1 Corinthians 15:32-34 - Do not be misled

15:32

Paul refers to a time when he fought wild beasts. Paul is probably speaking metaphorically, as if he had actually fought wild beasts. This sort of thing did happen in the arena, but the man fighting the wild beasts would die. Moreover, Paul was a Roman citizen, so would not have had to undergo such an ordeal. He is talking about the opponents he faced who were out to kill him. Again, why would Paul submit himself to such dangers if his hopes were for this life only? He then quotes from Isaiah 22:13. If there is no resurrection, then the only rational course of action is to just enjoy this life as much as one can.

15:33,34

It seems that some of the Corinthians were keeping bad company, mixing with those who poured scorn on ideas of the resurrection. They would also be committing various sins. Keeping bad company leads to corruption of good character. They needed to recognise that some people are “ignorant of God”, and so what they say is worthless, and they should not be listened to.

2 Samuel 2:24-32 - This will end in bitterness

2:24-26

Joab and his other brother, Abishai, pursued Abner. They came to a hill, and the men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. Abner calls out to Joab, wishing to avoid further bloodshed. He reminds Joab that they are all fellow Israelites, and that further fighting will only result in more bloodshed. Division and bitterness among Israelites is nothing new. (nor among any other people groups!). 

2:27-32

Joab seems to see sense and agree with Abner. Indeed he congratulates Abner on his call for peace. So Joab blows his trumpet and the pursuit stops. Abner and his men march through the night to Mahanaim. Meanwhile Joab assembles his men and finds that nineteen are missing, but they had killed three hundred and sixty of Abner’s men. Asahel is buried, and they return to Hebron. We will see later that Joab still harboured bitterness against Abner for killing his brother.

1 Corinthians 15:29-31 - If there is no resurrection...

15:29

Paul now introduces some experiential arguments. The first example is rather puzzling, “what will those do who are baptised for the dead?”. Various explanations have been offered. One can be found on Got Questions, which I find utterly unconvincing. If you follow the link you can go and read it for yourself. Schreiner gives a more plausible answer when he says it might refer to the case where a believer dies very shortly after coming to faith, and then someone else is baptised in their place, representing the dead person. The truth is no one has a clue what being baptised for the dead means. The point is, that whatever it does refer to, the practice was utterly pointless if there is no resurrection.

15:30,31

The next example is a lot easier to understand! If there is no resurrection, then why did Paul and his co-workers endanger their lives time and time again? Paul’s life was repeatedly in danger, what would the point be of doing this if there is no life after death, if death was the end? 

2 Samuel 2:15-23 - The battle was very fierce

2:15-17

So there were twelve men from each side. The fight was rather pointless. Each opponent grabbed the other by the head and stabbed them, so all twenty four of the men died. The purpose of the fight was presumably to avoid a major battle, it manifestly failed to do this. A major battle ensued and the Israelites were defeated by David’s men.

2:18-23

Asahel was one of Joab’s brothers and was very fast on his feet. He went chasing after Abner. Abner recognised who was chasing him. He wanted to avoid killing Asahel because he knew the effect that that would have on Joab. So he urges Asahel to give up the chase. Asahel was as head strong as his brother Joab and refused. Abner then had no choice but to kill Asahel.

1 Corinthians 15:28 - So that God may be all in all

15:28

“When He has done this ...” We come here to the question of “subordinationism”, and the “eternal subordination of Christ”. Subordinationism itself is a heresy, making Christ inferior to the Father, rather than being “equally God”. The key to a proper understanding is the difference between the “economic trinity” and the “ontological trinity” or “immanent trinity”. Understanding the difference is also relevant to our lives. The economic trinity, i.e. how things work, does have Christ subordinate to the Father. The “ontological trinity” refers to the essential being, or essential nature, and Christ is in no way inferior to the Father. Likewise a proper understanding marriage follows from this. The husband is the head of the wife, but he is in no way superior, nor is the wife in any way inferior. We also see in what has been said in this chapter, that the subordination of the Son involved Him having authority and doing tremendous things. Likewise, the marriage relationship, functioning as intended, gives authority to both husband and wife, and to husband and wife as a unit. It also enables both husband and wife to flourish.

2 Samuel 2:10-14 - Let's have some young men get up and fight

2:10,11

Ish-Bosheth reigned for only two years. Judah remained loyal to David, and David’s reign in Hebron lasted seven and a half years. It is not necessarily the case that Ish-Bosheth ‘s reign started at the same time that David’s “reign in Hebron” began.

2:12-14

There was now a rather strange encounter between some of Abner’s men and Joab’s men. Abner represented Saul’s side, Joab represented David’s side. Joab is an important and complex figure. The two sides sat on opposite sides of the pool at Gibeon.  Abner suggested that some of the young men from each side fight it out and Joab agreed to this.

1 Corinthians 15:26,27 - The last enemy

15:26

“The last enemy to be destroyed is death”. This is related to the sequence of events. Christ has been raised from the dead, but no one else has. The reason is that there are things to be done, related to the spreading of the gospel and the putting all things under His feet. Once these have been completed the resurrection will happen.

15:27

Paul now adds that the “everything” does not include God Himself, probably meaning God the Father. Now why does Paul say this, as it seems to be a case of stating the obvious, and indeed it is. 

Ps 8:6, talking about man, says:

You made them rulers over the works of your hands;

    you put everything under their feet:

Now just as Israel failed, so all of mankind failed, but in Christ God’s purposes are fulfilled. Israel becomes what she was always meant to be, and mankind as a whole becomes what we were always meant to be.