1 Corinthians 15:57Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He Himself, Christ, raised the trophy, yet He also deemed us worthy of crowns, not by obligation, but solely by love for mankind.

The Lord Jesus struggled, but the victory has been given to us. It was not by merit, nor as a debt, but by the grace and love for mankind of God the Father, who made us victors through the struggle of His Son.

This crown would not be given to one who is worthy of it, unless mercy had first been shown to one who was unworthy.

But the gracious gifts of God gave us the victory, despite all our guilt. This was not through us, nor through the prophets as our saviors, but through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Apostle speaks here of the Savior’s victory won for our good. The Savior won it not so much for Himself as for us. This victory is ours because He was made as man and remained God. Being sinless, He conquered the devil and brought victory to us, who, because of sin, were held captive by death.

The Apostle ends the chapter with Isaiah’s prophetic words, that one day “death will be swallowed up in victory,” that is, it will be finally conquered. He also uses the words of the Prophet Hosea, that death’s sting will be torn away and Hades deprived of its victory.

After giving thanks to God for the victory over death and sin granted to us through the Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostle turns to the Corinthians with this instruction.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable,” in Christian faith and life, “always abounding in the work of the Lord,” that is, in the work of salvation, “knowing that your labor is not in vain before the Lord.” For there is a resurrection of the dead, and there is a life to come.

The first fruit of the future transformation of bodies will be the destruction of death. The second will be victory over Hades and the devil.

At the same time, the strength of sin will be destroyed, together with all the instruments or means that once stirred it up or restrained it. Such were, for example, the law of conscience and the revealed law.

This law now pierces even to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and judges the thoughts of the heart (Heb 4:12). Then the righteous will shine like the sun, while sinners will be kept in torments (Mt 13:43).

Therefore only one law will then reign: the law of the righteousness of God. The Prophet Daniel foretold this when he said, “everlasting righteousness shall be brought in” (Dan 9:24).

The triumph of victory over death still lies in the future. Yet it is so certain that God has, as it were, already handed it into our hands.

The victory is already at work. In the person of Christ the Savior it has already taken place. By faith we also make it our own, not only in hope, but actively, through participation in the life of Jesus Christ in Baptism and Communion.

Our being torn from the jaws of death is already under way. Firm foundations are being laid for blessed immortality. And all this is through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanks be to God, who was pleased to order all this in such a way.

Saint Chrysostom says here, “Christ Himself raised the trophy, yet He counted us worthy of the crowns, not from obligation, but solely from love for mankind.”