The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV

by John MacArthur

  15:27 it is evident. Lest anyone misunderstand what should be “evident,” Paul does not mean by “all things being put under Christ,” that God the Father is so included. It is actually the Father who gave Christ His authority (Matt. 28:18; John 5:26, 27) and whom the Son perfectly serves.

  15:28 all in all. Christ will continue to rule because His reign is eternal (Rev. 11:15), but He will reign in His former, full, and glorious place within the Trinity, subject to God (v. 28) in the way eternally designed for Him in full Trinitarian glory.

  15:29–34 Paul points out that the resurrection gives men compelling incentives for salvation (v. 19), for service (vv. 30–32), and for sanctification (vv. 33, 34).

  15:29 This difficult verse has numerous possible interpretations. Other Scripture passages, however, clarify certain things which it does not mean. It does not teach, for example, that a dead person can be saved by another person’s being baptized on his behalf, because baptism never has a part in a person’s salvation (Eph. 2:8; cf. Rom. 3:28; 4:3; 6:3, 4). A reasonable view seems to be that “they…who are baptized” refers to living believers who give outward testimony to their faith in baptism by water because they were first drawn to Christ by the exemplary lives, faithful influence, and witness of believers who had subsequently died. Paul’s point is that if there is no resurrection and no life after death, then why are people coming to Christ to follow the hope of those who have died?

  15:30, 31 I die daily. Paul continually risked his life in self-sacrificing ministry. Why would he risk death daily, even hourly, if there were no life after death, no reward, and no eternal joy for all his pain? Cf. 1 Pet. 1:3, 4.

  15:32 beasts at Ephesus. Perhaps literal wild animals, or, metaphorically, the fierce crowd of Ephesians incited against him by Demetrius (Acts 19:23–34). In either case, these were life-threatening dangers (cf. 2 Cor. 11:23–28). eat…drink…die. A direct quote from Is. 22:13 reflecting the hopelessness of the backslidden Israelites. Cf. Heb. 11:33, 34, 38 for a litany of sufferers who were willing to die because they looked forward to resurrection (v. 35).

  15:33, 34 Evil company. The Gr. term behind this word can also refer to a spoken message. By word or example, evil friends are a corrupting influence. Hope in the resurrection is sanctifying; it leads to godly living, not corruption. Some in the church did not know God and were a corrupting influence, but not for those who hoped for life in God’s presence (see 1 John 3:2, 3).

  15:35 They had the truth but shamefully did not believe and follow it (cf. 2 Cor. 13:5); thus, these questions did not reflect a genuine interest in the resurrection but were mocking taunts, by those who denied the resurrection, perhaps under the influence of gnostic-oriented philosophy. But supposing it were true, they queried as to how it could ever happen. Cf. Acts 26:8.

  15:36–49 To the questions posed in v. 35, Paul here gives 4 responses: 1) an illustration from nature (vv. 36–38); 2) a description of resurrection bodies (vv. 39–42a); 3) contrasts of earthly and resurrection bodies (vv. 42b–44); and 4) a reminder of the prototype resurrection of Jesus Christ (vv. 45–49).

  15:36–38 When a seed is planted in the ground it dies; decomposing, it ceases to exist in its seed form, but life comes from inside that dead seed (see John 12:24). Just as God gives a new body to that plant that rises from the dead seed, so He can give a resurrection body to a man who dies.

  15:39–42a As there are vastly different bodies and forms in God’s created universe which are suited for all kinds of existence, so God can design a body perfect for resurrection life.

  15:42b–44 Focusing directly on the resurrection body, Paul gives 4 sets of contrasts to show how the new body will differ from the present ones (cf. v. 54; Phil. 3:20, 21): 1) no more sickness and death (“corruption”); 2) no more shame because of sin (“dishonor”); 3) no more frailty in temptation (“weakness”); and 4) no more limits to the time/space sphere (“natural”).

  15:45–49 Here Paul answers the question (v. 35) more specifically by showing that the resurrection body of Jesus Christ is the prototype. He begins with a quotation from Gen. 2:7 with the addition of two words, “first” and “Adam.” Adam was created with a natural body, not perfect, but good in every way (Gen. 1:31). The “last Adam” is Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:19, 21). He is saying that through the first Adam we received our natural bodies, but through the last Adam we will receive our spiritual bodies in resurrection. Adam’s body was the prototype of the natural, Christ’s body of the resurrection. We will bear the image of His body fit for heaven (Acts 1:11; Phil. 3:20, 21; 1 John 3:1–3) as we have borne the image of Adam’s on earth.

  15:50 People cannot live in God’s eternal heavenly glory the way they are. See notes on Rom. 8:23. We have to be changed (v. 51).

  15:51 mystery. This term refers to truth hidden in the past and revealed in the NT. See notes on 2:7 and Eph. 3:4, 5. In this case, the rapture of the church was never revealed in the OT. It was first mentioned in John 14:1–3, when it is specifically explained and is detailed in 1 Thess. 4:13–18 (see notes there). sleep. See note on v. 18.

  15:52 twinkling of an eye. This was Paul’s way of showing how brief the “moment” will be. The Gr. word for “twinkling” refers to any rapid movement. Since the eye can move more rapidly than any other part of our visible bodies, it seems to well illustrate the sudden transformation of raptured believers. trumpet will sound. To herald the end of the church era, when all believers will be removed from the earth at the rapture (1 Thess. 4:16). dead…raised. According to 1 Thess. 4:16, they are first and the living saints follow (1 Thess. 4:17).

  15:54–57 Paul enhanced his joy at the reality of resurrection by quoting from Is. 25:8 and Hos. 13:14. The latter quote taunts death as if it were a bee whose sting was removed. That sting was the sin that was exposed by the law of God (see notes on Rom. 3:23; 4:15; 6:23; Gal. 3:10–13), but conquered by Christ in His death (see notes on Rom. 5:17; 2 Cor. 5:21).

  15:58 The hope of resurrection makes all the efforts and sacrifices in the Lord’s work worth it. No work done in His name is wasted in light of eternal glory and reward.

  1 Corinthians 16

  16:1 collection. An offering for destitute believers in the overpopulated, famine stricken city of Jerusalem (v. 3; see Acts 11:28). Paul had previously solicited funds from the churches of Galatia, Macedonia, and Achaia (Rom. 15:26; cf. Luke 10:25–37; 2 Cor. 8:1–5; 9:12–15; Gal. 6:10; 1 John 3:17).

  16:2 first day of the week. This evidences that the early church met on Sunday (Acts 20:7). The point is that giving must occur regularly, not just when one feels generous, particularly led to do so, or instructed to do so for some special purpose (cf. Luke 6:38; cf. 2 Cor. 9:6, 7). as he may prosper. No required amount or percentage for giving to the Lord’s work is specified in the NT. All giving to the Lord is to be free will giving and completely discretionary (see Luke 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6–8). This is not to be confused with the OT required giving of 3 tithes (see Lev. 27:30; Num. 18:21–26; Deut. 14:28, 29; Mal. 3:8–10) which totaled about 23 percent annually to fund the national government of Israel, take care of public festivals, and provide welfare. Modern parallels to the OT tithe are found in the taxation system of countries (Rom. 13:6). OT giving to God was not regulated as to amount (see Ex. 25:1, 2; 35:21; 36:6; Prov. 3:9, 10; 11:24).

  16:3, 4 This matter of getting the money to Jerusalem was important enough for Paul to go, if necessary.

  16:5 At the end of a 3 year stay in Ephesus, Paul wrote his letter and probably gave it to Timothy to deliver (v. 10). Paul originally planned to follow Timothy a short while after (4:19), visiting Corinth on the way to and from Macedonia (2 Cor. 1:15, 16). He had to change his plan and visit only after a longer stay in Ephesus (v. 8), then on to Corinth after Macedonia, to stay for a while (vv. 6, 7).

  16:9 many adversaries. Perhaps no NT church had such fierce opposition as the one in Ephesus (see 2 Cor. 1:8–10 where he described his experience in Ephesus; cf. Acts 19:1–21). In spite of that opposition, the door for the g
ospel was open wide (cf. 2 Cor. 2:12, 13 where Paul also had an open door, but no heart to remain and preach) and Paul stayed. At the end of the experience of opposition described in 2 Cor. 1:8–10, he wrote 1 Corinthians.

  16:10 Timothy. Paul had sent him with Erastus to Macedonia (Acts 19:22) and then he was to travel to Corinth, perhaps to carry this epistle (4:17). without fear. I.e., of intimidation or frustration by believers in Corinth.

  16:12 Apollos. See note on Acts 18:24. Paul felt Apollos should accompany the other brothers, Timothy and Erastus, to Corinth. Apollos refused, staying in Ephesus longer. Paul respected his convictions.

  16:13, 14 Paul gives 5 final commands. The Corinthians are to be alert, firm, mature, strong, and loving.

  16:13 the faith. The Christian faith, i.e., sound doctrine, as in Phil. 1:27; 1 Tim. 6:12; Jude 3.

  16:15 firstfruits. The members of the household of Stephanas were among the first converts in Corinth, which is located in Achaia, the southern province of Greece. Stephanas was one of the Corinthian believers Paul baptized personally (1:16), and was visiting with Paul in Ephesus at the time this epistle was written. With Fortunatus and Achaicus (v. 17), he probably delivered the earlier letter from Corinth mentioned in 7:1 (see note there).

  16:17, 18 Paul was glad about the arrival of his 3 friends in Ephesus who went there to be with him (cf. Prov. 25:25). The Corinthians were to give those men respect for their service to the Lord (cf. 1 Thess. 5:12, 13).

  16:19 Aquila and Priscilla. See note on Acts 18:2. They had become good friends with Paul, since he stayed in their house during his first ministry in Corinth (Acts 18:1–3). He may have stayed with them the entire year and a half (cf. Acts 18:18, 19, 24–26). in their house. The early church used homes of believers for worship and many other activities (see, e.g., Acts 2:46; 5:42; 10:23, 27–48; 20:7, 8; 28:23).

  16:20 kiss. A pure expression of Christian love between men with men and women with women, with no sexual overtones (cf. Rom. 16:16; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Thess. 5:26; 1 Pet. 5:14).

  16:21 my own hand. Paul dictated the main part of the letter to a scribe (Rom. 16:22), but finished and signed it himself.

  16:22 accursed. I.e., devoted to destruction. O Lord, come! In this context, Paul perhaps appeals for the Lord to take away the nominal, false Christians who threatened the spiritual well-being of the church. This was also an expression of eagerness for the Lord’s return (cf. Rev. 22:20). The Aram. words are transliterated “Maranatha” (see marginal note).

  1 Corinthians 1

  1:1 a Rom. 1:1

  1:1 b 2 Cor. 1:1

  1:1 c Acts 18:17

  1:2 d (Acts 15:9)

  1:2 e Rom. 1:7; Eph. 4:1; 1 Thess. 2:12

  1:2 f (1 Cor. 8:6)

  1:2 g (Rom. 3:22)

  1:2 1 set apart

  1:3 h Rom. 1:7

  1:4 i Rom. 1:8

  1:5 j (1 Cor. 12:8)

  1:5 2 speech

  1:6 k 2 Thess. 1:10; 1 Tim. 2:6; 2 Tim. 1:8; Rev. 1:2

  1:6 3 Or among

  1:7 l Luke 17:30; Rom. 8:19, 23; Phil. 3:20; Titus 2:13; (2 Pet. 3:12)

  1:8 m 1 Thess. 3:13; 5:23

  1:8 n Phil. 1:6; Col. 1:22; 2:7

  1:9 o Deut. 7:9; Is. 49:7; 1 Cor. 10:13; 2 Cor. 1:18; 1 Thess. 5:24; 2 Thess. 3:3

  1:9 p (John 15:4)

  1:10 q 2 Cor. 13:11; 1 Pet. 3:8

  1:10 4 Have a uniform testimony

  1:10 5 schisms or dissensions

  1:11 6 quarrels

  1:12 r Matt. 3:8–10; 1 Cor. 3:4

  1:12 s Acts 18:24; 1 Cor. 3:22

  1:12 t John 1:42; 1 Cor. 3:22; 9:5; 15:5

  1:13 u 2 Cor. 11:4

  1:14 v John 4:2

  1:14 w Acts 18:8

  1:14 x Rom. 16:23

  1:16 y 1 Cor. 16:15, 17

  1:17 z (1 Cor. 2:1, 4, 13)

  1:18 a 1 Cor. 2:14

  1:18 b 2 Cor. 2:15

  1:18 c (1 Cor. 15:2)

  1:18 d Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:24

  1:18 7 Lit. word

  1:19 e Is. 29:14

  1:20 f Is. 19:12; 33:18

  1:20 g Job 12:17; Matt. 13:22; 1 Cor. 2:6, 8; 3:18, 19

  1:20 8 debater

  1:21 h Dan. 2:20; (Rom. 11:33)

  1:22 i Matt. 12:38; Mark 8:11; John 2:18; 4:48

  1:23 j Is. 8:14; Luke 2:34; John 6:60; Gal. 5:11; (1 Pet. 2:8)

  1:23 k (1 Cor. 2:14)

  1:23 9 Gr. skandalon, offense

  1:23 10 NU Gentiles

  1:24 l (Rom. 1:4)

  1:24 m Col. 2:3

  1:26 n John 7:48

  1:26 11 consider

  1:26 12 well-born

  1:27 o Ps. 8:2; Matt. 11:25

  1:28 13 insignificant or lowly

  1:30 p Jer. 23:5; 33:16; (2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9)

  1:31 q Jer. 9:23, 24; 2 Cor. 10:17

  1 Corinthians 2

  2:1 1 NU mystery

  2:2 a 1 Cor. 1:23; Gal. 6:14

  2:3 b Acts 18:1

  2:3 c (2 Cor. 4:7)

  2:4 d 2 Pet. 1:16

  2:4 e Rom. 15:19; 1 Cor. 4:20

  2:4 2 NU omits human

  2:5 f Rom. 1:16; 1 Thess. 1:5

  2:7 3 predetermined

  2:8 g Luke 23:34

  2:8 h Matt. 27:33–50

  2:9 i (Is. 64:4; 65:17)

  2:10 j Matt. 11:25; 13:11; 16:17; (Gal. 1:12; Eph. 3:3, 5)

  2:11 k Job 32:8; Eccl. 12:7; (1 Cor. 6:20; James 2:26)

  2:11 l Rom. 11:33

  2:12 m (Rom. 8:15)

  2:13 4 NU omits Holy

  2:14 n Matt. 16:23

  2:16 o Job 15:8; Is. 40:13; Rom. 11:34

  2:16 p (John 15:15)

  1 Corinthians 3

  3:1 a 1 Cor. 2:6; Eph. 4:14; Heb. 5:13

  3:2 b Heb. 5:12; 1 Pet. 2:2

  3:2 c John 16:12

  3:3 1 Lit. walking according to man

  3:5 d Rom. 15:16; 2 Cor. 3:3, 6; 4:1; 5:18; 6:4; Eph. 3:7; Col. 1:25; 1 Tim. 1:12

  3:6 e Acts 18:4; 1 Cor. 4:15; 9:1; 15:1; 2 Cor. 10:14

  3:6 f Acts 18:24–27; 1 Cor. 1:12

  3:6 g (2 Cor. 3:5)

  3:7 h 2 Cor. 12:11; (Gal. 6:3)

  3:8 i Ps. 62:12; Rom. 2:6

  3:9 j Mark 16:20; Acts 15:4; 2 Cor. 6:1

  3:9 k (1 Cor. 3:16; Eph. 2:20–22); Col. 2:7; Heb. 3:3, 4; (1 Pet. 2:5)

  3:10 l Rom. 1:5

  3:10 m 1 Cor. 4:15

  3:11 n Is. 28:16; Matt. 16:18; 2 Cor. 11:4

  3:11 o Eph. 2:20; 1 Pet. 2:4

  3:13 p 1 Pet. 1:7

  3:13 q Mal. 3:1–3; Luke 2:35

  3:16 r Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:21

  3:17 2 destroys

  3:18 s Prov. 3:7

  3:19 t Job 5:13

  3:20 u Ps. 94:11

  3:21 v (2 Cor. 4:5)

  3:23 w (Rom. 14:8); 1 Cor. 15:23; 2 Cor. 10:7; (Gal. 3:29)

  1 Corinthians 4

  4:1 a Matt. 24:45; Rom. 13:6; 2 Cor. 3:6; Col. 1:25

  4:1 b Luke 12:42; 1 Cor. 9:17; Titus 1:7; 1 Pet. 4:10

  4:3 1 Lit. day

  4:5 c Matt. 7:1; Rom. 2:1; (Rev. 20:12)

  4:5 d Matt. 10:26

  4:5 e 1 Cor. 3:13

  4:5 f Rom. 2:29; 1 Cor. 3:8; (2 Cor. 5:10)

  4:5 2 motives

  4:6 3 arrogant

  4:7 g John 3:27; Rom. 12:3, 6; 1 Pet. 4:10

  4:7 4 distinguishes you

  4:8 h Rev. 3:17

  4:9 i Heb. 10:33

  4:9 5 Lit. theater

  4:10 j Acts 17:18; 26:24; 1 Cor. 1:18

  4:10 k 1 Cor. 2:3; 2 Cor. 13:9

  4:12 l Acts 18:3; 20:34

  4:12 m Matt. 5:44

  4:13 n Lam. 3:45

  4:13 6 exhort, encourage

  4:14 o 2 Cor. 6:13; 12:14; 1 Thess. 2:11; 1 John 2:1; 3 John 4

  4:15 p Num. 11:12; Acts 18:11; 1 Cor. 3:8; Gal. 4:19; Philem. 10

  4:16 q (1 Cor. 11:1); Phil. 3:17; 4:9; (1 Thess. 1:6); 2 Thess. 3:9

  4:17 r Acts 19:22; Phil. 2:19

  4:17 s 1 Cor. 4:14; 1 Tim. 1:2, 18; 2
Tim. 1:2

  4:17 t 1 Cor. 11:2

  4:17 u 1 Cor. 7:17; Titus 1:5

  4:17 v 1 Cor. 14:33

  4:18 w 1 Cor. 5:2

  4:18 7 arrogant

  4:19 x Acts 19:21; 20:2; 1 Cor. 11:34; 16:5, 7–9; 2 Cor. 1:15

  4:19 y Acts 18:21; Heb. 6:3; James 4:15

  4:20 z 1 Thess. 1:5

  4:20 a 1 Cor. 2:4

  4:21 b 2 Cor. 10:2

  1 Corinthians 5

  5:1 a Lev. 18:6–8; Deut. 22:30; 27:20

  5:1 1 NU omits named

  5:2 b 1 Cor. 4:18

  5:2 c 2 Cor. 7:7–10

  5:2 2 arrogant

  5:3 d Col. 2:5; 1 Thess. 2:17

  5:4 e (Matt. 18:20)

  5:4 f (Matt. 16:19; John 20:23); 2 Cor. 12:9

  5:5 g Ps. 109:6; Prov. 23:14; Luke 22:31; 1 Tim. 1:20

  5:5 h (Acts 26:18)

  5:5 3 NU omits Jesus

  5:6 i 1 Cor. 3:21

  5:6 j Hos. 7:4; Matt. 16:6, 12; Gal. 5:9; 2 Tim. 2:17

  5:7 k Is. 53:7

  5:7 l John 19:14

  5:7 4 clean out

  5:7 5 NU omits for us

  5:8 m Ex. 12:15

  5:8 n Deut. 16:3

  5:8 o Matt. 16:6

  5:9 p 2 Cor. 6:14; Eph. 5:11; 2 Thess. 3:6

  5:9 6 associate

  5:10 q John 17:15

  5:11 r Matt. 18:17

  5:11 s Gal. 2:12

  5:13 t Deut. 13:5; 17:7, 12; 19:19; 21:21; 22:21, 24; 24:7; 1 Cor. 5:2

  1 Corinthians 6

  6:1 a Dan. 7:22; Matt. 19:28

  6:2 b Ps. 49:14

  6:3 c 2 Pet. 2:4

  6:4 1 courts

  6:7 d (Prov. 20:22)

  6:9 e Acts 20:32; (1 Cor. 15:50); Gal. 5:21; Eph. 5:5; 1 Tim. 1:9

  6:9 2 catamites, those submitting to homosexuals

  6:9 3 male homosexuals

  6:11 f (1 Cor. 12:2; Col. 3:5–7; Titus 3:3–7)

  6:11 g Heb. 10:22

  6:11 4 set apart

  6:12 h 1 Cor. 10:23

  6:12 5 profitable

  6:12 6 Or anything

  6:13 i Matt. 15:17; (Rom. 14:17); Col. 2:22

  6:13 j 1 Cor. 5:1; Gal. 5:19; Eph. 5:3; Col. 3:5; 1 Thess. 4:3