Scofield Reference Bible Notes
1 Corinthians 15

1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

gospel

Gospel. 1Co 15:1-4; 2Co 2:12. (Gen 12:1-3; Rev 14:6.)

1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

saved

Scofield Romans 1:16, note.

keep in memory what I preached unto you

hold fast the word which I announced unto you as the glad tidings.

1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

sins

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

then of the twelve

Scofield Mark 16:14, note.

1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

born out of due time

Greek to ektromati, "before the due time." Paul thinks of himself here as an Israelite whose time to be born again had not come, nationally (cf. Mat 23:39), so that his conversion by the appearing of the Lord in glory (Act 9:3-6) was an illustration, or instance before the time, of the future national conversion of Israel. See Eze 20:35-38; Hos 2:14-17; Zec 12:10 - Zec 13:6; Rom 11:25-27.

1Co 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

church of God

Churches (visible). Gal 1:13. (1Co 10:32; 1Ti 3:15).

Churches (local). 1Co 16:1, 19. (Act 2:41; Phl 1:1).

1Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

grace

Grace (imparted). 2Co 1:12. (Rom 6:1; 2Pe 3:18).

1Co 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead

Act 26:8.

1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

faith

Faith. 2Co 5:7. (Gen 3:20; Heb 11:39.)

sins

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

1Co 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

miserable

pitiable.

1Co 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

death

Death (physical). 1Co 15:21-22; 2Co 5:1-8. (Gen 3:19; Heb 9:27.)

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Adam

Adam was a contrasting type of Christ (1Co 15:45-47; cf. Rom 5:14-19).

1. "The first man Adam was made a living soul" (Gen 2:7), i.e. he derived life from another, that is, God.
   "The last Adam was a life-giving spirit." So far from deriving life, He was Himself the fountain of life, and He gave that life to others (Jhn 1:4; 5:21; 10:10; 12:24; 1Jo 5:12).
2. In origin the first man was of the earth, earthy;
   the Second Man is the Lord from heaven.
3. Each is the head of a creation, and these also are in contrast:
   • in Adam all die;
     in Christ all will be made alive;
   • the Adamic creation is "flesh";
     the new creation, "spirit" (John 3:6).

in Christ shall all be made alive

Jhn 5:28-29; 1Ti 4:10.

1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

Christ

Christ (Second Advent). 1Co 15:23, 51-52; 2Th 1:7-10. (Deu 30:3; Acts 1:9-11.)

1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

Then, finally, when he delivers up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he has done away with every rule, and every authority and power (for he must reign till he has put all enemies under his feet), the last enemy, death, is destroyed.

kingdom

Kingdom (N.T.), Summary: See "Kingdom (O.T.)" (Scofield Gen 1:26-28; Zechariah 12:8, note. Kingdom truth is developed in the N.T. in the following order:

1. The promise of the kingdom to David and his seed, and described in the prophets (Scofield 2 Samuel 7:8-17, refs.; Zec 12:8), enters the N.T. absolutely unchanged (Luk 1:31-33). The King was born in Bethlehem (Mat 2:1; Mic 5:2), of a virgin (Mat 1:18-25; Isa 7:14).
2. The kingdom announced as "at hand" (Scofield Matthew 4:17, note), by John the Baptist, by the King, and by the Twelve, was rejected by the Jews, first morally (Scofield Matthew 11:20, note), and afterward officially (Mat 21:42-43), and the King, crowned with thorns, was crucified.
3. In anticipation of His official rejection and crucifixion, the King revealed the "mysteries" of the kingdom of heaven (Scofield Matthew 13:11, note) to be fulfilled in the interval between His rejection and His return in glory (Mat 13:1-50).
4. Afterward He announced His purpose to "build" His church (Scofield Matthew 16:18, refs.), another "mystery" revealed through Paul which is being fulfilled contemporaneously with the mysteries of the kingdom. The "mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" and the "mystery" of the church (Eph 3:9-11) occupy, historically, the same period, i.e, this present age.
5. The mysteries of the kingdom will be brought to an end by "the harvest" (Mat 13:39-43, 49-50) at the return of the King in glory, the church having previously been caught up to meet Him in the air (1Th 4:14-17).
6. Upon His return the King will restore the Davidic monarchy in His own person, re- gather dispersed Israel, establish His power over all the earth, and reign one thousand years (Mat 24:27-30; Luk 1:31-33; Act 15:14-17; Rev 20:1-10).
7. The kingdom of heaven (Scofield Matthew 3:2, note), thus established under David's divine Son, has for its object the restoration of the divine authority in the earth, which may be regarded as a revolted province of the great kingdom of God (Scofield Matthew 6:33, note). When this is done (1Co 15:24-25) the Son will deliver up the kingdom (of heaven, Mat 3:2) to "God, even the Father," that "God" (i.e. the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) "may be all in all" (1Co 15:28). The eternal throne is that "of God, and of the Lamb" (Rev 22:1). The kingdom-age constitutes the seventh Dispensation (Scofield Ephesians 1:10, note).

1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

till he hath put all enemies under his feet

Psa 110:1; Mat 22:44.

1Co 15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

all things under his feet

Psa 8:6.

1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him

Kingdom (N.T.). (Luk 1:31-33; 1Co 15:28).

1Co 15:29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

dead

i.e. who, through the introductory rite of baptism, are taking the places in the ranks left vacant by Christians who have died.

1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

rejoicing

Phl 3:3.

die daily

Rom 8:36-37.

1Co 15:32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

after

to speak after.

let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die

Isa 22:13.

1Co 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

evil communications

Pro 13:20; Eph 4:29; 2Ti 2:16-17.

1Co 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

Awake to righteousness

Rom 13:11.

sin

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

1Co 15:35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

How are the dead raised up?

Eze 37:3.

1Co 15:43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

sown in dishonour

Gen 3:19.

raised in power

Luk 20:35-36.

1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

The first man

Gen 2:7.

was

became.

was made

Omit italicized words.

quickening

Or, lifegiving.

1Co 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

also bear the image

Rom 8:29.

1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

shew

tell.

mystery

Scofield Matthew 13:11, note.

1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

raised

Resurrection. 1Co 15:1-52. (Job 19:25; 1 Cor 15:52.)

Resurrection, Summary:

1. The resurrection of the dead was believed by the patriarchs (Gen 22:5 with Heb 11:19; Job 19:25-27), and revealed through the prophets (Isa 26:19; Dan 12:2, 13; Hos 13:14), and miracles of the dead restored to life are recorded in the O.T. (2Ki 4:32-35; 13:21).
2. Jesus Christ restored life to the dead (Mat 9:25; Luk 7:12-15; Jhn 11:43-44), and predicted His own resurrection (Jhn 10:18; Luk 24:1-8).
3. A resurrection of bodies followed the resurrection of Christ (Mat 27:52-53); and the apostles raised the dead (Act 9:36-41; 20:9-10).
4. Two resurrections are yet future, which are inclusive of "all that are in the graves" (Jhn 5:28). These are distinguished as "of life" (1Co 15:22-23; 1Th 4:14-17; Rev 20:4), and "of judgment" (Jhn 5:28-29; Rev 20:11-13). They are separated by a period of one thousand years (Rev 20:5). The "first resurrection," that "unto life," will occur at the second coming of Christ (1Co 15:23), the saints of the O.T. and church ages meeting Him in the air (1Th 4:16-17); while the martyrs of the tribulation, who also have part in the first resurrection (Rev 20:4), are raised at the end of the great tribulation.
5. The mortal body will be related to the resurrection body as grain sown is related to the harvest (1Co 15:37-38); that body will be incorruptible, glorious, powerful, and spiritual (1Co 15:42-44, 49).
6. The bodies of living believers will, at the same time, be instantaneously changed (1Co 15:50-53; Phl 3:20-21). This "change" of the living, and resurrection of the dead in Christ, is called the "redemption of the body" (Rom 8:23; Eph 1:13-14).
7. After the thousand years the "resurrection unto judgment" (John 5:29) occurs. The resurrection-body of the wicked dead is not described. They are judged according to their works, and cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:7-15).

1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

incorruption [See also 1Co 15:54]

incorruptibility. Cf. 2Ti 1:10.

1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Death is swallowed up in victory

Isa 25:8.

1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

O death

Hos 13:14.

grave

death.

1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

sin

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

law

Law (of Moses). Gal 2:15-16, 19, 21. (Exo 19:1; Gal 3:1-29).