Eschatology In 1 Corinthians
By : Michael J. Sullivan
Copyright 2007 Michael J. Sullivan
(TLM Editorial note: This material has not been edited yet nor completed. Some of this has been cut and pasted from other projects I have been writing. Lord willing I will get some time in the near future to finish and edit this so it flows better. Hopefully, you can still get edified from the material that is here – as is).
1) 1 Corinthians 1:5-8: “that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Corinthians were “eagerly” awaiting or “waiting expectantly” for Christ’s return because they were taught by Christ Himself that He would return in their generation and in some of their lifetimes. This waiting expectantly was further confirmed by the inspired apostles to be an “at hand” and “about to” event for some of them to experience (Rms.8:18-23YLT; Phil.3:20-4:5; Heb.9:26-10:25, 37). Of all the gifts (charismata) that were given to the Corinthian church, they prized speaking and knowledge the most. Paul will later warn the church that these were not given to them so that they could divide the body and be puffed up; but just the opposite–to edify/buildup and unite the corporate body. Here Paul reminds them that the gifts of the Holy Spirit and Christ Himself would “confirm them unto the end” so that they would be “blameless” or “guiltless” when Christ returned for them. As I have covered before, one of the purposes of Jesus sending the Holy Spirit was to serve as a miraculous “defense” in times of persecution before His return in their generation. This would be when the rulers of their old covenant “this age” sought to condemn and bring “guilt” or “blame” upon them by dragging them before rulers and kings (1Cor. 1:20; 2:6-8; Mt.10:17-23; Mt. 24; Acts). I believe Paul’s use of Isa.29 within the immediate context bears this as the emphasis to be (cf. Isa. 29:20-21). The charismata served its “confirming” purposes in the “last days” as both a defense in times of persecution and to empower and bear witness through signs and wonders in fulfilling the great commission and bringing a close to the end of old covenant age in A.D.70 (Mrk.16:17-20/Mt.28:18-20; Acts 2).
In this same chapter Paul instructs the Corinthians that the wicked of their old covenant “this age” were “perishing” while they were being “saved” and quotes (Isa.29:14) as the judgment he is alluding to. Paul is consistent with Jesus who used (Isa.29:3) to be teaching the imminent judgment of A.D. 70 as virtually all futuristic commentators would concede in (Lk.19:43-44; Mt. 22:7). Or how about (Mt.15:8-13/Isa.29:13)? When were the Pharisees pulled up by their roots and judged? Jesus had already taught that the weeds to be pulled up are referring to the judgment at the end of the old covenant “this age” and the disciples understood his teaching (Mt.13:24-30, 39-43, 51). Paul is not using the judgment concerning their old covenant “this age” in (Isa.29) any differently than Jesus did in the gospels! If Paul is, then the burden of proof is upon Mr. Mathison to demonstrate otherwise. This solidifies the imminence in this chapter. But there is one more point. Paul closes chapter 1 with a quote from (Jer.9:23) which in context, is a judgment upon the desolation of
In chapter 2 Paul quotes (Isa. 64:4-66) to describe the “things” and “glory” God had been preparing for the Church 2:7-10. The “glory” of these “things” are the new creation and New Jerusalem. This is not describing a judgment for the wicked or salvation for the church at the end of time because according to the prophecy of Isaiah, evangelism continues in the new creation and is the purpose of it being established! Paul goes on to teach in this chapter that the realities of the new creation are spiritual and can only be discerned by Christians whom have been given the mind of Christ. Paul will now tell us when these new creation “things” will fully come.
2) 1 Corinthians 3:22: “Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things about to be—all are yours,” (1Cor.3:22 YLT, note similar language to Rms. 8:38).
Here it is clear that the “glory” and “things” of the new creation (2:7-10/Isa.64-66) were “about to be” theirs and realized at Christ’s return just addressed in chapter one or “the Day” of judgment in (vs.13)! In chapter 3 Paul is combining the Garden of Eden and
In chapter 4 we have another mention of the second coming and judgment that has been addressed in the previous context (vs.5/4:13, 1:7-8, 18-19). In chapter 5 we have but yet another mention of the second coming to chasten or judge a contemporary in their church in 5:5. Here is now an example of a professing member of the corporate Body/Temple who’s actions are defiling the new covenant temple mentioned in
3) 1 Corinthians 7:26-27, 29-31: “I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress––that it is good for a man to remain as he is: Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.” “But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.”
The persecutions and distress predicted by Christ to be coming within their generation in (Lk.21:12-17, 23) was a “present” reality to be faced by Paul and the Corinthian church.[2] Because Christians would be martyred for their faith it was not a good time for widows or widowers such as Paul (vss.7-8) or virgins either “bound” by a promise of betrothal or a virgin seeking to be married, to marry. However, Paul said that to marry was not sin for any of these parties whom may be burning and seeking companionship with other believers in the Lord (vss.27-28, 39-40). Paul’s statement, “the time is short” and the “form of this world is passing away” has to do with an imminent coming and judgment of the Lord that has been discussed up to this point in the letter. The “world” that was passing away in Paul’s day is not referring to the second law of thermal dynamics in referring to the passing of the literal dirt and rocks, but rather the old covenant world identified with Promised Land and temple. Those who “bought” land needed to live as if they did not “posses” it (vs.30), because it would soon be made desolate in the coming wars with the Jewish factions and the war with
4) 1 Corinthians 10:11: “Now all these things happened to them as examples (or “types” DARBY), and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”
The NCV translates the text, “…They were written down to teach us, because we live in a time when all these things of the past have reached their goal.” The NLT, “…They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.” And although mello is not in the text, the GNT has the right idea as far as imminence is concerned, “…For we live at a time when the end is about to come.” Some have translated “age” in the plural “ages” which is fine too. The Jews did understand that there were previous ages (the ages of Abraham & David for example) that fell underneath the umbrella of the one Mosaic old covenant “this age” that would precede the Messianic new covenant “age to come.” Paul is developing the new exodus motif and in no uncertain terms is saying that he and his first century audience were living at the close of the old covenant age and therefore was “about to” 3:22 inherit the new covenant things prepared for them through the prophets (2:9/Isa.64-66). Mathison nor any of the authors of WSTTB? offer any kind of exegesis of the passage which at this point is no surprise. This is obviously an imminent time text and no where is there any exegetical evidence to insert a delayed concept of the end or double fulfill or insert two different ends of the ages (one in A.D.70 & the Christian age) into the text! Some translations render “ends” and “ages” in the plural, but again these fall under the umbrella of the one Mosaic old covenant age. Since other postmillennial partial preterists such as Gentry, Jordan, and DeMar concede that the new covenant age came into a “consummated” or “inaugurated” form with the passing of the old covenant age/world in A.D.70, the text nor our critics can have Paul discussing the end of the new covenant age which had just begun and was about to come in its fullness with the then present passing of the old which was ready to disappear (Heb.8:13)!
In chapters
5) 1 Corinthians 13:8-12: “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
At this time I would like to develop the consummation of the marriage theme a bit more as the time of the resurrection, “the end,” and parousia of Christ within the previous context leading into Paul’s discussion of the resurrection and “the law” (1Cor.13-15). This will likewise entail the related subject of when the miraculous gifts of the Spirit ceased. Mathison only mentions (1Cor. 13:10 & Ephs. 4:13) in stating that “hyper-preterists” believe the “perfect has come” but offers NO exegesis of his own on these passages (WSTTB? p.xiv).
Isa.52:8/1Cor.13:10-12/Rev.21-22:4 Connections
1Corinthians 13:8-12 teaches that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit would “cease” at Christ’s return to bring in the New Creation – “that which is perfect.” Mathison fails to acknowledge that he and the reformed community as a whole, have not responded in any kind of exegetical way to Preterists or the Charismatics within his own Reformed community such as John Piper on this passage. Mathison is silent on this text. John Piper graciously mocks the attempts of his fellow reformed theologians such as Richard Gaffin when he writes,
“There is no text in the New Testament that teaches the cessation of these gifts. But more important than this silence is the text that explicitly teaches their continuance until Jesus comes, namely, 1 Corinthians 13:8-12.
So the key question is: When does the “perfect” come which marks the end of the imperfect gifts like prophecy? The answer is plain in the text if we follow Paul’s line of reasoning. Verse 8 says, “Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away” (RSV). Why are these gifts temporary? The answer is given in verse 9: “For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect.” So the reason these spiritual gifts are temporary is their incompleteness or imperfection.
How long then are they to last? Verse 10 gives the answer: “When the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away.” But when is that? When does the perfect come? The answer is given in verse 12: “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood.” The “now” of incompleteness and imperfection is contrasted with the “then” of seeing face to face and understanding even as we are understood.
“So the answer to the question of when the perfect comes and when the imperfect gifts pass away is the “then” of verse 12, namely, the time of seeing “face to face” and “understanding as we are understood.” When will this happen?
Both of these phrases (“seeing face to face” and “understanding as we have been understood”) are stretched beyond the breaking point if we say that they refer to the closing of the New Testament canon or the close of the apostolic age. Rather, they refer to our experience at the second coming of Jesus. Then “we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2) The phrase “face to face” in the Greek Old Testament refers to seeing God personally (Genesis 32:30; Judges
This means that verse 10 can be paraphrased, “When Christ returns, the imperfect will pass away.” And since “the imperfect” refers to spiritual gifts like prophecy and knowledge and tongues, we may paraphrase further, “When Christ returns, then prophecy and knowledge and tongues will pass away.”
Here is a definite statement about the time of the cessation of spiritual gifts, and that time is the second coming of Christ. Richard Gaffin does not do justice to the actual wording of verse 10 when he says, “The time of the cessation of prophecy and tongues is an open question so far as this passage is concerned” (Perspectives on Pentecost, p. 111). It is not an open question. Paul says, “When the perfect comes [at that time, not before or after], the imperfect [gifts like prophecy and tongues, etc.] will pass away.”[3]
Obviously, there are some problems with how reformed theologians defend that (1Cor.13:12) teaches the cessation of the gifts while at the same time admitting that the text refers to the second coming. The reformed community oddly looked to Richard Gaffin Jr. to go into a written debate with Pentecostals and Charismatics stating,
“Such knowledge will not cease until the arrival of “perfection” (v.10), at Christ’s return;81 only then, in contrast, will full “face to face” knowledge by ours (v.12).” In n.81, he states, “To argue, as some [Kenneth Gentry] cessationists do, that “the perfect” has in view the completion of the New Testament cannon or some other state of affairs prior to the Parousia is just not credible exegetically.”[4]
And now our opponent, Kenneth Gentry’s “exegetically un-credible” interpretation:
“But verse 10 speaks of something which was coming, which would contrast with the piecemeal, bit-by-bit revelation of that age. That which was to supercede the partial and do away with it was something designated “perfect.” “But when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.” It is difficult to miss the antithetic parallel between the “partial” thing and the “perfect” (“complete, mature, full) thing. Since the “partial” speaks of prophecy and of God” (Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr., The Charismatic Gift of Prophecy A Reformed other modes of revelational insight (v.8), then it would seem that the “perfect,” which would supplant these, represents the perfect and final New Testament Scripture…” “In other words, there is coming a time when will occur the completion of the revelatory process[5]
So far Richard Gaffin, a reformed theologian, states that Gentry’s exegesis is not “exegetically credible” all the while giving the farm away to the Charismatics by admitting the text finds its fulfillment at the second coming. Now one of my former charismatic Pastor’s Chuck Smith, considers Gentry’s view or exegesis as “expositional dishonesty” and “prejudicial blindness-not at all scholarly or conclusive” and on this point I would agree:
“The idea that the Greek word teleios, translated “perfect,” referred to the full Canon of Scripture did not occur to some of the greatest of all Greek scholars from the past century. It is more of an invention or creation of recent vintage to counteract the modern tongues movement. Thayer, in his Greek-English Lexicon, says of teleios as used in 1 Corinthians 13:10, “The perfect state of all things to be ushered in by the return of Christ from heaven.” Alford, in his New Testament for English Readers, says of it, “At the Lord’s coming and after.” When the only Scriptural basis for rejecting the validity of speaking in tongues rests on such a questionable and tenuous interpretation of the Greek word teleios, which was wrested from the context in which it is used, one has to sincerely challenge the expositional honesty of such scholarship. To be kind, I will say that, at best, it is prejudicial blindness-not at all scholarly or conclusive”[6]
Since charismatics offer a better exegesis than Gentry and the rest of our reformed opponents, I will allow them to make our case on “that which is perfect”:
“There is not a single verse in the Bible where the Greek adjective teleios (“that which is perfect”-1 Cor.
1) Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end [telos] come.
2) 1 Corinthians 1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end [telos], that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
3) 1 Peter 4:7 But the end [telos] of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 4) Revelation 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega , the beginning and the end [telos].
“The related… verb form of teleios is teleioo, “to perfect.” It is used 24 times in the New Testament. And, as with its companion word teleios, not one usage of teleioo refers to the completed New Testament. In fact, the only instance that is even remotely connected with the Scriptures is John 19:28: “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were not accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled [made complete or perfect], saith, ‘I thirst’.” This verse is not talking about completing the Scriptures by writing them, but rather by fulfilling them. To be ‘completed’ in this sense, the New Testament will have to be fulfilled. This will not happen until the
The above charismatic argument is exegetical but fails to acknowledge that Jesus taught that: 1) all the Scriptures would be fulfilled when 2) He returned in power and great glory, which was when 3) the kingdom would come in 4) His “this generation” (Lk.21:22, 27, 31-32).
In (1Cor.13:10) Paul develops the marriage motif as he does throughout his letters. His expression of “knowing” God and “being fully known” by Him is clearly an intimate knowing leading to that expression in the marriage union (
When
All futurist positions (Charismatics or not) are very reluctant to connect this “face to face” seeing in (1Cor.13:12) with the transformation and seeing God through a mirror in (2Cor.3-4). The reason being, the contrast of covenants and the passing of the old (which demand an A.D. 70 fulfillment) and the spiritual and metaphorical seeing of God is not a literal or biological seeing in (2Cor.3-4). Charismatics are just as afraid to make the connections as are reformed cessationalists. One would think that the exegete and student of hermeneutics would want to find similar themes and language elsewhere used by Paul (especially to the same church at
In (1Cor.13:8-11) prophecy, knowledge, and tonuges are described as supernatural gifts that were “in part” (not fulfilled), a child maturing into manhood, and would thus be done away when that which is perfect comes to fulfill and complete that which was “in part” and would thus bring to maturity the child state. This “in part,” (unfulfilled) and child like state of maturing, is described as “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.” Therefore, the child was growing into maturity and manhood by viewing the “face” or image of this “perfect thing” in a mirror (1Cor.13:12). This Greek word for “perfect” is teleios and means to bring to maturity, to reach the goal, bring to its end, finished. These miraculous gifts were brought about by the Holy Spirit in
In 2 Corinthians 3 & 4, the old covenant glory is described as the fading glory of Moses face. The old covenant glory in and of it’s self was incomplete in that it could only bring death (2 Cor.3:6). Therefore, “the glory” of this system was “passing away” (2 Cor.3:11) because the glory of the new covenant system was in the process of fulfilling the old. It is only at the end of this overlapping of covenantal ages that the old glory is done away by the new fulfilling and completing it. The mirror theme is likewise present here,
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2Cor.3:8)
In context it is clear what the earlier church was beholding in a mirror:
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2Cor.4:6)
In Context, this transformation from “glory to glory” and beholding the Lord’s face has to do with the transformation of the old and new covenants and this transformation has nothing to do with a fleshly resurrection transformation finding it’s fulfillment in the after life! It is addressing a period in which the old and new covenants are existing side by side and we know when the old would pass and all of the promises to
“Those who want “the complete thing” of verse 10 to be the state of eternal glory argue that the first clause of verse 12 is referring to seeing Christ in a dim way throughout this life and that the second clause speaks of seeing Christ face to face in a literal sense in heaven. Such as interpretation is dubious, however, for two reasons. First, it takes the “dimly” (ainigmati) of the first clause figuratively, but the “face to face” (prosopon pros prosopon) of the second clause literally; a more consistent approach to the intended contrast seems preferable. If we thought that the object of the verb blepomen (“see”) were Christ, we should note that the concept of seeing Christ face to face occurs elsewhere in the Corinthian letters in a figurative sense (2Cor. 3:18; 4:6).”[9]
Gentry apparently is afraid to bring up (2 Cor. 3 & 4) in regards to seeing Christ’s face in
this text and not only doesn’t cite the passage, but tries to lightly brush off the idea,
“The most that can be said is that God as the object of seeing must be inferred” (ibid. p.57).
My friend and editor David Green, has produced a good chart on the harmony of these passages given to the Church at
“In both passages Paul speaks of certain things being nullified and other things remaining: In II Cor. 3:7-14, he tells us that the old-covenant world was in progress of being nullified (done away), and in I Cor. 13:8-11 he predicts the nullification (doing away) of the revelatory gifts. Is it unlikely, in view of this initial comparison, that the “childish” (I Cor.
In I Cor.
Note also the striking parallel between I Cor. 13:12 and II Cor. 3:18: In I Cor. 13:12, Paul says that the Church of his day was seeing (God) “in a mirror,” but that when “That which is perfect” (mature) would come (cf. Eph.
In II Cor. 3:18, Paul reiterates what he said in I Cor. 13:12, saying that the church of his day, though worshiping God with “unveiled face,” was yet seeing Him only “as in a mirror,” and was in progress of being transformed into His Image. There should be little question that the predicted seeing of God “face to Face” in I Cor.
Now when we attempt to harmonize the teachings of I Cor. 13:8-13 and II Cor. 3:6-18, we find that the two passages are in truth complimentary dissertations on a common New-Testament theme; and that theme is covenantal transformation:
Old-Covenant Age (Moses – A.D. 30) |
Covenantal Transformation (A.D. 30-70) |
New-Covenant Age (A.D. 70 – Forever) |
Old-covenant imposed |
Old covenant being nullified |
Old covenant/revelatory gifts nullified |
Veiled faces |
Unveiled face, as in a mirror, transforming |
Face to Face |
Slave-Child (Gal. 4:1-7) |
Adopted Child (I Cor. 13:9-12; Gal. 4,4,5) |
Man (I Cor. |
New Covenant prophesied |
New Covenant ratified in Jesus’ blood and old passing Heb.8:13/Heb.9:8/Heb.10:25, 37 |
New Covenant remains/faith, hope, love remain |
One can see the difference between the traditional Reformed position offered by Kenneth Gentry and his inability to allow Scripture to interpret Scripture and our view in refuting Charismatic and Pentecostal false teaching.
We shall now examine another text in which the same Greek word is used for “perfect” in (1Cor.13:10) and note some parallel themes once again:
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect (Greek teleios as in 1Cor.13:10) man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;” (Ephs.4:11-13)
This “perfect” thing is to be the goal, maturity, and fulfillment of something that is described as developing into manhood (1Cor.13:11). The “perfect” and “stature of the man” is the bringing to maturity the body of Christ – the Church. This same concept is described as the “unity of the faith.” Both in 1Corinthians (1Cor.10:16-17; 1Cor.12:13; & 1Cor.15:28) and throughout Ephesians (Ephs.1:22-23; Ephs.2:11-16; Ephs.3:3-6) the maturing and bringing to fullness the new covenant Body of Christ is described as the unity of Jew and Gentile – when God would be “all in all.” Paul both describes this Jew / Gentile unity as “the unity of the faith” and earlier in the context as “the mystery” (Ephs.3:6-9). The fulfillment of “the mystery” was the fulfillment of the Great Commission, which was a near sign of Christ’s parousia which Paul defines as “Christ in you the hope of glory”:
“if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Cols.1:23-27)
This maturity process of the “perfect man” (the Church – Body of Christ) was the “mystery of Christ” in which both Jews and Gentiles would become fellow citizens and be mutually built up as the new covenant temple:
“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a HOLY TEMPLE in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Ephs.2:19-22).
In (2 Cor.6:16) Paul quotes and refers to (Ezekiel 37:25-28) as seeing Israel’s new covenant temple being built up spiritually as the Body of Christ – the Church. Peter likewise taught this in fulfillment of the Psalms and prophets as did the Jerusalem council witnessing the Gentiles being baptized into the Holy Spirit and thus partaking of Israel’s promises (Acts 4:11/1Pet.2:4-10; Acts 15:8, 16-17). As the Holy Spirit was poured out and enabled the Israelites to erect the tabernacle in the wilderness, the Holy Spirit was poured out in a miraculous way in order to build up the Church into a living temple, tabernacle, or dwelling place of God whereby He would be “all” (all of the promises of God) and “in all” (Jew & Gentile)” (Ephs.1:13-14; 22-23; 1Cor.15:28). It is not only inconsistent but not exegetically sound to say that the Church is still in its maturing infant state and at the same time claim that the gifts have ceased. Nor is it proper to claim that the Church has reached maturity by the completion of the cannon. In Paul’s theology, it is not the writing of prophecy of “that which is perfect” or the bringing to maturity of the “perfect man,” through the giving of the Scriptures, but rather it is the fulfilling of those prophecies and Scriptures that brings the maturing man to his face to face completion. All of these concepts of the maturing of the Perfect Man/Church and seeing “face to face” point us to the second coming of Christ where Christ would dwell in His people in the temple and new Jerusalem. In studying our word “perfect” and staying with this theme of the temple we shall now cover one last passage in the NT where telios is used.
“And the lesson which the Holy Spirit teaches is this—that the way into the true Holy place is not yet open so long as the outer tent still remains in existence. And this is a figure—for the time now present—answering to which both gifts and sacrifices are offered, unable though they are to give complete freedom from sin to him who ministers. For their efficacy depends only on meats and drinks and various washings, ceremonies pertaining to the body and imposed until a time of reformation. But Christ appeared as a High Priest of the blessings that are soon to come by means of the greater and more perfect (Greek telios) Tent of worship, a tent which has not been built with hands—that is to say does not belong to this material creation” (Heb. 9:8-11WEY).
Once again we encounter the “perfect” (Greek telios) in the context of contrasting the old covenant with the new. In this particular context in Hebrews, it is a contrast of covenants either in the form of the old covenant tabernacle/temples contrasted with the new covenant temple that was in the process of soon to come, or that the old covenant represents the Holy Place while the new covenant is represented by the Most Holy Place – in which complete access was “soon to come.” Also the theme of seeing God’s face is implied since when access into the
“the first tabernacle—the anterior tabernacle, representative of the whole Levitical system. While it (the first tabernacle, and that which represents the Levitical system) as yet “has a standing” (so the Greek, that is, “has continuance”: “lasts”), the way to heaven (the antitypical “holiest place”) is not yet made manifest (compare Heb
Some Greek scholars do support that the text is communicating that the old covenant had an “imposed” “legal” “standing” (symbolized by the presence of the
6) 1 Corinthians 15
Since David Green will be giving an more detailed exegesis of 1Corinthians 15 in our book in response to Strimples chapter, my comments will not be brief. Mathison has appealed to (1Cor.15) quite a bit in his chapter which was supposed to be devoted to developing imminence. However as we saw in Romans and in Corinthians, Mathison has mastered the art of avoidance. Mathison claim of (Hos.13:14) “…the restoration of Israel is spoken of in terms of resurrection from the dead (Ezk.37:1-14; Hos.6:1-2; 13:14).” (WSTTB? p.160). Since Mathison appeals to (1Cor.15) (WSTTB?, pp.183-184, 192-193, 203) in order to prove an alleged casket resurrection at the end of time, a putting down of all evil/enemies/the devil, along with the restoration of creation; I will address some issues in (1Cor.15).
Mathison correctly believes that the time of
Hosea: The Outline for Paul’s Resurrection Hope!
Hosea |
1 Corinthians 15 |
Hosea 6.1-3: “He has torn but he will heal, After two days He will raise us up.” |
Christ rose 3rd Day according to the Scriptures Paul introduces Hosea at the very beginning of his discourse– and he closes his discourse by quoting Hosea |
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Except a Seed– “That which you sow is not quickened unless it die” (Jhn. 12) |
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You do not sow that which shall be (v. 37) That which you reap is not what you sow–that which is spiritual is not first, but the natural |
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It is sown a natural body (v. 42f) |
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As we have borne the image of the earthy |
Harvest appointed for |
Jesus the first fruits (Jesus of |
Time of the harvest= resurrection (13.14) |
Resurrection when Hosea fulfilled ( |
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Christ the first fruit of |
They transgressed the covenant (6.7; they died, (v. 5; 13.1-2, 10)– Death for violating the Covenant |
The strength of sin is “the law.” (15.56)–Death for violating the Law
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New Covenant of Peace ( |
15:25– sit at my right hand…Heb. 10:14f– time of the New Covenant (Rm. 11:26f)– The marriage, thus, the Covenant —>Rv. 19:6 |
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End of the ages has arrived (10.11), “then comes the end (15.20f) Christ on the throne (15.24f) |
Hosea 13:10- I will be your God. I will be your king! |
1 Corinthians |
Resurrection= restoration to fellowship |
Resurrection when “the sin,” the sting of “the death, removed.” |
Therefore, the exegete needs to examine the context of Hosea, and ask what “death” is Hosea concerned with and how and when does Paul say Hosea’s prophecy of death being overcome will take place? And what of the other eschatological corporate and covenantal themes that are present in Hosea? Does the N.T. posit a fulfillment in A.D. 70 or a 2,000+ years of a “delayed” (Heb.10:37) fulfillment?
Yet none of these O.T. texts Mathison appeals to are describing physical corpses coming out of the ground at the close of history! Mathison admits these texts are describing “national resurrections” which were metaphorically described, but believes the N.T. authors use them in a totally different way than their original contexts state – individual biological resurrections at the end of time. We also acknowledge an O.T. type of these restoration and resurrection texts being partially fulfilled in the O.T. with there N.T. anti-type fulfillments being the focus of debate. But the main difference between our view is that our exegesis has more continuity in honoring the O.T. context and developing the corporate and spiritual fulfillment that Jesus and the N.T. authors give them than does the futurist paradigm.[13] This is further supported by honoring the N.T.’s time frame of fulfillment. Typological national resurrections and gatherings back into “the land” of
The “already and rising” of the resurrection Body in (1Cor.15)
“The grammar of this sentence is somewhat puzzling…” “The sentence literally reads, “The last enemy is being destroyed.”
There is nothing puzzling about this when we realize that the body that is in the process of being raised, transformed, and restored is the Church or the new Israel of God. There is likewise no confusion over the last enemy of “the death” being destroyed during Paul’s day when we realize that this death was being produced and magnified through Israel’s old covenant Torah – “the law” or “administration of death” (1Cor.15:56-57; 2Cor.3). Wherever “law” has the definite article “the” in front of it – as it does here in 1Cor.15:56, it is referring to
“The emergence of the second theme regarding the law, however, seems to have no real antecedent in this letter.”[15]
This is an amazing statement! Did not Paul state of his teaching, “Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:” (Acts 26:22)? And throughout Acts was not Paul’s teaching on the resurrection defined as “the hope of
Paul’s Consistent Use of words, terms, and language
Remember Reformed theologians Tom Holland and how he understood Paul to have a system of theology and terms and phrases that he used throughout his letters?
“Can Paul’s rationale be discovered, or is there no overall system of theology that Paul draws on?” “Also, it seems quite inconceivable that a man of Paul’s intellectual caliber should be so haphazard as to be indifferent to these alleged inconsistencies. At Paul’s instruction, his letters were being passed around the churches (Col. 4:16). Was he not concerned with consistency?”[16]
If the new corporate covenant body of Christ or new Israel is described as “the new man” in the process of putting off the old man, a child growing to maturity or manhood, a temple being built up, then there shouldn’t be a problem with the body in (1Cor.15) as in the process of being sown and rising up! And since Paul does not use his terms of the unholy trinity of “the sin,” “the death,” and “the law” in Romans to be referring to a casket resurrection at the end of time, neither does Paul intend to use them in (1Cor.15:56) in this way. “The death,” who’s power was given through “the law,” which was in the process of “being destroyed” in Paul’s day, was the defeat of “the [spiritual] death“ Adam brought to man and which Christ defeated for those found “in Him” through faith.
I am encouraged with
Exegetically, within the immediate context of (Isa.25:8), one cannot separate the time of the Messianic wedding (pictured here with the feast that followed the wedding) and destruction of the old covenant law (vss.6-7)! Jesus clearly tells us that the Messianic feast/wedding/resurrection would occur when
How many N.T. eschatological weddings/resurrection feasts are there to occur at the destruction of
According to Mathison and Gentry, “
“Chapter 19. Revelation 19:1-6 is a glorious vision of rejoicing in heaven over the judgment of God upon
Mathison misses that the “final redemptive act in the entire complex of events” includes the consummation and marriage of the new covenant wife, which necessitates the resurrection! There is rejoicing not just because of the destruction of God’s old covenant Bride/Jerusalem, but because the judgment and destruction of the old marks the time of the wedding/consummation of the New! Contrary to Mathison and Gentry, the “present age” for the Church is not the betrothal “inaugurated” period, but the consummation and feasting phase of the “age to come.” Through the death and resurrection of Christ along with the dieing of the believers to the old law, God broke the legal bond between Satan (the former husband) and those He came to redeem under the power of the death, the sin, and the law in order to take His wife (Rms.5-7). At this stage in redemptive history, the Church began breaking free from these enslaving powers and was betrothed and purchased with a dowry payment (the blood of Christ) to her new husband (2Cor.11:2; Eph.5:22-27). During this Jewish betrothal period Christ was considered her “husband” just as Joseph was considered Marry’s “husband” (Mt.1:19) even before their consummation. Because of his dowry down payment (of the Holy Spirit) they had entered into this legal first phase of their marital covenant. Paul in the Corinthian letters is filled with new exodus and marriage themes as we have seen. Paul’s statement, “you were bought at a price” in (1Cor.6:13-20) is not referring to slave purchase but to wife purchase according to
Mathison assumes what he needs to prove of Paul quoting (Isa.25:8) to be “the ultimate destruction of evil and the restoration of creation.” Paul is using the Isaiah quotation in the way it was used in the O.T.– to be referring to a corporate resurrection for the remnant [the Church] of
Mathison’s postmillennial partial preterism causes him to eisegetically invent two different trumpet calls, gatherings, and parousias of Christ in (Mt.24-25) and (1Cor.15/2Thess.2:1/1Thess.4) which are exegetically grounded in the O.T. prophecy of (Isa.24-27:13) — which again Mathison conveniently avoids. Therefore according to Mathison, the trumpet call, the parousia, the judgment, the de-creation and gathering in (Mt.24:1-34) are metaphorical and spiritual events fulfilled in A.D. 70; but some of the same motifs and events described in (ICor.15/1Thess.4) are allegedly literal and concern the “restoration of [literal] creation” and the resurrection of corpses at the end of time. This has to be the worst case of “Scripture interprets Scripture” that we have ever seen!
Paul’s Theology and Use of the O.T.
As we have seen Hosea is a contemporary of Isaiah and both prophets discuss God divorcing
Futurist Richard Hays, lists a couple of observations that are pertinent to our study when he exhorts his readers to study the overall context of an OT quote or allusion (“echo”) made by a NT author:
“Thematic Coherence How well does the alleged echo fit into the line of argument that Paul is developing? Does the proposed precursor text fit together with the point Paul is making? Can one see in Paul’s use of the material a coherent “reading” of the source text? Is his use of the Isaiah texts consonant with his overall argument and/or use made of other texts? (Hays, ibid. p.38)
“Satisfaction Does the proposed intertextual reading illuminate the surrounding discourse and make some larger sense of Paul’s argument as a whole? “…A proposed intertextual reading fulfills the test of satisfaction when we find ourselves saying, “Oh, so that is what Paul means here in passage x; and furthermore, if that’s right, then we can begin to understand what he means in passage y and why he uses these certain words in that place.” (Hays, ibid. p.44)
I could not agree more with the above quotes. It is sad though that Mr. Hays does not apply his own interpretive principals when Paul refers to (Hos.13) and (Isa.25) in (1Cor.15). We must ask “what in the world does a biological death and thus a future casket resurrection of believers have to do with overcoming “THE LAW” and “THE DEATH” in (1Cor.15:54-56) per Hays and all futurists interpretations?!? How has physical death been in the process of being destroyed for over 2,000 + years now (1Cor.15:26)? Shouldn’t we analyze the resurrection from “death” and issues of law in (Isa.25:7-8)? Does “death” in Isaiah have anything to do with biological death and thus a casket resurrection from it? Even within the theological context of Isaiah’s little apocalypse (Isa.24-28) does
Previously in discussing the corporate resurrection or the “redemption of the body” and the creation that was groaning in Romans 8 as OC Israel, I quoted N.T. futurist scholar Tom Holland where he emphasized that Romans 5-7 was addressing two corporate bodies one “In Adam” and another “In Christ.”
Paul’s theme’s of being in a corporate body, whether in “Adam” or “Christ” in (Roms.5-6) and (1Cor.15) and being raised in the likeness of Christ or experiencing deliverance from “law” (Adam in the garden) or “THE law” (Israel groaning under the Mosaic law) in (Roms.5 – 8 & 1Cor.15) has nothing to do with a casket resurrection from biological death for believers. This is a soteriological resurrection from the spiritual death we inherited from Adam and this spiritual death was magnified by the giving of “THE law” to
Paul in referring his readers to (Isa.25:7-8) in (1Cor.15:54-56) is discussing the covering of the OC law and the spiritual “death” that it brought and magnified. Again, I must ask if physical death is man’s ultimate enemy and the focus of his resurrection in (1Cor.15) then how has it been in the process of being destroyed under Christ’s reign now for over 2,000 + years (1Cor.15:26)?
Paul in using the seed analogy in (1Cor.15) is echoing the context of Hosea and explaining how Israel would be eschatologically transformed, restored, and raised in the NC at Christ’s return in A.D. 70 when “the law” would finally be fulfilled. In the meantime as the OC law was in the process of passing away and being destroyed, so too was the spiritual death it magnified (1Cor.15:26; 2Cor.3; Heb.8:13). The time of the harvest, “gathering,” fruit bearing and blossoming of this resurrected Israel of God is at the end of the OC age in which Jesus lived and predicted the end of (Mt.13; Mt.24). The “death” and “sowing” that Hosea is addressing is a spiritual corporate and covenantal death not an individual biological corpse death that would be defeated. (These 7 points were inspired by Don Preston’s tape series on Hosea: eschatology.org)
1Corinthians 15:1-15
Paul lays forth the historical resurrection of Christ in the beginning of the resurrection conflict at Corinth NOT because the resurrection deniers at Corinth denied Jesus’ resurrection, but because the Gentile Christians were pridefully and ignorantly denying the resurrection of a Jewish sect – in a similar fashion of what Gentile believers were doing in the Church at Rome (see Romans 11). One group or party was denying the resurrection of the other. The schisms of the various groups at
The gospel message was not just united and agreed upon in the preaching of Christ’s resurrection by all parties, but both groups were undoubtedly taught that the “about to be” resurrection was rooted in Israel’s promises or as Paul would proclaim throughout his preaching tours – “the hope of Israel.” And it was this concept that the gentile believers were becoming puffed up in and loosing sight of (as in the Roman Church Rms.9-11) when it came to
Perhaps some of their misunderstandings and arrogance began as early as (Acts18) when they heard Paul say, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” I believe that a misunderstanding of Paul here and perhaps some of his teaching that gentiles were one body with the Jews and that a true Jew was one who had been circumcised of heart led to a denial of Jews in the near future resurrection. After humbling himself and showing his solidarity with the Jewish leaders in preaching the same doctrine, Paul now begins to correct their error.
1Corinthians
Paul uses the belief and agreed upon “common ground” of Christ’s resurrection with the resurrection deniers to prove that they could not logically “…say that there is no resurrection of the dead” (v.12). Again, it was not Christ’s resurrection that they denied, but it was how His resurrection guaranteed the resurrection for a certain group – the Jews (“the dead”) is what Paul seeks to correct. Since the resurrection deniers affirmed with Paul that: 1) Christ rose, 2) Paul’s preaching was NOT in vain, 3) their faith was NOT in vain, 4) Paul and the Apostles were NOT false witnesses, 5) they were NOT still in their sins, and 6) that those Christians who had recently died WOULD NOT perish, 7) they were to NOT be pitied of all men – Paul uses these agreed upon points to prove that the group whom they were denying resurrection for – “the dead” needed to be affirmed and corrected. If it was not corrected then by logic and the teaching of the gospel, they would need to deny the seven above affirmations they claimed to believe along with Paul.
1Corinthians
Paul is going to now further his argument in inseparably tying Christ’s resurrection with that of
What seems to be missed by most exegetes is that Christ’s death and resurrection entailed much more than just a physical and biological death and resurrection. Just as “flesh” and “spirit” within Paul’s writings entails much more than just physical skin and bones of individual bodies, but refers to the two covenantal modes of existence – the OC being that of a corporate body of “flesh,” “death,” and “sin,” and the NC being Christ’s body of “spirit,” “life,” and “righteousness;” so we must understand Christ’s “death” to be not merely a biological death and resurrection (of which it was), but an overcoming of the spiritual death and separation that came through the first Adam. In this sense Christ’s resurrection was truly the “first” by way of being the “firstfruits” or the “firstborn from among the dead” (Cols.1:18). God had raised many in the past but Christ was the “first” in that His resurrection overcame the spiritual death that Adam brought about in the garden and was thus the only one qualified to usher in the process of eternal life. Spiritual death entailed separation from the Father and that is what Christ was made and experienced in some way on the cross in “becoming sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2Cor.5:21).
It has been traditionally argued that Jesus’ resurrection was the “first” in the sense that He had a “glorified body” that was able to defy the laws of the natural realm of which we one day will get as well. “Won’t it be cool to fly and be able to do things this natural body can’t do now” is unfortunately the traditional understanding of Jesus’ resurrection body in relation to the continuity of believers. Those who argue this, point to the fact that Jesus’ post resurrection body apparently went through walls and appeared and disappeared to the disciples for 40 days etc. However, Jesus’ body before His resurrection also defied the laws of natural realm by walking on water and walking through crowds etc. So this restricted and traditional understanding of a Jesus’ death and resurrection in relation to the “likeness” that Christians were in the process of partaking of and would at the harvest – I do not believe this is Paul’s point here in (1Cor.15) or in his other writings on the death and resurrection of Christ (such as Rms.5-6). Jesus rose on a biological level for evidential purposes, as was the case and purpose of all His other miracles, but they all were signs that He had the power to forgive sins and thus overcome man’s ultimate enemy/death – spiritual death and separation from God.
As I quoted earlier in my points on the resurrection in (Rms.8) in quoting NT and Pauline theologian Tom Holland as stating: 1) the major problem in the NT is the Jew Gentile oneness (arrogance and misunderstanding between each of the parties) and the Judiazer threat to that oneness, and 2) Paul has a well developed and consistent use of terms, phrases, and concepts that he uses throughout all his letters to the churches. Both of these now come into play here in (1Cor.15). I along with others argue that what Paul teaches on the “likeness” of Christ’s resurrection to that of believers in (Rms.5-6) and his “in Adam” or “in Christ” teaching is in essence what he is teaching here in (1Cor.15).
The “end” here in this section is the same “end” as that of (Dan.9:24-27) which Jesus taught would come in His generation (Mt.24:1-34). It is the end of Christ’s millennial reign whereby He was ruling over His enemies (Ps.110:1 – primarily the Pharisees Mt.23) that had rejected Him and were persecuting His body – the Church. The last enemy was spiritual “death” that was brought about by Adam and magnified by OC Mosaic “the law” (1Cor.15:26/56). In the New Jerusalem there are no more gentile militaristic kingdoms that can assail and trample under foot the heavenly city/kingdom for in her city all God’s enemies and theirs have been conquered. At the “end” of this pre-second coming reign of Christ, He would deliver the kingdom up to the Father and it’s process of being changed (2Cor.3) would be complete and consummated into it’s heavenly form. God would now be “all in all” in that He would satisfy every need of both Jew and Gentile when He and the Son came to indwell and make their home in the hearts of believers (Lk.17:20-21ff.; Jn.14:2-3, 23, 29; Cols.1:27).
1Corinthians
Paul’s point on baptism is in essence – why are you even baptizing since it is a sign that Israel “the dead” is going to be restored and raised if you don’t think Israel is going to be raised? And if
Although Paul’s physical persecutions are involved in his argument, the greater reality though was that he and the Jewish believers (the “we”) were “dying daily” to the OC age so that the gentile believers (the “you”) could experience life (2Cor.4:11,12,14 – “us” Jews and the “you” gentiles).
1Corinthians
Much has been said and debated in recent years in regards to Paul’s use of “body” (Greek soma) in his various letters. Many would insist that the “body” being sown and raised here in this section is strictly an individual corpse of decaying flesh raised and united to the spirit at the end of time when Christ comes again. As I sought to point out in my section on the resurrection and new creation in (Rms.8) many are beginning to see Paul’s Hebraic mindset as being rooted in the OT Scriptures and see a resurrection into a corporate body of Christ which is a newness of life in the Spirit within the NC creation. These concepts are being seen and developed in the book of Romans but have not fortunately been applied to Paul’s theology here in (1Cor.15) and (Rms.8) because of futuristic biases imposed upon these passages.
In Paul’s seed analogy the seed is sown first and then the process of dying and rising simultaneously take place. Most try and see the “natural body” being “sown” here as ones physical body. However, this cannot be because in that case the physical body dies first and then is planted in the earth. In Paul’s illustration the seed or “natural body” is sown in the ground while still alive and undergoing a dying and rising process. Some have taken notice of Paul’s words and have admitted that the sowing comes before the dying and so they claim that it is the process of man’s physical birth and death in this world that covers the “sowing” process. However, it is the Jews or Paul’s “dying daily” process that is involved and not man’s physical death or the process of man’s physical existence that constitutes the sowing and death that Paul has in view here.
The Natural Body
In the rest of the NT and within 1Corinthians it’s self, “natural” does not have the meaning of a fleshly body or physicality:
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1Co
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.”
(Jas 3:15)
“These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.”
(Jude 1:19)
The point of contrast is not the physical substance of man but rather man’s relationship to God under the realm of a covenant of death or being filled with the Holy Spirit walking in the newness of life under the NC.
Summary of the imminence and eschatology in 1 Corinthians. An imminent second coming of Christ, judgment, and end of the age are inseparably connected throughout these letters to the Corinthians. What is also inseparably connected to the second coming and judgment is the confirming and cessation of the charismata/gifts by A.D.70. The Hebraic mind and the Corinthians were well aware of the corporate body concept within Judaism. Even within Paul’s first letter long before we get to (1Cor.15) the corporate body theme permeates the letter. We agree with such scholars as Tom Holland that Paul was concerned with “consistency” in his use of various terms such as “the body” and “the sin” “the death” and “the law.” We also agree with such theologians as Richard Hay’s and G.K. Beale that tell us we need to pay attention to the O.T. context and theology when a N.T. author cites an O.T. passage. Hermeutically, I believe I have honored the Olivet Discourse as being the foundation to the imminence in both Romans and 1Corinthians and at the same time have honored the contexts and theology of O.T. passages quoted in the new. It is Mathison’s non-exegesis of very important passages and his “shallow” mention of others that continue to be a problem for him as we make our way through the N.T. time texts.
[1]
[2] DeMar, Last Days Madness, ibid., pp. 29, 323 n.21. See also Gentry, Before Jerusalem Fell, ibid., p.235n.8.
[3] John Piper, http://www.desiringgod.org/library/topics/spiritual_gifts/signs_wonders.html, emphasis MJS)
[4] Multi-authored debate Edited by Wayne A. Gruden and Stanely N. Gundry, ARE MIRACULOUS GIFTS FOR TODAY?, debated by: Richard B. Gaffin Jr. (Reformed Cessationalist view), Robert L. Saucy (Open but cautious view), C. Samuel Storms (Third Wave View), and Douglas A. Oss (Pentecostal/Charismatic View), p.55, Zondervan pub., 1996, parenthesis and emphasis added.
[5] Kenneth L. Gentry Jr., Response to Wayne Gruden, pp. 53-54, Foot Stool Publications, 1989, emphasis added.
[6] Chuck Smith, Charisma vs. Charismania, p. 122-123, Harvest House Pub., 1983.
[7] Donald Lee Barnett, Speaking In Other Tongues: A Scholarly Defense pp. 176, 178-179, emphasis added.
[8] Special thanks to Don Preston for showing me the (Isa.52:8/1Cor.13:10) connection.
[9] Victor Budgen, THE CHARISMATICS and the word of God a biblical and historical perspective on the charismatic movement, p. 80, Evangelical Press Pub., 1989, emphasis added.
[10] David Green, “A Response to With Unveiled Face By Richard Leonard http://www.preteristcosmos.com/unveiled.htm
[11]Jamieson, Robert ; Fausset, A. R. ; Fausset, A. R. ; Brown, David ; Brown, David: A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments.
[12] Don K. Preston, 2005,
[13] Richard Hays, The CONVERSION of the IMAGINATION Paul as Interpreter of Israel’s Scripture, pp. 38 & 44, Eerdmans pub., 2005. See “thematic Coherence” and “Satisfaction” heremeutical questions one should be asking O.T. texts which are quoted in the N.T. Hays needs to practice what he preaches when it comes to Paul quoting Hos.13 and Isa.25 in 1Cor.15 and likewise needs to demonstrate how Christ’s parousia brings an end and fulfillment to Israel’s old covenant law/Torah at the end of time and history.
[14] Gordon D. Fee, THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS, p.756, Eerdmans pub., 1987, emphasis added. For a more detailed explanation of the Greek here please see, Sam Frost, Exegetical Essays On The Resurrection of the Dead, pp.47-65, Truth Voice pub., 2004. Although I agree with Sam on many things I do not share his ecumenicalism such as the Pope being a “brother in Christ,” or support the views of the publisher of Sam’s book.
[15] Richard L. Pratt, Holman New Testament Commentary I&II Corinthians, 272, Holman Reference pub., 2000.
[16]
[17] He even totally ignores them in his book on Postmillennialism.
[18] Mathison, ibid., Postmillennialism An Eschatology of Hope, pp.152-153.
[19] Mathison, ibid, p.154.