PMW 2025-056 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr..

In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul carefully and abundantly compiles a list of analogies that are important to understand. These underscore and accentuate the fact that our very mortal bodies in which we now live will be raised to new life and transformed into glory. Thus, he promotes a resurrection that involves continuity and discontinuity: continuity by involving the fleshly body in which we live on earth and discontinuity by enhancing the body’s power. He does so in such a way as to underscore and accentuate the truth that it is the “self-same body” that dies which is raised. And this is despite current-day neo-Gnostics in the hyper-preterist movement [1] who see our buried bodies as eventually being wasted away but that will be replaced with bodies composed of ethereal spirit material. Hopefully this theological fad will soon burn out and those caught up in it will repent and return to historic, orthodox Christianity.

A SUMMARY OF PAUL

In this regard, note the following summary analysis of 1 Cor. 15:36–41:

1. It is the God-designed goal of seeds to develop into plants, just as it is the God-ordained goal of our mortal bodies to be raised to immortal life (vv. 36, 38).

2. Just as in the botanical world, which serves as the source of Paul’s analogy, the very seed that is planted in the ground and dies in the earth will be raised to life again (vv. 36, 38).

3. The remarkable development of a living plant arising from a dead seed is a reflection of the miraculous power of Almighty God to raise our dead bodies at the resurrection (vv. 37–38).

The Truth about Salvation By Ken Gentry

A study guide for personal or small group Bible study. Deals with the Christian doctrine of salvation from a Reformed theological perspective. It opens with a study of God as loving Creator, the shows how the first man fell into sin. Shows God’s righteousness requires that sin be dealt with. Presents Jesus as both God and man so that he can be man’s Savior. Includes review questions and questions for further study.Twelve chapters are ideal for one quarter of Sunday School.

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4. Just like the barren seed planted in the earth eventually rises as a plant with beautiful flowers and leaves, so our mortal bodies planted in the earth will be raised and transformed into a state of magnificent glory at the resurrection (vv. 37–38).

5. Paul’s illustration of the differing kinds of flesh in the natural world (the flesh of men, beasts, birds, and fish) point to the different qualities of our physical flesh that we will receive in our final glorified, immortal, honorable resurrected state.

6. In his wisdom, God gives each seed the appropriate resulting plant (flower, tree, etc.), just as he gives to each of the astral bodies its own particular glory. Likewise at the resurrection our mortal physical bodies will be physically raised as glorious bodies designed for life in the consummate order (vv. 38, 40–41).

7. Finally, we should note that the visible glory of the sun, moon, and stars all prefigure God’s own glory (as often in the Old Testament), which glory will be granted to us, body and soul, as we finally enjoy the complete fullness of union with God in finality and perfection (vv. 40–41).

THE POWER OF GOD

In antiquity the idea of bodily resurrection of decomposed bodies was deemed philosophically and physically absurd. Some cultures believed in life after death, but not a physical, bodily life. Ancient philosophers would often deride the notion that a decomposed body consumed by animals could be reconstituted, made whole, and live again. They believed this on the basis of “the wisdom of the world” (which Paul warns against in his first four chapters).

Why I Left Full-Preterism (by Samuel M. Frost)

Former leader in Full Preterist movement, Samuel M. Frost, gives his testimony and theological reasoning as to why he left the heretical movement. Good warning to others tempted to leave orthodox Christianity.

See more study materials at: KennethGentry.com

But Jesus has responded to this extreme difficulty in Matthew 22 where the Sadducees are mocking him for his belief in a resurrection. Jesus’ response is the same we should give to the Gnostically-inclined preterists who deny a physical resurrection of the body: “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matt. 22:29).

Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 15:35, the proto-gnostic problem at Corinth is presented in two questions: “But someone will say, ‘How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?’” Paul immediately begins his response with: “you fool!” (v. 36). To balk at the resurrection based on its supposed impossibility is foolishness in the eyes of God as Paul will prove in the following verses (as I have just summarized above).

Paul opens his letter with the warning that God has made foolish the wisdom of man (1:20). And now in 1 Corinthians 15 Paul reaches his goal in exposing the foolishness of man in light of the wisdom and power of God. The resurrection is the ultimate exposure of the foolish wisdom and knowledge of man who does not know the power of God. Some within the church at Corinth deny the resurrection and even its possibility, thus they “have no knowledge of God” so Paul must speak “this to your shame” (v. 34).

THE EVIDENCE AVAILABLE

We must remember four important contextual cues in 1 Corinthians 15:

First, the whole matter of the resurrection (beginning with Christ’s resurrection) lies at the heart of and is the foundation to the saving gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:3–4), which must be held fast or else their faith is in vain (15:1–2).

Second, the resurrection of Jesus was a physical resurrection of his body that could be touched, because it has “flesh and bones” (Luke 24:39) and it left behind an empty tomb (John 20:1–2) where it was laid (John 19:40–42).

God’s Law Made Easy

(by Kenneth Gentry)

Summary for the case for the continuing relevance of God’s Law. A helpful summary of the argument from Greg L. Bahnsen’s Theonomy in Christian Ethics.

See more study materials at: www.KennethGentry.com

Third, Paul reminds the Corinthians that they know Jesus was physically resurrected because they have the testimony of Cephas (Peter), James, and all the apostles (1 Cor. 15:5–7). And he appeared to 500 brethren at one time, of which most of them are still alive and could be contacted for confirmation by the Corinthians (15:6).

Fourth, Jesus’ resurrection is the “first-fruits” that promise our own like resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20, 23). And just as the first-fruits of a wheat harvest betoken a full wheat harvest of the same nature and kind, so Jesus’ resurrection assures us of our own like resurrection.

Furthermore, we must note that Paul insistently declares that it is the deceased body that is raised to new life, not a different body given to the deceased soul of the departed:

“For THIS perishable must put on the imperishable, and THIS mortal must put on immortality. But when THIS perishable will have put on the imperishable, and THIS mortal will have put on immortality” (1 Cor. 15:53–54).

Despite the neo-Gnostics among us today, there will be a corporate (not individualistic) resurrection of the bodies of believers at the return of Christ at the end of history. And that body will be a physical body that is raised and transformed into a glorious body — for “the Lord Jesus Christ … will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself” (Phil. 3:21).

NOTE
1. By “hyper-preterist” I am not narrowly referring to those who call themselves “full” preterists. Rather I am referring to anyone who follows the “full preterists” in denying the three R’s of eschatology: the denial of the future, physical Return of Christ, the future, physical, corporate Resurrection of the body, and the ultimate glorious Renewal of the created order. The hyper–preterist movement is in much disarray today, even debating among themselves what they believe. We must understand that it is the KEY issues involved that are heretical and crucial to understand. It is not each-and-every point of those who originally called themselves “full” or “consistent” preterists. Some are trying to escape the onus of heterodoxy pointed out by orthodox believers and are tinkering with their publicity machine. However, some gladly defy historic biblical orthodoxy, by teaching such things as we will even sin in heaven, because this is our nature (our sin was not caused ultimately by Adam). For instance, see: https://www.reformation.blog/p/how-shall-we-then-live-doesnt-matter

Dispensational Distortions
Three Lectures by Kenneth Gentry. Reformed introduction to classic dispensationalism, with analysis of leading flaws regarding the Church, kingdom, redemptive history, and Christ. Helpful for demonstrating errors to dispensationalists.

See more study materials at: www.KennethGentry.com