1 Corinthians 15:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When this has been proved, the other point clearly follows, namely, that the rest of the dead will also rise. Therefore he rebukes them for doubting this as something beyond question, and asks with astonishment: "If He is preached as risen from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?"

Thus he again casts down the boldness of his opponents. He did not say, "How do you say?" but, "How do some among you say?" He does not rebuke all, and he does not disclose those rebuked, lest he harden them. Yet he also does not hide them completely, so that he may correct them.

Therefore, after separating them from all the rest, he turns against them. In this way, on the one hand, he weakens and strikes them. On the other, he establishes the others in the truth for the struggle with them, not allowing believers to turn aside toward those who were trying to corrupt them.

He prepared to apply a powerful word. Then, lest they should say that Christ's resurrection is known and evident to all and no one doubts it, yet the resurrection of men does not necessarily follow from it, he proceeds further.

They might say that Christ's resurrection was foretold, fulfilled, and attested by appearances, while ours is still only in hope. See what he does. From the other side he again proves the same thing, Christ's resurrection, and by this makes his speech very strong.

"How do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?" For by this Christ's resurrection also is refuted.

But whoever believes in His resurrection cannot fail to believe also in the resurrection of all. Therefore it is natural to ask such people: how could Jesus Christ rise when others can never rise? And from another side: why did Jesus Christ rise if He did not intend, in His own likeness, to raise all who believe in Him from death to eternal life?

In that case one must renounce faith in Christ's resurrection. But this means renouncing all Christianity. It means recognizing the whole Gospel preaching as vain, along with all that was lived through and felt, and the whole grace-filled life manifested among the Corinthians in such a great diversity of spiritual gifts.

More than this: to reject Christ's resurrection and the universal resurrection means to present the Apostles as false witnesses. It means to blaspheme God Himself, who raised Christ and sent the Apostles to proclaim this. Finally, it means to suppose that the work of redemption from sins was not accomplished.

For the chief victory over the father of evil, the devil, was manifested through Christ's descent into Hades and resurrection. If this victory did not occur, then deceased Christians remain defenseless victims of Hades.

Perhaps some earthly Christian hopes remain? But the Apostle has shown earlier that Christians have no glorious earthly hopes, but only labors and struggles. From this side, they are the most pitiable of all people (cf. ch. 4:9-13).

Thus unbelief in Christ's resurrection and in the universal resurrection leads to the most destructive, dangerous, and comfortless conclusions. Faith in the resurrection leads to something wholly different, as the Apostle shows further.

Therefore here is the resurrection of a dead man for you. How then do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? It must be supposed that the meaning of their words was this: the resurrection of the dead is impossible.

By pointing them to an actual resurrection, the Apostle fully refuted them. For if it exists, that is, if it has occurred, then it is possible. Ab esse ad posse valet consequentia, the inference from the actual to the possible is valid.

Blessed Theodoret writes: "We preached, says the Apostle, that Christ is not only God, but also man. For being in the form of God, He took the form of a servant (Phil 2:6-7). And we said that He both died and rose.

"But it is evident that the Godhead is impassible, while the body is subject to suffering. This body Christ delivered to the Cross, and this body He raised from the tomb. Therefore, how, the Apostle continues, can some cast doubt on the resurrection of bodies when we have believed in the resurrection of Christ the Master?"

St. Chrysostom says: "He did not say, 'How do you say?' but, 'How do some among you say?' He does not rebuke all, and he does not reveal those rebuked, lest he harden them. Nor does he hide them completely, so that he may correct them.

"For this reason, after separating them from all the rest, he turns against them. In this way, on the one hand, he weakens and strikes them. On the other, he establishes the others in the truth for the struggle with them, not allowing believers to turn aside toward those who were trying to corrupt them. Against such people he prepared to speak a powerful word."