 |  |
remembered, however, that I Cor. 15: is entirely devoted to the question of resurrection,
and, in particular, resurrection from the death brought in by Adam (I Cor. 15: 21, 22). It
would hardly seem necessary to insist upon this most evident fact, were it not true that no
part of Scripture is exempt from the effects of bias. When one wants a text to prove that
there will be a resurrection from the lake of fire, the temptation to use I Cor. 15: 26 is
very difficult to resist. And yet the lake of fire and the second death are quite foreign to
the theme of the chapter.
The structure of this chapter places the two sets of references to Adam in
correspondence, and with them the two-fold reference to the abolition of death. There
can be no doubt about the fact of Adamic death in both these sections:
I Corinthians 15: 12 - 58.
A | 12. The fact of resurrection. "How?"
B | 13-33. Adam and Christ. Death destroyed. "When."
C | 34. Exhortation. "Awake."
A | 35. The manner of resurrection. "How?" "With what?"
B | 36-57. The first and last Adam. Death swallowed. "When."
C | 58. Exhortation. "Be stedfast."
When two sections such as B and B are in correspondence, it is usual to find the
theme of the first member expanded and further explained in the second, after the
intervening subject has been dealt with. The following five subjects in the first section
B | 15: 13-33 are expanded in the second section B | 15: 36-57:
(1)
THE DIFFERENCES IN THE "ORDER" OF THE RESURRECTION.--"Every
man in his own order. Christ the firstfruits, afterward they that are Christ's at His
coming. Then cometh the end" (I Cor. 15: 23, 24).
(2)
THE RELATION OF ADAM TO MANKIND AND DEATH.--"For since by
man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For, as in Adam
all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (I Cor. 15: 21, 22).
(3)
THE RELATION OF CHRIST TO MANKIND AND TO DEATH AND
RESURRECTION.--"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the
firstfruits of them that slept . . . . . by man came also the resurrection of the dead
. . . . . in Christ shall all be made alive" (I Cor. 15: 20-22).
(4)
THE FACT OF THE DESTRUCTION OF DEATH AND ITS MEANING.--"The
last enemy that shall be destroyed is death" (I Cor. 15: 26).
(5)
THE TIME PERIODS.--"Then cometh the end, when He shall deliver up the
kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all
authority and power" (I Cor. 15: 24).
These five subjects receive amplification in B | 15: 36.57:
(1)
THE DIFFERENCES IN THE "ORDER" OF RESURRECTION AMPLIFIED.--
"There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of
the stars; for star differeth from star in glory, so also is the resurrection of the
dead" (I Cor. 15: 41, 42; also 42-44).
(2)
THE RELATION OF ADAM TO MANKIND AND DEATH IS AMPLIFIED.--
"And so it is written, the first Adam was made a living soul, the last Adam was
made a life-giving Spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that