This post’s heading reflects Paul’s own logic and argument.
Consider his flow through 1 Corinthians 15:12-19.
We shall take it verse-by-verse, making commentary, underscoring the progression.
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12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
Translation: Paul is saying something like, I have already confirmed through verses 4-8 that Christ’s visible and bodily resurrection has been witnessed by more than 500 persons, and on numerous occasions and in different contexts, so what is the issue?! The Old Testament is clear that two or three witnesses become sufficient, and establish warrant.
The reality of Jesus’s resurrection not only confirms this fact, but creates a category plausibility for others who follow His example and instructions.
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
Translation: Conversely, if Paul takes the opposite assumption as starting point, this removes the category of the supernatural, and rejects the viability of any type of legitimate resurrection, which means Jesus is still dead, and by implication, whatever He proclaimed less than authoritative, and more like comprehensively suspect.
Of course, the reverse is true if the resurrection is fact.
This conclusion is therefore existentially formidable.
If there is no resurrection of Jesus, then Christianity is false, as the integrity of the Faith’s ideas have been anchored through this claim.
But if the resurrection is historically legitimate, then every human being must face up to reality through this fact, and then work back from this starting point to everything else Jesus said!
14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.
Translation: But say, as Paul further works out any Jesus-did-not-rise potential, you need to understand where this faulty assumption will lead—thereby connecting the dots—he is ready to assist.
If Christ has not been raised, this means any ministry completed in His name becomes pointless and meaningless, because it is based on this truth, which is then false.
A vanity O vanity—a chasing after the wind!
15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.
Translation: It is even more than pointless. You have become an accomplice to this deception. Followers of Jesus are guilty of distorting the truth about God.
The bodily resurrection of Jesus is that fundamental!
16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.
Translation: Are you getting Paul’s point? He is driving like an old skool rugby scrum or maul.
He is basically repeating verse 13—making a point.
A totally materialistic and naturalistic explanation of ultimate reality, which removes a supernatural category and possibility of resurrection, is therefore, totally insufficient as an a priori.
This means it is not rationally adequate to ultimate reality!
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
Translation: And there is an even greater personal point. Not only are you distorting the truth about God if there is no resurrection, because Christ has not been raised, you are also living a deceptively pointless fable.
You are still in your sins, which is the very opposite of the goal of the gospel. And you can’t be, in Christ, because Christ was crucified. And if Christ was crucified, this means He died, which requires Him to be brought back to life. He must be resurrected.
Paul is making sure you get the full implications.
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
Translation: And there is collateral damage. It is one thing to be distraught for yourself with the decision you’ve made. You may be able to live with these consequences, and still potentially respond in light, but what about those who have already died?!
The absurdity is overwhelming, whilst the conclusion should be clear.
19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
Translation: Paul is not into participation medals. This type of pat-on-the-back would only amount to a body slam.
No matter in what state, where dead or alive, if being in Christ—a Christian—is based on a false report about the resurrection, this can only amount to some type of perverse therapy, if the bodily resurrection of Jesus is not fact.
This means Christianity would be worth little more than mockery, and Christians should be most pitied!
And that is not a good thing.
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I love Paul’s final line.
You can’t fudge the fact. And you can’t run away from the implications of the resurrection.
And because the bodily resurrection of Jesus is a true historical fact, you could invert verse 19 to something like: “Because the bodily resurrection of Jesus confirms the Christian’s living hope, the non-Christian life is most to be pitied.”
The missional implications of the bodily resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth should be clear!
This also means Jesus’s death was purposeful because Jesus is alive.
And because He rose again, you can be sure every person—in Christ—will follow in that new suit!