THE SECOND DEATH
27
No Distinction in the Original
B. -- With the exception of verse 55, each verse uses the word with the article. The expression `O death', being in
the vocative, dispenses with the article. There is therefore one unbroken reference to some one thing called ho
thanatos, `death'. How do you prove that verse 26 deals with the second death?
A. -- I must confess that the more closely we examine this chapter, the less I find to support my theory, yet I have
been led to believe that those who saw only Adamic death in 1 Corinthians 15 were blinded by prejudice.
The Scope of the Subject examined
B. -- What is the scope of 1 Corinthians 15?
A. -- The scope of any passage is determined by its literary structure.
B. -- Shall we then seek the inspired structure of this chapter? I think we can omit verses 1-11 from our present
discussion; they deal with the evidences and evangel of resurrection.
Verse 12 starts with the question,
`HOW?'
Verse 35 returns to the question,
`HOW?'
Verse 34 is an exhortation
`AWAKE'.
Verse 58 is also an exhortation
`BE STEDFAST'.
The intervening verses, 13-33 and 36-57, which constitute the bulk of the chapter, both deal with:
ADAM and CHRIST
The structure may be set out as follows:
A 15:12.
The fact of resurrection.
`HOW?'
B 13-33.
Adam and Christ.
Death destroyed.
`When'? `Then'.
C 34.
Exhortation. `AWAKE'.
A 35.
The manner of resurrection.
`HOW?'
B 36-57.
Adam and Christ.
Death swallowed up.
`When'? `Then'.
C 58.
Exhortation. `BE STEDFAST'.
The predominance of Adam
You will see that the major sections are headed by the names Adam and Christ, and these sections contain the
references to the destruction or swallowing up of death. The scope of the passage is defined for us, and it is not
possible to introduce the second death without committing violence to the passage. Paul amplifies the statement
concerning the destruction of the last enemy by the words, `Death is swallowed up in victory'. That `swallowing
up' takes place at resurrection, and is the destruction of the last enemy -- death.
A. -- I agree with you as to the strong argument you have for the place of Adam in this chapter, but do not follow
your meaning when you speak of Paul amplifying.
B. -- Paul follows a customary method. First he states his theme briefly, then follows with fuller details. There are
at least four such amplifications:
1. Every man in his own order.
2. Adam and Christ.
3. The destruction of death.