In the 29th verse the apostle returns to the subject directly before him to the 19th verse, for verses 20 to 28 form a parenthesis in which he made known the place in God’s purposes that His Son has and will have as man, consequent upon His cross. Verse 29 closely connects with the 18th verse, and verses 30-32 with the 19th.
The 29th verse has been and is the subject of needless controversy; it involves little difficulty for the simple believer. The nature and meaning of Christian baptism is made clear in Rom.6: it is unto Christ’s death; believers are buried with Him by baptism unto death.
“They... which are baptized for the dead” refers to this primarily, and it appears to take in also the thought of those who are baptized, filling up the ranks of believers depleted by reason of death- their taking the places of those who are fallen asleep in Christ, as new men are brought into a regiment of soldiers to take the place of those killed in battle.
If Christ is not risen, and if dead believers will not rise again, Christian baptism is a delusion; but He is risen, and the dead in Christ shall rise, according to an abundance of Scriptures. Likewise, Paul’s endangering his life constantly (verses 30, 31) for his Master’s sake was folly, unless the dead arise.
The incident at Ephesus referred to in the 32nd verse, takes us to Acts 19:29, and the Apostle here uses a figure of speech.
See the marginal note, which makes the verse read,
“If, to speak after the manner of men, I have fought with beasts of Ephesus, etc.”
They were human beasts, seeking his life because he preached Christ. What advantage was it to Paul that he should have such an experience, if the dead rise not?
In the latter part of verse 32, and in verses 33 and 34, it is made plain that the teaching that the dead do not rise, is a Satanic delusion.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10), is one Scripture out of many that carry the assurance of the resurrection of the body.
“Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die,” springs from the arch-deceiver who would tempt men into the belief that death ends all. Some believers at Corinth, who ought to have been wary of Satan’s wiles, had taken up with this delusion, and as the apostle says,
“Evil communications corrupt good manners.”
We should never give heed to that which is contrary to the Word of God, and in this case it is clear that the corruption of “good manners” was a result of that, in opening the door to the unbridled desires of the natural man. Therefore the word is, (verse 34).
“Awake to righteousness, and sin not!”
Their consciences must be stirred, the path of danger exposed. Some had not the knowledge of God, though at Corinth it was natural to boast of knowledge, as we have seen.
“I speak to your shame”, says the apostle. The knowledge of God is a deeper thing than the knowledge of Christ as your Savior; ignorance concerning Him leads to a careless walk in believers.
It is instructive to observe the wisdom of God in meeting, as in the verses that follow, the curiosity of man.
“But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?” (verse 35).
Natural curiosity is not satisfied in the explanatory verses which follow; indeed it is rebuked in pointing out what the worldly-minded Corinthians well knew. You sow seed, whether in your garden or in the field; it is not quickened unless it dies. Turn back the soil after the seed has germinated, and see, the thing you planted has died.
“And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain; but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased Him, and to every seed his own body” (verses 37, 38). So will it be with the new and eternal body designed of God for His children; but more of this further on in the chapter.
Verses 39, 40, 41 point to the evident fact that God is not limited to the designing of bodies; each species has its own flesh, and there are heavenly bodies and earthly ones, differing in glory from one another. Each body is suited for the particular sphere for which it is made.
Verse 42. “So also is the resurrection of the dead”, that is, of the believing dead; for as we have seen, the resurrection of the lost is not the subject of this chapter. As the bare grain of wheat is sown, and out of its death there grows up a living thing of beauty, yet of the same nature; so, after the same order is it to be with the heavenly saints. The believer’s body is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruptibility. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body (a body which had an animal life from the soul); it is raised a spiritual body; if there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual one. How great is the change that awaits us!