1 corinthians 15, the resurrection from the dead

Read 1 Corinthians 15 at Bible Gateway.

This chapter forms an amazing chiastic structure:

1 Cor 15
1a) 1 Cor 15:1-11, Hold fast the gospel you received / His grace toward me not in vain;
1b) 1 Cor 15:12-23, The resurrection of Christ:
— 1b.1) 1 Cor 15:12-19, If Christ is not risen, our preaching and your faith is empty;
— 1b.2) 1 Cor 15:20, The risen Christ, the firstfruits (of the resurrection) of those who have fallen asleep;
— 1b.3) 1 Cor 15:21-22, By the first man came death, by the last Man came life;
— 1b.4) 1 Cor 15:23, Christ first, and afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming;
1c) 1 Cor 15:24, He will deliver the kingdom to God the Father, putting an end to all rule, authority, power;
1d) 1 Cor 15:25, For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet;
central axis) 1 Cor 15:26, The last enemy that will be destroyed is death;
2d) 1 Cor 15:27, For, “He has put all things under His feet;”
2c) 1 Cor 15:28, The Son Himself will also be subject to Him, that God may be all in all;
2b) 1 Cor 15:29-57, The resurrection of the Church:
— 2b.1) 1 Cor 15:29-34, If the dead do not rise, our sacrifice is empty;
— 2b.2) 1 Cor 15:35-44, Those who have fallen asleep and their resurrection to come;
— 2b.3) 1 Cor 15:45-49, The first man earthly; the last Man heavenly;
— 2b.4) 1 Cor 15:50-57, The resurrection/ transformation of those who are Christ’s at His coming;
2a) 1 Cor 15:58, Be steadfast, immovable, knowing your labor is not in vain.

Death has already been destroyed once, when Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Death will be destroyed a second time, when all those who are Christ’s at His coming are likewise raised from the dead. Then death will be destroyed once for all, at the end of Christ’s millennial reign. Death is the last enemy to be put under His feet, the last enemy to be destroyed. Death will be forever swallowed up in life!