The Suffering Apostle (I Corinthians 15:30-34)

(Class Notes)

• REBUKE: Suffering is Meaningless IF NO Resurrection (I Corinthians 15:30-32)
  • Continuing from his last question concerning "IF THE DEAD RISE NOT AT ALL" (I Corinthians 15:29) - Paul asks "WHY stand we IN JEOPARDY every hour" (I Corinthians 15:30) - see his list of "IN PERILS" (II Corinthians 11:26):
    • "IN PERILS of waters"
    • "IN PERILS of robbers"
    • "IN PERILS by mine own countrymen"
    • "IN PERILS by the heathen"
    • "IN PERILS in the city"
    • "IN PERILS in the wilderness"
    • "IN PERILS in the sea"
    • "IN PERILS among false brethren"
  • Paul protests the Corinthians' ERROR concerning NO RESURRECTION on the basis of "our glorying in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord" and rebukes them by saying: "I DIE DAILY" (I Corinthians 15:31)
    • Whereas Paul was able to GIVE THANKS for the FAITHFULNESS of OTHER CHURCHES (Philippians 1:3-5; I Thessalonians 1:2-3) - he was ONLY able to GIVE THANKS for the DIVINE GRACE BESTOWED (I Corinthians 1:4) upon the CARNALLY DIVIDED CORINTHIANS (I Corinthians 1:10-11; I Corinthians 3:3-4)
    • While the CORINTHIANS were FULL and RICH and "REIGNED AS KINGS" in this life (APART FROM PAUL) - Paul desired that "I WOULD to God YE DID REIGN, so that WE MIGHT REIGN WITH YOU" (I Corinthians 4:8)
      • Willingness to SUFFER NOW WITH CHRIST (Philippians 3:10) assures the believer of REIGNING LATER WITH CHRIST (II Timothy 2:12)
    • God proves His RESURRECTION POWER in the believer through SUFFERING (II Corinthians 4:6-11)
      • PAUL, as the DIVINE PATTERN of LONGSUFFERING (I Timothy 1:15-16) under this GENTILE "DISPENSATION of the GRACE of God" (Ephesians 3:1-2) - was made to PERSONALLY LEARN this lesson for OUR BENEFIT (II Corinthians 12:7-11; II Corinthians 13:2-4)
  • Paul asks WHAT PROFIT is it to him TO HAVE FOUGHT BEASTS (ADVERSARIES) at Ephesus "IF THE DEAD RISE NOT" (I Corinthians 15:32 cf. I Corinthians 16:8-9)
    • The BEASTS (ADVERSARIES) were the IDOLATROUS CRAFTSMEN who FOMENTED a TOWN RIOT when their livelihood was being threatened BECAUSE OF PAUL'S POWERFUL PREACHING of the Word of God
      (Acts 19:18-30)
    • GOD strengthened and DELIVERED PAUL "OUT OF the MOUTH of the LION (NERO)", SO THAT the PREACHING might be FULLY KNOWN and that the GENTILES might HEAR" (II Timothy 4:16-17)

• WARNING: Evil Associations Corrupt Good Morals (I Corinthians 15:33-34)
  • Paul warns the Corinthians that EVIL ASSOCIATIONS lead to CORRUPT MORALS (I Corinthians 15:33)
    • God CANNOT FATHER a BELIEVER who is COMPROMISED BY FELLOWSHIP WITH UNBELIEVERS (II Corinthians 6:14-18)
    • As concerning BELIEVERS and EVIL BEHAVIOR (I Corinthians 5:1) - he warns that " a LITTLE LEAVEN leaveneth the WHOLE LUMP" (I Corinthians 5:6)
      • He issues the SAME WARNING (Galatians 5:9) concerning ERRONEOUS TEACHING (Galatians 5:4)
      • Hence, his admonition to SEPARATE FROM those teaching DOCTRINE "CONTRARY TO ... WHICH YE HAVE LEARNED" (Romans 16:17)
  • Paul exhorts the Corinthians to "AWAKE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, and SIN NOT" (I Corinthians 15:34 cf. Ephesians 5:14-17)
    • Paul also reminded the Corinthians (to their SHAME) that "some HAVE NOT the KNOWLEDGE of God" (I Corinthians 15:34), i.e. the KNOWLEDGE concerning the RESURRECTION OF THE BODY (I Corinthians 15:35)
    • Paul warned Timothy to "shun PROFANE and VAIN BABBLINGS", because "they will INCREASE UNTO MORE UNGDLINESS" (II Timothy 2:16)
      • He then cites two individuals (Hymenaeus and Philetus) whose "WORD will EAT" like a CANKER, i.e. GANGRENE (II Timothy 2:17)
      • These two individuals "CONCERNING the TRUTH HAVE ERRED, SAYING that THE RESURRECTION IS PAST ALREADY; and OVERTHROW THE FAITH of some" (II Timothy 2:18)
      • These two individuals no doubt "SPIRITUALIZED" the BELIEVER'S PHYSICAL POSITION NOW (Ephesians 2:6) and, thereby, DENIED the BELIEVER'S GLORIOUS PHYSICAL CHANGE YET FUTURE
        (Philippians 3:20-21)
      • These "SPIRITUALIZERS" were no doubt PRESENT AT CORINTH as they are STILL PRESENT TODAY IN LIBERAL (UNBELIEVING) CHURCHES

Study Outline

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