The Book of 1st Corinthians Inductive Study Guides Lesson 20 1 Corinthians, Chapter 15:35‐58 The Gospel message was underscored and the argument for the resurrection of the dead, like Christ, was made in the first part of Chapter 15. In the second part of Chapter 15, Paul explains what happens to the resurrection body of a Christian. He uses three analogies (the seed, animals, and the heavens) to illustrate how different our resurrection bodies will be, giving us a complete victory over death. Paul lays out this argument to be doubly sure that the Corinthians understand how not believing in a resurrected life after death strikes the very core of one’s Christian faith. Paul urges the Corinthians to be immovable in this (verse 58). Our belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior saves us and changes us not only on earth now but in the likeness of Christ in resurrection. How has Christ changed you already? Scripture for Thought Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.(2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT) So think clearly and exercise self‐control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:13‐16, NLT) Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. (John 17:17, NLT) For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end (Hebrews 3:14) What do these verses say about how a reborn life in Christ changes a person? Before you start, take time to pray about what you will be learning in the study of this chapter. 1 1 Corinthians, Chapter 15:35‐58 A Glorious Body 35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” 36 Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh[c] of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. 40 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.”[d] The last Adam became a life‐giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord[e] from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear[f] the image of the heavenly Man. Our Final Victory 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised 2 incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”[g] 55 “O Death, where is your sting?[h] O Hades, where is your victory?”[i] 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Footnotes: a. 1 Corinthians 15:27 Psalm 8:6 b. 1 Corinthians 15:32 Isaiah 22:13 c. 1 Corinthians 15:39 NU‐Text and M‐Text omit of flesh. d. 1 Corinthians 15:45 Genesis 2:7 e. 1 Corinthians 15:47 NU‐Text omits the Lord. f. 1 Corinthians 15:49 M‐Text reads let us also bear. g. 1 Corinthians 15:54 Isaiah 25:8 h. 1 Corinthians 15:55 Hosea 13:14 i.
1 Corinthians 15:55 NU‐Text reads O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting? 3 Observation, Interpretation, Application ‐ Observation: Write the passage briefly in your own words in the first column (“who, what, when, where, how and why” facts). In the second column, write information from research (dictionaries, concordance, maps, other resources), your questions, thoughts, and/or reactions. What is emphasized, or the problems pointed out, or guidance given? Interpretation: Write one sentence about the passage’s meaning like a spiritual lesson to be learned solely based on what the passage actually says. Is there a command to obey, warning to heed, example to follow or avoid? Application prompts you to write about how the lesson applies to your everyday life. What action do you need to take or changes you need to make as a result of the learning? Verses 35‐41 Observation: What the passage says: My research, impressions and/or questions: Key Words/Phrases: (Are there any words/phrases repeated? Are there any words/phrases that are unfamiliar?) Vocabulary: (Define each bolded word in the text using a dictionary or concordance with Greek dictionary if available.) Interpretation (lesson): Application (action): 4 Verses 42‐49 Observation: What the passage says: My research, impressions and/or questions: Key Words/Phrases: (Are there any words/phrases repeated? Are there any words/phrases that are unfamiliar?) Vocabulary: (Define each bolded word in the text using a dictionary or concordance with Greek dictionary if available.) Interpretation (lesson): Application (action): 5 Verses 50‐58 Observation: What the passage says: My research, impressions and/or questions: Key Words/Phrases: (Are there any words/phrases repeated? Are there any words/phrases that are unfamiliar?) Vocabulary: (Define each bolded word in the text using a dictionary or concordance with Greek dictionary if available.) Interpretation (lesson): Application (action): 6 Summary In one sentence, write what a summary of what the passage is about. To help you remember the lesson of the week, give a brief title to the chapter (or passage). Memory Verse But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:57‐58 What do these verses tell us about God’s character? What do these verses inspire you to do differently in your life or to think differently about something? How would it help you tell someone about Jesus Christ, especially if they do not know Him as their Lord and Savior? Find at least one other verse in the Bible that has a similar message. Write it out here or note the “address”: 7 Drawing Nearer to Jesus Spend time on at least one lesson, verse, or word that really stood out to you or spoke to your heart and write about it. What would you say about the Lord from this focus that might refresh, or encourage you or some else? This may be a very personal and private devotion to the Lord. It’s best to begin with prayer… What is the lesson, passage, or word of focus? What did you learn about its meaning? Why did it speak to you or inspire you? What does it cause you to question or change in your life? How would the lesson from this inspire someone else to make a change? In prayer form, how would you ask for the Lord’s help in understanding and applying the learning? 8 NOTES: 9