argument with Sadducees, make the resurrection of Christ the basis of his proof But he does not assume that fact as con- ceded, but proves it by an array of the testimony by which it was supported. Others suppose that the opponents of the doctrine were Epicureans. There is, however, no indication of their peculiar opinions in the chapter. In v. 32 Epicurean carelessness and indulgence are represented as the conse- quence, not the cause, of the denial of the resurrection. No- thing more definite can be arrived at on this point than the conjecture that the false teachers in question were men of Grecian culture. In Acts 17, 32 it is said of the Athenians that " some mocked " when they heard Paul preach the doc- trine of the resurrection. From the character of the objec- tions answered in the latter part of the chapter, vs. 35-58, it is probable that the objections urged against the doctrine were founded on the assumption that a material organization was unsuited to the future state. It is not unlikely that ori- ental philosophy, which assumed that matter was the soujce and seat of evil, had produced an effect on the minds of these Corinthian sceptics as well as on the Christians of Colosse. The decision of the question as to what particular class of per- sons the opponents of the doctrine of the resurrection belonged, happily is of no importance in the interpretation of the apos- tle's argument. As in 2 Tim. 2, 17. 18 he speaks of Hymeneus and Philetus as teaching that the resurrection was passed al- ready, it is probable that these errorists in Corinth also refused to acknowledge any other than a spiritual resurrection.
After reminding the Corinthians that the doctrine of the resurrection was a primary principle of the gospel, which he had preached to them, and on which their salvation depended, vs. 1-3, he proceeds to assert and prove the fact that Christ rose from the dead on the third day. This event had been predicted in the Old Testament. Its actual occurrence is proved, 1. By Christ appearing after his resurrection, first to Peter and then to the twelve. 2. By his appearing to upward of five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom were still alive. 3. By a separate appearance to James. 4. And then again to all the apostles. 5. Finally by his appearance to Paul himself. There never was a historical event estab- lished on surer evidence than that of the resurrection of Christ, vs. 4-8. This fact, therefore, was included in the preaching of all the apostles, and in the faith of all Christians, v. 11. But if this be so, how can the doctrine of the resurrection be