In this chapter Paul deals with a particular problem affecting the Corinthian church. Some members had come to deny the bodily resurrection of the dead, v12. So in our passage for study Paul deals with the gospel, its focus on the resurrection of Christ and how the life-power of our risen Lord enlivens us to live the new life.

v1-2. The argument begins with Paul reminding his readers of the gospel preached to them, which they believed and which was the basis of their salvation. This was the message Paul delivered to them. Their hearing and belief of the message achieved their salvation. If, in fact, they had not understood the content of the message, then their belief in a gospel wrongly understood, produces in them a vain hope.

v3-5. Paul now restates the gospel message, as passed down from the apostles, and supports the fact of the resurrection with a list of appearances. The focus of the message is on the person of Christ, his death and particularly his resurrection.

v6-7. Paul lists a number of extra groups who witnessed the risen Lord. He makes special note of the "more than five hundred", "most of whom are still living". He is suggesting that the Corinthians go and check them out. He concludes with Christ's appearing to all the apostles, most likely on the occasion of their commissioning.

v8. Christ's final appearing is to Paul himself. This appearance is extraordinary in that it occurs after Christ's ascension. Obviously Paul is referring to the Damascus Road event. For Paul, it was an act of outstanding grace that he should be honoured to see the risen Christ when such revelations had ceased. This is possibly what he means by "abnormally (untimely) born."

v9-10a. Paul enlarges on his "abnormally born" apostleship. First and foremost, he had persecuted the church. Gracious mercy indeed, that God should choose him as apostle to the Gentiles. Yet, God's mercy toward Paul has not been without effect. This grace extended toward him has prompted a mighty work for the gospel. The Corinthians are a product of this work.

v10b. Paul immediately corrects a possible misunderstanding. He had indeed worked hard for the gospel, but ultimately, this is not his doing, but rather an inward working of God's Spirit. He had met the risen Lord, and the living Lord had given life to him. It was this life which enlivened him to good works. This is wholly a work of the grace of God.

v11. Paul returns to the main thrust of his argument; the apostolic gospel proclaimed and believed, carries with it a powerful implication for all believers. Because Christ lives, we live eternally.

In the gospels we are given a simple outline of God's good news to humanity: "The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe the gospel." In our passage for study we have a similar precise statement of the gospel message, although here it is in a different form. It is in the form of handed-down tradition, ie. this is what they used to tell people who wanted to know the substance of the Christian faith. It is a first century gospel tract, a creedal tract of the apostolic church.

The passage tells us:

How the message was presented: It was "preached".

The response to the gospel: It was "received" and "believed".

The results: They were "saved".

The gospel is presented in its familiar two-part format:

Introduction: The time is fulfilled - Christ died for our sins

Primary statement: The kingdom of God is at hand - Christ was raised on the third day.

The primary statement in the gospel message comes without theological interpretation, unlike the introduction which explains Jesus' death in terms of the doctrine of the atonement. To expand our understanding of the implications of the resurrection we must look elsewhere.

One of the best shorthand gospel presentations, which explains the functioning of the resurrection, may be found in Romans 4:25. "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification". The primary statement declares that justification is the consequence of the resurrection. This truth stands at the heart of the gospel. The kingdom is at hand, Jesus has risen from the dead, such that those who believe may freely receive new life.

Although Paul expands the gospel into a theological treatise in the book of Romans, it is primarily a message for the unbeliever, that they might be saved. Our task is to understand the message and see it "preached" to our "neighbors". This simply means, we must communicate the message with church banners, church magazines, tracts, the local press, the electronic media, etc.

Of first importance, we must make sure that the message we are presenting is the gospel. As Paul reminds the Corinthians, their salvation depends on them holding firmly to the message which came from the apostles. The right content is essential. The center of the message has to do with the resurrection of Christ, and the implications which flow from that. Because Christ lives, we can live also, we can live approved before God for eternity, "just if I'd" never sinned.

1. Extract from the passage the gospel as tradition.

2. What is the gospel, what are we to do with it, what can it give us and what must be our response?

3. Do you think that the central statement of the gospel concerns the resurrection? Support your view, either way.

4. What implications does the resurrection have for the believer and the unbeliever?