Vers. 1-5B.-The exposition and defence of the resurrection. This chapter stands, as it were, by itself in the Epistle, and indeed in the Scripture. The Gospels relate the fact of our Saviour's rising from the dead; but St. Paul in this passage, remarkable alike for closeness of reasoning, for fervour of eloquence, and for elevation of spiritual treat- ment, writes as the theologian of the resurrection. In opposition to false teachers who had arisen in tbe Corinthian Church, the apostle maintains the fact of Christ's resur-- rection to be the basis of Christian faith, practice, and hope ; and especially deduces- from the historical event the expectation of a glorious immortality, then and ever the- possession of the Church, and destined to be the possession of humanity. I. THE FACT OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION IS PROVED AND PllEACHED. (Vers. 1-11.) This is here exhibited as: 1. The substance of Christian preaching. 2. The fulfilment of Old Testament pre iictions. 3. Verified by the witness of the apostles and of five hundred brethren. 4. Attested by Paul himself. 5. Believed and professed by the whole Church of the Redeemer. II INFERENCES FROM THIS FACT. (Vers. 12-2B.) 1. Destructive inferences. (Vers. 12-19.) The resurrection of Jesus is represented as conflicting with and altogether overthrowing the belief inculcated by false teachers, that the dead rise not. 2. Con- sti-uctive inferences. (Vers. 20-2B.) The Lord Christ, as a rise11 Saviour and King, is represented as the Firstfruits of the spiritual harvest, and as the supreme Governor and Controller of the uni verse. Ill. CONFIRMATIONS OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE GENERAL llESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD. (Vers. 29-49.) 1. Christian practice, and especially the endurance of opposi- tion, persecution, and martyrdom, can only be accounted for by the power of a belief in worlds to come. Nothing is more evident than that the apostle himself, and many of the early Christians, came under the infhwnce of this new and mighty power, making of them nothing short of new men. 2. Natural analogies support the doctrine of the resurrection. Especially the analogy of the seed sown from which vegetable lii'c takes its rise, and to which the harvest of fruit is traceable. 'l'he manifest order subsisting in nature, and the progressive revelation of God himself, are in harmony with the Christian's hope. IV. THE GLORIOUS PROSPECTS OF CHRIST'S PEOPLE. (Vers. 50-57.) 1. ThP, mystery •old. The inheritance of incorruptible and immortal blessedness. 2. The triumph fore- told. Man's worst foes, sin and death, shall be vanquished, and that by the might of the Divine Conqueror, Christ. V. CONSEQUENT EXHO!lTATION TO STEADFASTNESS. (Ver. 5B.) Against apathy on the one hand, and enthusiasm on the other hand, Christians are warned. Labuur is not in vain, for its fruits shall be reaped in eternity. Stear\fastness and diligence aro the appropriate attitude and habit of those who, believing that their Lord has risen, them- selves look forward to the Divine, immortal life of heaven.-'!'. Vers. 1-4.-The apostolic doctrine. It is intercst:ng and valuable to have in these words from St. Paul's own pen a confirmation of the statements of the inspired historian, 524 THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [cu. xv. 1-68.
St. Lnke, regarding the preaching by which the first moral victories of Christianity were achievml. I. THE SUBSTANCE OF APOSTOLIC DOCTRINE. Paul disclaims any pretension to a ,ministry of human learninf: or wisdom ; he here as everywhere relies upon the facts which form the substance of his preaching and teaching. 1. The apostles proclaimed the death and burial of their Lord. 'l'hesr., indeed, were unquestioned historical facts yet they lay at the basis o~ all _their _subsequent tenching, alike of doctrine, of promise: and of precept. 2. In conJunct1on with tl11s they preached the resurrection of Obrist. Whilst none denied that Jesus of Nazareth had been crucified, there were many who ,received the proclamation of his resurrection with incredulity and ridicule. Dut how- ever the;r preaching might he received, the apostles never wavered in their decl~ration that their Lord had risen from the grave. 3. These events were represented as a fulfil- ment of Old Testament prophecy; what had happened was "accordin" to the Scriptures." 'l'o the Jews such a representation would appeal with peculiar powe~; and the Gentiles would recognize in it the unity of the dispensations of God. 4. The purpose of these c,·cnt, was represented as b2ing the pardon and abolition of the sins of those who believed. The explanation of this "mystery" was a matter of inspired doctrine• but tbe fact was published abroad to all who would hear the Word. ' II. 'l'rrE RECEPTION OF APOSTOLIC DOCTRINE. 1. In the case of true converts this was not Yain, unreasonable, frivolous. There are those who are ready to receive ~very new doctrine; and some such professed adhereuce to Christianity without any sufficient acquaintance with the truth, without examining its credentials, without countin" the cost of their decision. llut sincere Christians act reasonably and deliberately in °their acceptance of the \Vord of life. 2. True converls were stable in their faith. Such is the teaching of this l'assnge: "Wherein ye stand;" " Ye hold it fast." Deliberate acceptance and adhesion may be expected to be followed by tenacious retention of the truth. Stability in faith and godliness is the condition of the enjoyment of true blessing. III. -THE ULTIMATE AIM AND RESULT OF APOSTOLIC D0CTnINE. No reader of the ~ew Testament can suppose that the first preachers of the gospel int<,oded simply to convey inforrnatiou. Theirs was a moral, a spiritual aim; they sought the salvation of their fellow-men-their deliverance from the curse, the bondage, the love of sin. Why was St. Paul so anxious that his hearers and his readerd should receive and retain his teaching? It was because in his heart there glowed the flame of benevolence, because he desired above all things that his fellow-creatures should be rescued from the bondage of Ein, and should rejoice in the liberty of the sons of God, and because he believed that this blessed result could be brought about only by their cordial reception of the gospel which it was his privilege and joy to preach.-T.