CHAPTER XV.

THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD.

Some of the Corinthians denied the resurreetion of the dead. How does Paul reason with them on this opinion?

3. I delivered unto you first of all, that which I also received; how that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures;

4. And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures. 13. But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen.

17. And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins.

19. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

20. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.

21. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

22. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

How does the apostle anticipate their cavilling questions; such as, How are the dead raised up? and, With what body do they come ?

36. Thou fool! that which thou sowest is not quickened except it die.

37. And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain:

38. But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased Him, and to every seed his own body. 42. So also is the resurrection of the dead: it is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption; 44. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

How does he sum up his argument?

50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51. Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

54. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put 'on immortality; then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory.

55. O death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory?

What is the sting of death; and how is it taken away?

56. The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law:

57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Recite the apostle's exhortation to steadfastness and diligence.

58. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

CHAPTER XVI.

COLLECTION FOR THE POOR.CONCLUDING INJUNCTION.

By what plan does he recommend the Corinthians to exercise that measure of benevolence, which, from the bounty of Providence, they owed to the poor?

1. Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

2. Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered bim, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Repeat the apostle's general injunction at the conclusion of this Epistle.

13. Watch ye-stand fast in the faith-quit you like men-be strong.

14. Let all your works be done with charity.

SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL THE

APOSTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS.

CHAPTER I.

ENCOURAGEMENT UNDER AFFLICTION.

Recite those expressions of encouragement under tribulation, with which the apostle commences his Second Epistle to the Corinthians.

3. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

4. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

5. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. Are not Christians exercised with poverty of spirit, that they may learn to trust in God?

9. We had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.

Wherein did the apostles rejoice under their trials ?

12. Our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our

conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world.

CHAPTER II.

COUNSEL RESPECTING THE PERSON WHO HAD BEEN

EXCOMMUNICATED.

What counsel did Paul give to the Corinthians concerning the excommunicated person?

6. Sufficient to such a man is the punishment, which was inflicted of many.

7. So that, contrariwise, ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him; lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch

sorrow.

8. Wherefore I beseech you, that ye would confirm your love toward him.

CHAPTER III.

THE APOSTLES' QUALIFICATION FOR THE MINISTRY.—THE SUPERIORITY OF THE GOSPEL TO THE LAW.

To what did the apostles attribute their suffi ciency and qualification for the ministry? 5. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves,