1st Corinthians 15:3-9
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
When last we met here, two weeks ago, we began our look at the third of Paul’s letters, chronologically speaking – his first letter to the church at Corinth in Greece. There were, as usual, complaints that Paul was answering, as well as just general teaching and clarification. If you’ll recall, the major point Paul addressed in the first part of this letter was the scandal of communion – or love-feast as it was called then -- having become no longer a communal meal, but one where the wealthy took all the best parts for themselves and left only the leftovers for the poor and working class – a most un-Jesus-like situation.
Before we move into today’s discussion I want to toss in a reminder about reading scripture. There are those, certainly, who believe that every word is straight from God’s mouth and must be accepted as fact – but we disciples do not count ourselves among that number. It is, in fact, one of the main tenets of Disciples’ faith is that God gave us all brains and we are allowed and expected to use them in our reading of scripture and interpreting what we read.
It is our belief that scripture is the story of the collected wisdom and experience of the church – the body of Christ – at different times in human history. It is not only the writings and traditions but the collective response to same in every time and place. Our task is to read it and determine what is true and applicable for us, here, today.
We are reading Paul’s letters this summer because they were and are so deeply involved in forming what became the Christian faith. We also are reading them to see what actually has relevance to us today – with 2000 more years of shared scholarship and cultural relevance at our fingertips.
There is much in Paul that is good – but there is also a goodly amount of silliness that is simply Paul’s opinion or thoughts that were relevant to his time, but not to ours. In a minute we going to look at Paul’s take on the resurrection of Jesus – certainly an important topic and one that is still hotly debated today. But I want to point out that immediately before this important topic is this little gem:
Before we move into today’s discussion I want to toss in a reminder about reading scripture. There are those, certainly, who believe that every word is straight from God’s mouth and must be accepted as fact – but we disciples do not count ourselves among that number. It is, in fact, one of the main tenets of Disciples’ faith is that God gave us all brains and we are allowed and expected to use them in our reading of scripture and interpreting what we read.
It is our belief that scripture is the story of the collected wisdom and experience of the church – the body of Christ – at different times in human history. It is not only the writings and traditions but the collective response to same in every time and place. Our task is to read it and determine what is true and applicable for us, here, today.
We are reading Paul’s letters this summer because they were and are so deeply involved in forming what became the Christian faith. We also are reading them to see what actually has relevance to us today – with 2000 more years of shared scholarship and cultural relevance at our fingertips.
There is much in Paul that is good – but there is also a goodly amount of silliness that is simply Paul’s opinion or thoughts that were relevant to his time, but not to ours. In a minute we going to look at Paul’s take on the resurrection of Jesus – certainly an important topic and one that is still hotly debated today. But I want to point out that immediately before this important topic is this little gem:
Women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. (14:34-35)
Again, there are those who take this entirely seriously in their churches today. I take it as entirely ridiculous in our “enlightened” times. I include it here today simply to illustrate that we can’t just say, “oh, it’s in the bible so it must be so,” but instead we must read every word thoughtfully and always consider the context of any scripture.
Having reminded ourselves of all that, let’s see what Paul believes about the resurrection. This is one of those issues where people generally have strongly held opinions. Some insist on a full physical resurrection, others understand it to be a more spiritual, metaphorical interpretation, and they all rely on Paul to prove them right. As usual, I’m grateful to Marcus Borg and his thoughts on the issue at hand.
As I said, Paul’s writings form the basis for most Christian theologizing about the resurrection. The whole of chapter 15 (which is a fairly long chapter) addresses Paul’s beliefs. But when I had to choose one bit as our reading for today, one of Borg’s comments led me to choose the reading you just heard. We need to read it carefully and hear what it actually says, not just what we have been taught to hear.
Having reminded ourselves of all that, let’s see what Paul believes about the resurrection. This is one of those issues where people generally have strongly held opinions. Some insist on a full physical resurrection, others understand it to be a more spiritual, metaphorical interpretation, and they all rely on Paul to prove them right. As usual, I’m grateful to Marcus Borg and his thoughts on the issue at hand.
As I said, Paul’s writings form the basis for most Christian theologizing about the resurrection. The whole of chapter 15 (which is a fairly long chapter) addresses Paul’s beliefs. But when I had to choose one bit as our reading for today, one of Borg’s comments led me to choose the reading you just heard. We need to read it carefully and hear what it actually says, not just what we have been taught to hear.
[Jesus] appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve...(OK, this fits what we have read in the Gospels, but then...)
... he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles...(I don’t remember ever hearing any of these stories in the various gospel accounts...)
... Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
Now, as Borg points out, we know that when Paul had his encounter with the risen Jesus it was in the form of a vision, out there on that road to Damascus. A vision – not a physical human person walking into the scene.
So, what does this statement tell us about what Paul believed about the resurrection from the dead? Is he saying that all of Jesus’ post-Easter appearance were visions? Mass hallucinations?
Certainly not hallucinations. Paul speaks all throughout this chapter of the resurrection as an absolute reality – something he believes in with his whole heart and soul – but he ends the chapter in this way:
So, what does this statement tell us about what Paul believed about the resurrection from the dead? Is he saying that all of Jesus’ post-Easter appearance were visions? Mass hallucinations?
Certainly not hallucinations. Paul speaks all throughout this chapter of the resurrection as an absolute reality – something he believes in with his whole heart and soul – but he ends the chapter in this way:
What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body.
He can’t tell us exactly what a “spiritual” or “heavenly body” is but he is clear that whatever it is, is good. It is very good. And it is real.
I especially love the part here that says, It is sown in dishonor, but it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, but it is raised in power. What a beautiful statement on the healing, loving intention of resurrection. Even if the physical body is laid to rest in dishonor, the heavenly body rises in glory. Even if we end in weakness, we will arise in power.
Whatever that means...whatever that means, it means there is healing and life in our union with God after death. In whatever state we may find ourselves – and it will not be the state we live in now -- it will be union with God and there will be love. And really, what more can we ask?
Next week we will look into the Letter to Philemon – the shortest of Paul’s letters – and one I suspect not many of us have really read before.
I especially love the part here that says, It is sown in dishonor, but it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, but it is raised in power. What a beautiful statement on the healing, loving intention of resurrection. Even if the physical body is laid to rest in dishonor, the heavenly body rises in glory. Even if we end in weakness, we will arise in power.
Whatever that means...whatever that means, it means there is healing and life in our union with God after death. In whatever state we may find ourselves – and it will not be the state we live in now -- it will be union with God and there will be love. And really, what more can we ask?
Next week we will look into the Letter to Philemon – the shortest of Paul’s letters – and one I suspect not many of us have really read before.
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