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SEPTEMBER 6

15:5–7 The testimony of eyewitnesses, record- 15:25 all enemies under His feet. This figure
ed in the New Testament,was added to support comes from the common practice of kings
the reality of the resurrection. These included: always sitting enthroned above their subjects,
1) John and Peter together (John 20:19,20),but so that when the subjects bowed or kneeled,
probably also separately before (Luke 24:34);2) they were lower than the sovereign’s feet.With
the 12 (John 20:19,20; Luke 24:36; Acts 1:22); 3) enemies, the monarch might put his foot on
the 500, only referred to here, had all seen the the neck of a conquered ruler, symbolizing
risen Christ (Matt. 28:9; Mark 16:9,12,14; Luke that enemy’s total subjugation. In the millen-
24:31–39;John 21:1–23);4) James,either one of nial kingdom, Christ’s foes will be in subjec-
the two so-named apostles (son of Zebedee or tion to Him.
son of Alphaeus; Mark 3:17,18) or even James
the half brother of the Lord, the author of the 15:26,27 last enemy…death. Christ has bro-
epistle by that name and the key leader in the ken the power of Satan, who held the power
Jerusalem church (Acts 15:13–21); and 5) the of death (Heb.2:14),at the Cross.But Satan will
apostles (John 20:19–29). Such unspecified not be permanently divested of his weapon of
appearances occurred over a 40-day period death until the end of the Millennium (Rev.
(Acts 1:3) to all the apostles. 20:1–10). At that point, having fulfilled com-
pletely the prophecy of Psalm 8:6 (v. 27a),
Christ then will deliver the kingdom to His
Father, and the eternal glory of Revelation 21
God I am what I am, and His grace toward me and 22 will begin.
was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly
than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God
which was with me. Therefore, whether it was has become the firstfruits of those who have
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I or they, so we preach and so you believed. fallen asleep. For since by man came death,
12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.
raised from the dead, how do some among you 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all
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say that there is no resurrection of the dead? shall be made alive. But each one in his own
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those
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then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes
risen, then our preaching is empty and your the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God
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faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and
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false witnesses of God, because we have testi- all authority and power. For He must reign till
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fied of God that He raised up Christ, whom He He has put all enemies under His feet. The
did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For
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16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not “He has put all things under His feet.” But
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risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is when He says “all things are put under Him,”
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futile; you are still in your sins! Then also it is evident that He who put all things under
those who have fallen asleep in Christ have per- Him is excepted. Now when all things are
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ished. If in this life only we have hope in made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will
Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. also be subject to Him who put all things under
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and Him, that God may be all in all.
DAY 6:What difference would it make if the Resurrection of Christ never really happened?
“How do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” (1 Cor. 15:12). The
Corinthian Christians believed in Christ’s resurrection, or else they could not have been Christians
(John 6:44; 11:25; Acts 4:12; 2 Cor. 4:14; 1 Thess. 4:16). But some had particular difficulty accepting
and understanding the resurrection of believers. Some of this confusion was a result of their expe-
riences with pagan philosophies and religions. A basic tenet of much of ancient Greek philosophy
was dualism, which taught that everything physical was intrinsically evil; so the idea of a resurrect-
ed body was repulsive and disgusting (Acts 17:32).In addition,perhaps some Jews in the Corinthian
church formerly may have been influenced by the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrec-
tion even though it is taught in the Old Testament (Job 19:26; Pss.16:8–11; 17:15; Dan.12:2).On the
other hand, New Testament teaching in the words of our Lord Himself was extensive on the resur-
rection (John 5:28,29; 6:44; 11:25; 14:19), and it was the theme of the apostolic preaching (Acts
4:1,2). In spite of that clarity, the church at Corinth was in doubt about the resurrection.
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