Introduction: Logical arguments have a certain structure. That structure requires at least one premise, and more often two, before you can reach a conclusion. Here is an example. Murray is a grasshopper. All grasshoppers are insects. Therefore, Murray is an insect. The conclusion is that Murray is an insect, and the essential premises are that Murray is a grasshopper and all grasshoppers are insects. In our study this week Paul builds the argument for the conclusion that there is a resurrection of the dead. The critical fact for that conclusion is that Jesus was raised from the dead. Paul then argues that Jesus’ resurrection, as the “firstfruits” of those who have died, assures the future resurrection of those who belong to Him. Let’s explore Paul’s argument for the resurrection!
I. The Argument for the Resurrection of the Dead
A. Read 1 Corinthians 15:13. What premise does Paul give us about the resurrection of the dead? (If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised.)
B. Read 1 Corinthians 15:20. What fact does Paul establish that bears on this premise? (Christ has been raised from the dead.)
1. If Christ has been raised, what does that tell us about the claim that there is no resurrection of the dead? (That claim must be false. Therefore, there is a resurrection of the dead.)
II. The Consequences if Jesus Was Not Raised
A. The critical fact—that Jesus has been raised from the dead—is the most difficult proposition to establish for people who know nothing about Christianity. It was difficult enough to argue that God could be crucified. But additionally arguing that the crucified God came back to life was a heavy lift. How would you argue that Jesus was resurrected from the dead?
B. Read 1 Corinthians 15:14. What is the first consequence if Jesus has not been raised from the dead? (If it is not true, the religious beliefs of the Corinthians are false and worthless.)
C. Read 1 Corinthians 15:17. Let’s backtrack and examine Paul’s arguments for the truth of the Corinthians’ religious beliefs. Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-2. Why should the Corinthian Christians believe that their religious beliefs are true? (Paul reminds them that they already accepted the gospel as true, and this truth is saving them.)
D. Read 1 Corinthians 15:15. What is Paul’s second argument to support the fact that Jesus has been raised from the dead? (If that fact is false the Corinthians are not simply deceiving others, they are misrepresenting God.)
E. Read 1 Corinthians 15:16-17. What further consequences follow if Christ has not been raised? (If the resurrection is untrue, the Corinthians not only have accepted a “futile” faith, worse, they are still in their sins. They have no hope for the future.)
F. Read 1 Corinthians 15:18. What is the fourth logical argument Paul makes for the resurrection of Jesus? (If it is not true, then all of the Corinthians’ friends and family who have died are just gone. They have perished and will not be seen or heard of again.)
G. Read 1 Corinthians 15:19. What is the fifth logical argument for Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? (If it is not true, Christians are a foolish group who should be pitied by those who understand the truth.)
1. Paul’s statement could easily be misunderstood. If there were no hope of a future life, would Christianity still teach a good way to live? (I believe that is true. A Christian life is a life well-lived.)
III. The Evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection
A. Read 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. What evidence exists for Jesus’ resurrection? (Paul says that the “Scriptures,” meaning the Old Testament, contained detailed predictions about Jesus’ death and resurrection.)
B. Read 1 Corinthians 15:5. What other evidence is there for Jesus’ resurrection? (Peter (Cephas) and the rest of the disciples saw Jesus alive after He was killed.)
1. Since the disciples died for sharing this belief, what motive would they have to lie about the resurrection?
C. Read 1 Corinthians 15:6. What kind of evidence is this? (Paul writes that over 500 of Jesus’ followers saw Him alive after His crucifixion, and most of them can be interrogated about what they saw.)
D. Read 1 Corinthians 15:7-8. What is special about this eyewitness testimony? (These are the leaders of the church. Would you be a leader of a church based on what you knew was a lie?)
1. The obvious answer to the prior question is, “No” – unless there was money to be made. Was there profit in being a leader in the early church? (No. Suffering was the more likely outcome. And this is especially true for Paul who reports that he also is an eyewitness.)
IV. The Theology Supporting the Resurrection of Jesus
A. Read 1 Corinthians 15:20-22. Our understanding is that Adam destined us for eternal death. Why do you think that theological concept is true? (Because Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, sin entered our world.)
1. Is that fair? (We routinely inherit consequences—both good and bad—from decisions we did not personally make. We are born into a world profoundly shaped by those who came before us.)
2. How has Jesus reversed the misdeed of Adam? (Adam brought us death, Jesus brings us life. Jesus is the “firstfruits” for those being resurrected.)
a. Look more deeply into this idea. What works did we do to inherit Adam’s death sentence? (None. We did nothing to be born into a fallen world, although we later commit sins of our own.)
b. If we did not acquire Adam’s legacy by our works, does it make sense that we can receive Christ’s gift of life without earning it by our works? (Yes. Eternal life is God’s gift to those who belong to Christ.)
B. Read 1 Corinthians 15:23-24. Christ rose three days after His death. What is the timing for our resurrection from the dead? (At Jesus’ Second Coming when He has defeated every opposing rule and authority.)
C. Read 1 Corinthians 15:25-26. What does it mean for death to be destroyed? (Death is no longer a possibility for those who are saved.)
V. Answers to Questions
A. Read 1 Corinthians 15:29. Paul has been arguing for the resurrection of the dead. Here he reports that others say that a person can be baptized on behalf of a dead person. If an unbeliever died, can you give him eternal life by a proxy baptism? (If the person is dead that person has passed the point of accepting Jesus.)
1. Is Paul endorsing the idea of baptism for the dead? (I don’t think so. Paul is reporting what others say. Paul’s point is this claim makes no sense unless the dead will be raised to live again.)
2. Let’s assume that Paul is endorsing, and not simply reporting the views of others. How should we understand this? (A reasonable way to understand this is that our baptism is an acceptance of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Our baptism accepts His death and His resurrection makes our resurrection possible. This makes perfect sense in the context of Paul’s argument.)
B. Read 1 Corinthians 15:35. Does Paul assume that the resurrected dead will have bodies rather than existing merely as disembodied spirits? (Yes. The question itself asks what kind of “body” they will have.)
1. Read 1 Corinthians 15:42–44. What kind of body will we have? (An imperishable, glorious, powerful “spiritual body.” A spiritual body is still a body; Paul is not describing a disembodied spirit.)
C. Read 1 Corinthians 15:36-39. What is the “bare kernel” of your body? (I believe it is the code for who you are.)
1. What should you expect for your new body? (God gives us the new body, and Paul compares it to “flesh.” The reasonable conclusion is that this is an actual body because otherwise the reference to the flesh of animals makes no sense.)
D. Read 1 Corinthians 15:51-55. When is the resurrection where we receive our new body? (At the “last trumpet.” When Jesus comes again He raises the dead and changes them into their new bodies.)
E. Read 1 Corinthians 15:57. Who should we thank for this victory over death?
F. Friend, are you convinced that Jesus was raised from the dead? If so, His resurrection means that you—and everyone who belongs to Him—can have the certain hope of resurrection and eternal life. Will you share that hope with those who do not yet believe? Why not make that determination now?
VI. Next week: Love-driven Ministry
Copr. 2026, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you study.
