Following these lessons in orderly worship (chapters 11-14) Paul iterates the gospel’s logical reasoning in chapter 15. The first seven verses relate the gospel; verses eight through 11 contain Paul’s own history with the gospel; verses 12 through 28 tell of Christ’s authority; verses 29 through 57 answers the question regarding bodily resurrection, and verse 28 applies this in the most natural way. How’s that for a 30,000 foot view of the passage?

To begin, Paul once more affirms the Corinthian recipients of their relationship with Christ. He’s been hard on them in this letter, and this affirmation comes after some tough love. The language used in these first few verses is the same language as Paul uses at the end of this context in verse 58 where he encourages them to continue to stand firm.

“For it is through firm faith that salvation comes.”

Paul states the same truth another way, “let nothing move you,” for if we fail to exercise faith in Christ we labor in vain. There is no work which makes us suitable to God, only our faith in the basic gospel prepares our soul for heaven. What is the message we are to accept? Which allows us to place our faith in Christ Jesus? The message that Paul has passed on to the Corinthians (verse 3): Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. These three elements are the basic gospel, and all that is necessary for salvation. Notice that there is no mention here of baptism, or any other work. Only the message.

The purpose of explaining to whom Christ appeared after his death is to quell arguments against his bodily resurrection. Had Christ not appeared as Paul claimed he had, many would have written statements denouncing the resurrection. Such documents do not exist. Clearly there were many who claimed to have seen Jesus after his reported death. To make sure none could claim the “witnesses” were crazed lunatics, on the level of those claiming to have seen Elvis, Paul names a few of the more prominent witnesses. Such eye witness accounts, including Paul’s own personal testimony, validated the message to the Corinthians and many other members of the first century church. These witnesses all testify to the basic three elements of the gospel.

Why these three elements? First, man must recognize that he is in need of salvation. Christ died for our sins. A friend of mine was trying to argue that God is unfair and asked me, “so if there are two people, one good and the other a murderer who has put his faith in Jesus, only the murderer would go to heaven when he dies?” I responded, “In your scenario both would go to heaven, for if the first person were truly good he wouldn’t need a savior.” Paul makes the same point: if we were not sinners, there would be no need for salvation. A proper understanding of sin – and that we are all sinners - is vital to salvation.

Second, Jesus was buried. His death was not faked. When punctured with a spear the blood and water in His body had already separated. He was dead, then buried. If he were not dead, then there was no sacrifice for our sins and no salvation.

Third, the resurrection is evidence of God’s acceptance of the sacrifice. Were Jesus like natural man, sinful and in need of salvation Himself, His sacrifice would be meaningless. He would have died and been buried like any other man and we would still be waiting for the Messiah. This is the truth behind the question Paul raises in verse 12. Were there no resurrection (as the Sadducees believed) then Christ could not have been raised. If there is no resurrection, then neither is there salvation, and our faith is in vain (.18-.19). Yet His resurrection tells another story. God accepted the sacrifice. The blood of Christ was sufficient payment for the sins of humanity. All that is required of us is faith in His accomplishment.

Why did Paul not include other theology or practices in the gospel? Because any other truth or practice would have been out of place. What more must be said? There is a problem and the solution is found in the gospel and anything else would confuse the issue. To many this seems too easy. For those of this opinion, ask Jesus how easy it was. We could do nothing to bring about our own salvation, so it stands to reason than someone must do it for us. That is precisely what Jesus did. There was nothing simple about our salvation, indeed, it came at a great cost. While there are many other things that God would have us do, they are not necessary for salvation. Yet once one has been transformed, once one is no longer dead in sin but alive in Christ, that person finds obedience to no longer be an obligation but an act of loving thanks. The Holy Spirit in a believer reminds him of God’s will and enables him to do it. This is not to say that a believer will always obey, only that he is able to do so. Paul did not include anything else in the gospel because everything else is unnecessary.

This passage's first sticky-wicket is found in verse 29. Possibly as many as 200 explanations of this passage have been made; none are very satisfactory. One distinction is readily apparent, however, that this “doctrine” of being baptized for the dead is not a Christian teaching. Notice the language of the verse: rather than using the familiar “you,” or the less precise “certain brothers” Paul uses the word “those.” “Now if there is no resurrection of the dead, what will those do who are baptized for the dead.” So it is not a Christian doctrine to be baptized for the dead. After all, “it is appointed once for a man to die, and then judgment.”

One of the better explanations notes the familiar “catch all” religion of the Gnostics and their habits which are not too distant from being “baptized for the dead.” And while Gnosticism does have its roots in the first century, it was not fully developed until much later. There was one group, however, mature enough at this time that did conform to this doctrine. This particular “mystery religions,” had ancient roots and was practiced not far from Corinth. Approximately 40 miles east and a bit north of Corinth, located across the Saronic Gulf (see Illustration 3 on next page) lay the city of Eleusis, home of one of the greatest mystery religions. It was known to Homer (Hymn to Demeter, 478-79), Cicero (De Legibus, 2. 14. 36), Pindar (Fragment 212), Sophocles (Fragment 753) and Orphica (Fragment 245). This group required an initiation washing of purification in the gulf sea. This ritual prepared one’s body for the life of bliss in the hereafter. It was not uncommon for them to practice a “second washing” for loved ones who had passed away without having been washed in the sea. This vicarious washing supposedly purified even their long dead bodies.

While not condoning this belief, Paul might be appealing to the well known and highly respected Greek religion to support the concept of the resurrection. This is a long and complex explanation for a single verse, but is true to the historical and cultural setting. Further, in teaching about the resurrected body later in this chapter, Paul makes reference to teaching the Corinthians a “mystery,” couched in the language of the famed mystery religions (.51). Finally, he also uses a variant of a Platonic teaching (.45-.49; more on this later). So it is not such a stretch to believe that it is the Eleusis mystery religion that Paul is referencing here.

Once more, Paul contrast the “those who are baptized for the dead,” in verse 29 with the phrase “And as for us,” in verse 30. The transition from “those” to “us” is readily apparent. What evidence is there among Christians for the resurrection? The fact that they give their testimony — even though they might be killed for doing so! Paul’s life was in constant danger for this very reason. His reference to fighting wild beasts in Ephesus is unknown to us. Luke made no reference to such an event, though it undoubtedly occurred. This event, whatever form it took, was also probably referred to in 2 Corinthians 1.8-.9. The point is, Christians reveal their belief in the resurrection every time they risk their life for the gospel. If there is no resurrection, then they ought to live differently. If there is no resurrection, then Christians would be better off living as the pagans, eating and drinking and enjoying themselves as much as they can in this life. This, unfortunately, is how many Corinthians behaved. This understanding is reinforced in verse 34, whereby Paul exhorts them to stop behaving like unbelievers so that they can be a testimony to those who are nearby and yet have not heard the gospel.