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It has become quite common to hear from pulpit, platform and press, that no
intelligent man today can endorse as literal the early chapters of Genesis. It will therefore
be sheer waste of time for anyone who considers that Adam is but a "myth", to pursue
this subject further, for no one in his senses would argue "For as in Adam, who never
existed, all die, even so . . . . ." Moreover we discover that the whole purpose of the ages
"Then cometh the end", is based squarely upon the reference to Adam and the transfer of
Headship to Christ.
If we now follow the Apostle in his argument as contained in verses 12-19, it will be
seen that if the resurrection of the dead is denied, then the resurrection of Christ must also
be denied, or if the resurrection of Christ is believed, then the resurrection of the dead
must be accepted, and this interchange is crystallized in the word "firstfruits".
"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept"
(I Cor. 15: 20).
The Firstfruits.
I Cor. 15: 20-23.
A | 20-. Now is Christ risen
\ First coming.
B | -20. Type--Firstfruits. /
C | 21-. By man came death
\
D | -21. By Man came resurrection \
The
C | 22-. In Adam all die
/ Kinsman-Redeemer
D | -22. In Christ all made alive /
B | 23-. Christ the Firstfruits. \ Second coming.
A | -23. They that are Christ's
/
There are eight occurrences of the word aparche "firstfruits" in the N.T. Eight is the
octave, the new start, the resurrection.
The Eight references to Aparche.
We which have the firstfruits of the Spirit. (Rom. 8: 20-23).
Life from the dead. Firstfruits and lump. (Rom. 11: 15, 16).
Firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. (Rom. 16: 5).
The firstfruits of them that slept. (I Cor. 15: 20).
Christ the firstfruits. (I Cor. 15: 23).
Firstfruits of Achaia. (I Cor. 16: 15).
A kind of firstfruits. (James 1: 18).
Firstfruits unto God and the Lamb. (Rev. 14: 4).
The significance of the type is seen in Lev. 23: 10, 11. The bearing of the figure of
the Firstfruits upon the doctrine of I Cor. 15: is a vital factor in the interpretation of the
whole, and particularly in connection with the reference to Adam in verse 22. We can lift
these words out of their context and say with some appearance of finality, "As in Adam
all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive". "All" means "all" in both parts of this
great statement and that is enough proof that universal salvation and resurrection is the
goal of God.