1 Corinthians 15:30Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Verses 30-31. "Why do we stand in danger every hour? I die daily, by the boasting in you, brethren, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord" (1 Cor 15:30-31).

See by what else he seeks to confirm the dogma: by his own resolve, or rather, not by his own only, but by that of the other Apostles.

And this is no small proof: to point to teachers who are fully assured of the truth and confirm it not only by words, but also by deeds.

Therefore he does not simply say, "We also are persuaded of this." That alone would not have been sufficient for persuasion. Rather, he presents proof from deeds and speaks as though saying this:

If you do not accept as proof of the resurrection the verbal confession made by those being baptized, then you have testimony in deeds also. For all we apostles are continually in distress. But if there were no resurrection, why would we endure distress? For what pleasure? If someone decides to suffer distress out of vainglory, he may decide to do so once. But the hourly endurance of distresses, as we endure them, is the greatest proof of confidence in the resurrection.

He mentions the dangers and labors of the preachers, saying: why are we also in danger? It is understood that this is for the coming resurrection, which he mentioned above. For they are certain that true life will follow death here. They do not fear dangers from unbelievers, and they suffer from the zeal of persecutors only because they believe that these men have destroyed themselves. Paul shows his anxiety, which he nourishes through concern for the salvation of men for the sake of the glory promised by the Lord. For this reason the Apostle hastened and always took care that his glory before God might increase through the multiplied salvation of many people.

“Every hour.” “Perhaps someone might decide, out of vainglory, to suffer once or twice, but not for an entire life, as we do,” says the Apostle. “We apostles have devoted our whole life to the work of preaching,” as Chrysostom says.

Second, denial of the truth of the resurrection of the dead would declare vain all the labors and struggles of the Apostles for the planting of Christianity. Speaking of his hourly afflictions and daily dying for the preaching of Christ’s name, the holy Apostle Paul adds: “according to human reasoning, when I fought with beasts at Ephesus. What benefit is it to me if the dead do not rise?” That is, judging in human terms, was it worth it for me, for the success of my preaching, to undergo so many persecutions and troubles, even the danger of being eaten by beasts at Ephesus? Would it be worth it if all my struggles had to end in an unwaking dead sleep and disappearance in the grave?

The thought of baptism with faith in the glorious future life closely touches the thought of Christ's suffering life on earth. Therefore the Apostle now turns to it as to a new argument for the necessity of faith in the universal resurrection.

The Apostle speaks of his own labors and sufferings, since they were especially great. He especially should have avoided them if he were not striving for the heavenly crown.

Yet everything he says about himself clearly applies to all Christians, as is evident from what was said earlier, in verse 19 and then in verse 30.

To prove the complete untenability and absurdity of the false teaching of those who deny the future resurrection of the dead, the holy Apostle points to the destructive abyss to which this false teaching would lead.

St. Paul takes his second persuasion from the self-denying apostolic labors in preaching the Gospel, to whose subjects the dogma of the resurrection of the dead also belongs.

He speaks as though saying: how could we have resolved to endure calamities, deprivations, and deaths, if the Gospel were not tangibly certain, and in it the truth of the resurrection, after which a radiant recompense awaits those who labor in the Gospel?

This is unthinkable.

"See by what else he seeks to confirm the dogma: by his own resolve, that is, by his readiness for every calamity and death. Or rather, not by his own only, but by that of the other Apostles.

And this is no small proof: to point to teachers who are fully assured of the truth and confirm it not only by words, but also by deeds.