Structure-- The first eleven verses easily breaks into three paragraphs. The first holding out the tradition of the gospel that has faithfully been handed on and faithfully received and now, that which faithfully sustains the recipients. The second paragraph rehearses the actual "facts" of the gospel, while in the third paragraph, Paul is confronted by the fourth fact of the gospel-the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus-"Last of all, as to one untimely born, he [Jesus] appeared also to me."

Genre--1 Corinthians 15 represents the earliest kergyma of the church, the essence of the truths proclaimed by early Christian evangelists.  These eleven verses are also a piece of personal Pauline apologetics--a circumlocution that eventually leads back to Paul, a defense of his apostleship and thus, his authority.

Context--Paul’s beginning line, "I would remind you . . . suggests some behind the scenes activity; perhaps some slippage has occurred in the Corinthians grasping of the basics of Christianity. Apparently, there is some misunderstanding about what the "official" and orthodox Christian proclamation is. Could also hint at the pneumatikoi, who may have held certain Gnostic views of resurrection and the evilness of the flesh (sarx).

 

If you asked some of your listeners to close the Bible and answer the question, "What is the gospel?" Or "If someone from another faith-tradition asked you tell them core of the Christian faith" what do you imagine would be their response?

Seems this middle paragraph-the rehearsal section-is getting back to the fundamental, Vince Lombardi basics. How could such "basics" improve your own life? The life and faith of the congregation that you are a part of or lead?

How does one respond to this passage? One idea might be this: the power of personal encounters with Christ. Lawyers point out that nothing seals a case like an eyewitness to the event. I think the same kind of claim could be made of Christian faith.

 

Paul mixes testimony with teaching. How might your homily reflect that same balance of testimony with teaching?

The following story might be a great way to bring closure to Paul’s teaching in our lesson.

Perceiving that he was dying, the great leader of Hasidic Jews, said "I have acted as intermediary for you, and now when I am gone you must do this for yourselves. You know the place in the forest where I call to God? Stand there in the place and do the same: light a fire as you have been instructed to do, and say the prayer as you learned. Do all these and God will come."

Shortly afterwards, the great rabbi died. The first generation of followers did exactly as he had said, and sure enough God came as always. After this generation passed, the second generation had forgotten how to light the fire the way the great leader had instructed. Nevertheless, they faithfully made the pilgrimage to the special place in the forest and said the prayer they had been instructed to pray. And, sure enough, God showed up.

A third generation came long who had forgotten how to light the fire and no longer remembered the place in the forest where they should stand. But they said the prayer as the good rabbi had had instructed. And again God showed up.

By the fourth generation, no one was around who remembered how to light the fire nor where the special place was in the forest. Neither was anyone alive who could recall the prayer the rabbi had instructed his followers to pray. But there was one person who remembered the story about the fire, the forest, and the prayer, and delighted in telling it over and over. And sure enough, God came.