kingdomready.org

For many years one of my favorite chapters in the NT Scriptures was the Apostle Paul’s famous Chapter 15 of 1st Corinthians. It is commonly referred to as “The Resurrection Chapter” with good reason. Throughout the entire chapter Paul preaches the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah, and directly because of and in the pattern of his resurrection, his followers would also be eligible to be resurrected in the future.

But before I go any further, I am compelled to explain an interesting personal tie-in with this. Last May my wife and I were blessed with the birth of our first child after man years struggling with infertility issues. Our wonderful little girl was born on May 23rd last year. Several weeks later in June, I was reading an email from Dr. John Roller (who BTW is an expert on the subject of Conditional Immortality - see a video from him on the Death is Sleep page, or read this excellent article from him). While reading Dr. Roller’s piece, I began looking up some Resurrection verses in my study bible. And while doing so went back through 1 Corinthians 15 and noticed something - something perfectly fitting. In Chapter 15 I have several favorite verses but verse 23 is particularly telling (for reasons I will go into detail next). But while doing all of this, it dawned on my that my 1st child, was born on 5/23 (15:23). It still brings a smile to face and makes remembering that verse all the more easy for me.

But how does 1 Corinthians 15 refute BOTH the errors the Trinity and the Immortal Soul? Well, here’s how.

Paul goes into great depths in the chapter to explain that you can’t NOT have a Resurrection of the Dead since Jesus himself (the cornerstone of the faith) was resurrected from the dead. In verses 12-19 Paul argues that if there’s no Resurrection of the Dead, then the Messiah himself wasn’t raised from the dead. And if he wasn’t raised, then their/our preaching and faith is in vain - worthless. We’re still doomed in our sins and everyone who dies believing in Jesus is still lost and quite pitiful of a person. But Jesus WAS raised from the dead. And because he was and was (as Paul directly refers to him) the “FIRST fruits” of those who are asleep. Then we too will be resurrected from that “sleep” as well.

If people had immortal souls that lived on past death, then none of Paul’s forceful argument here would make sense. It wouldn’t make sense to tie Jesus’ resurrection in with OUR resurrection. It wouldn’t make sense to call Jesus’ believers who have died “asleep“, AND to say that they should be considered “perished” (Ver. 18) if there is not resurrection of the dead. But it gets even better.

Starting in verse 20, Paul calls Jesus “the first fruits of those who are asleep”. And adds the direct comparison of the two literal “Sons of God” - Adam and Jesus (ver. 21). Then comes the killer blow to the immortal soul belief in the next two verses. Let’s look at them in full (NASB):

15: 22 “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”

15: 23 “But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,”

In case you missed the the irrefutable time statements, I bolded them for emphasis. Verse 22 tells us that those that are Christ’s WILL BE made alive - meaning that this is something to occur in the future. Then the kicker comes in Verse 23 (my favorite for “multiple” reasons) when the time of WHEN those believers “will be made alive” is shown. Let’s all say it together…….”AT HIS COMING“! Not before he comes, not at the moment each of us die, but AT HIS COMING.

Paul then repeats this with unmistakable clarity once again later in the chapter in Verse 52. Again Paul shows us the time of our return to life with the phrase - “at the last trumpet“.

Now what about the trinity refutation? That one is easier, but is even more ironclad. Jesus can’t be a member of a coequal “Godhead” because of verse 28. Take a look for yourself:

15:28 “When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.”

Jesus can’t be God or equal with God if he is subjecting himself TO God. If he was God why would he subject himself to himself? Why would the God the Son subject himself to God the Father if they are both equal and both of the same “substance”. It just doesn’t work. And I have yet to hear a truly logical explanation of how 1 Cor. 15:28 fits a triune Godhead belief.

Sure there’s a TON of other evidence all throughout Scripture against the Immortal Soul belief (esp. Eccl. 9:5) and the Trinity belief (e.g. John 17:3, 1 Cor. 8:6). But none so perfectly wrapped up together in one single chapter!