ouranou). Christ had a human (psuchikon) body, of course, but Paul makes the contrast between the first man in his natural body and the Second Man in his risen body. Paul saw Jesus after his resurrection and he appeared to him "from heaven." He will come again from heaven.
48As is the earthly (oios o choikos). Masculine gender because of anthropos and correlative pronouns (oios, toiouto) of character or quality. All men of dust (choiko) correspond to "the man of dust" (o choikos), the first Adam.
As is the heavenly (oios o epouranios). Christ in his ascended state (1Th 4:16; 2Th 1:7; Eph 2:6,20; Php 3:20f. ).
49We shall also bear (phoresomen ka). Old MSS. (so Westcott and Hort) read phoresomen ka. Volitive aorist active subjunctive, Let us also bear. Ellicott strongly opposes the subjunctive. It may be merely the failure of scribes to distinguish between long o and short o. Paul hardly means to say that our attaining the resurrection body depends on our own efforts! A late frequentative form of phero.
50Cannot inherit (kleronomesa ou dunanta). Hence there must be a change by death from the natural body to the spiritual body. In the case of Christ this change was wrought in less than three days and even then the body of Jesus was in a transition state before the Ascension. He ate and could be handled and yet he passed through closed doors. Paul does not base his argument on the special circumstances connected with the risen body of Jesus.
51A mystery (musterion). He does not claim that he has explained everything. He has drawn a broad parallel which opens the door of hope and confidence.
We shall not all sleep (pantes ou koimethesometha). Future passive indicative of koimaoma, to sleep. Not all of us shall die, Paul means. Some people will be alive when he comes. Paul does not affirm that he or any then living will be alive when Jesus comes again. He simply groups all under the phrase "we all."
But we shall all be changed (pantes de allagesometha). Second future passive indicative of allasso. Both living and dead shall be changed and so receive the resurrection body. See this same idea at more length in 1Th 4:13-18 .
52In a moment (en atomo). Old word, from a privative and temno, to cut, indivisible: Scientific word for atom which was considered indivisible, but that was before the day of electrons and protons. Only here in N.T.
In the twinkling of an eye (en ripe ophthalmou). Old word ripe from ripto, to throw. Only here in N.T. Used by the Greeks for the flapping of a wing, the buzz of a gnat, the quivering of a harp, the twinkling of a star.
At the last trump (en te eschate salping). Symbolical, of course. See on 1Th 4:16; Mt 24:31 .
53Must put on (de endusastha). Aorist (ingressive) middle infinitive, put on as a garment.
Immortality (athanasian). Old word from athanatos, undying, and that from a privative and thnesko, to die. In N.T. only here and 1Ti 6:16 where God is described as having immortality.
54Shall have put on (enduseta). First aorist middle subjunctive with otan whenever, merely indefinite future, no futurum exactum, merely meaning, "whenever shall put on," not "shall have put on."
Is swallowed up (katepothe). First aorist passive indicative of katapino, old verb to drink down, swallow down. Perfective use of kata- where we say "up," "swallow up." Timeless use of the aorist tense. Paul changes the active voice katepien in Isa 25:8 to the passive. Death is no longer victory. Theodotion reads the Hebrew verb (bulla, for billa,) as passive like Paul. It is the "final overthrow of the king of Terrors" (Findlay) as shown in Heb 2:15 .
55Victory (nikos). Late form of nike.
O death (thanate). Second instance. Here Paul changes Hades of the LXX for Hebrew Sheol (Hos 13:14 ) to death. Paul never uses Hades.
Thy sting (sou to kentron). Old word from kentreo, to prick, as in Ac 26:14 . In Re 9:10 of the sting of locusts, scorpions. The serpent death has lost his poison fangs.
56The power of sin (e dunamis tes amartias). See Ro 4:15; 5:20; 6:14; 7; Ga 2:16; 3:1-5:4 for Paul's ideas here briefly expressed. In man's unrenewed state he cannot obey God's holy law.
57But thanks be to God (to de theo charis). Exultant triumph through Christ over sin and death as in Ro 7:25 .
58Be ye steadfast, unmovable (edraio ginesthe, ametakineto). "Keep on becoming steadfast, unshaken." Let the sceptics howl and rage. Paul has given rational grounds for faith and hope in Christ the Risen Lord and Saviour. Note practical turn to this great doctrinal argument.
Work (ergon),
labour (kopos, toil). The best answer to doubt is work.
1 Corinthians 16