THE APOSTLE OF THE RECONCILIATION

`In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all

that they will not hear Me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign'.

`Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law', and the evidential

miracles were primarily for Israel. They were possessed by Gentile believers to provoke Israel to emulation. It is a

remarkable fact, and one that bears upon this question of miraculous gifts, that the two occasions mentioned in the

Acts where miracles were performed before Gentiles, as such, are characterized by the same thing, they led to

idolatry. The two references are Acts 14 and 28. At Iconium the people said, `The gods are come down to us in the

likeness of men', and the apostles could scarcely restrain the people from offering sacrifice to them (Acts 14:8-18).

At Melita the natives observing that the bite of a viper had no harmful effect upon Paul said that `he was a god'

(Acts 28:1-6). To Israel that had the Scriptures the miracles were a sign (see Matt. 11:2-6), but to the unilluminated

and idolatrous Gentiles they were merely `wonders', without meaning. The key note to the true use of the gifts is

struck in 14:12:

`... seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church'.

While the Corinthian saints were to desire spiritual gifts, they were especially to desire the gift of prophecy, for

`he that prophesieth speaketh ... to edification' (14:3). This comes out again in verses 4,5,6,17, and 26:

`Let all things be done unto edifying' (26).

`Let all things be done decently and in order' (40).

Much more might be said on this theme, but space will not permit.

We must first view chapter 15 as a whole, and then give attention to details when we have realized the scope of

the passage.

A1 15:1-11. The evidence and evangelistic importance of the

resurrection of Christ.

A2 15:12-34. The fact of the resurrection of Christ and of man.

A3 15:35-58. The manner of the resurrection.

Resurrection dominates the chapter, some phase of it being present throughout the whole discourse. The

opening section is concerned with the gospel and its connection with the resurrection of Christ. Let us therefore

consider `A1 1 Cor. 15:1-11' a little in detail.

The evidence and the evangel.

A 15:1,2.  The gospel. - `I preached'. `Ye received'.

The gospel no human invention. - `I delivered unto

you that which I received'.

C 15:-3,4.  Evidence

a1 Christ died.

b1 He was buried.

of

c1 He rose again.

C 15:5-8.  Evidence

a2 Seen of Cephas.

of eye-

b2 Then of the twelve.

c2 Seen of 500 brethren.

a3 Seen of James.

b3 Then of all the apostles.