ABSTRACT
Chapter two studies the memories of Jesus' resurrection in First Corinthians. It finds that Paul reminds the Corinthians of the centrality of the gospel (cf. 1 Cor 15:1–11)—namely that, according to the Scriptures, Christ died, was buried, was raised, and appeared to Cephas, to the Twelve, to more than 500, to James, to all the apostles, and lastly to Paul himself. Verses 3–5/7 were probably an early creed that Paul received within a few years of Jesus' crucifixion. Verse 8 records the memory of Paul's encounter with the risen Jesus. This gospel message was the same life-changing news that Paul (and the other apostles) had already preached to the Corinthians (cf. 15:1–2, 11). The remainder of the chapter details how the memory of the risen Jesus influences Christian conduct and eschatology. A word study of ἐγείρω “raised,” indicates that in the context of death, both Jews and Gentiles would have understood this to refer to a bodily resurrection. This interpretation fits with Paul's explanation of the nature of the resurrection body as incorruptible, glorious, powerful, supernatural, and heavenly—like Christ's resurrected body (cf. 1 Cor 15:35–49).
