1 Cor 15:6-10
The New Testament > 1 Corinthians > Chapter 15
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Questions
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Lexical notes
- The phrase "born out of due time" in verse 8 comes from the Greek word ektroma, which refers to either a miscarriage or a premature birth. This is the only place in the New Testament where this word is used.
- Adelphoi, the Greek word translated as "brethren" in verse 6, means both "brothers" and "brothers and sisters."
Exegesis
- Paul in this chapter makes clear that Jesus' resurrection is an essential doctrine. Beginning in verse 5, he emphasizes that the Resurrection is a historical, actual event: Jesus appeared to Peter and the disciples (verse 5), then more than 500 people at one time (verse 6, an event not otherwise recorded in scriptures), James and the apostles (verse 7), and ultimately Paul (verse 8). He notes in verse 6 that most of those who saw the resurrected Jesus are still alive, possibly because he is encouraging anyone skeptical about the resurrection to talk to one of the witnesses. Without the resurrection, Paul says later (verse 14), there is no meaningful substance to the Christian faith.
- Paul's reference in verse 8 to seeing the resurrected Jesus "as of one born out of due time" (or, more literally, as to a child prematurely born or miscarried) probably refers to the nature of Paul's conversion experience. Not only was it sudden and unexpected (as a premature birth or miscarriage would be), but at the time it would have appeared to any objective observer that Paul wasn't a person who was ready to see Jesus.
Verse 7
In conjunction with verse 5, this passage indicates that the "twelve" and the "apostles" are two different groups. As the earliest Christian author, Paul provides an interesting insight into this division. Luke in Acts is the first to limit the "apostles" to "the twelve".
Verse 10
This scripture gives additional insight on Paul's "grace vrs. works" paradigm. Paul first says that he was such a wicked man before he was converted that he had to make up for it by "labouring more abundantly" than any of the other apostles after his conversion. Then he corrects himself, lest he be accused of working out his salvation by works: "Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." Paul was not the one who worked, but only God's grace within him. To Paul, works are the fruit of God's grace, not our own personal contribution to the building of the kingdom. None of us can glory in our own works, for God gave us the spirit and the ability to perform them.
Does this make Paul a biological, environmental, or rather spiritual determinist? Does he believe that we are all merely acting out according to the pre-determined or pre-destined will of God? Paul might argue that we do make the first choice to believe, and then we chose to retain that belief in remembrance (verse 2). According to Paul, if we truly believe in an honest and complete way, God's grace will bear the fruit of many good works within us. Therefore, it is in choosing to believe that our free agency is manifest. Other apostles, such as James might disagree, arguing that it is possible to have faith without works, and that accomplishing works requires a diligent, conscious effort that comes from our own personal determination and self-discipline.
While Paul's view that "works are the sole fruit of God's grace" is perhaps a bit idealistic, it is good to keep in remembrance, lest we think too highly of ourselves, and become proud of our accomplishments. We all owe so much to God-given factors beyond our control: parental guidance, a healthy, sound mind and body, educational opportunities, inspiration from the Holy Ghost, and much, much more. Truly we can't take credit for anything we have accomplished, for it all would be impossible without God's grace.
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