Fought with the Beasts at Ephesus 1 Corinthians 15:32

Paul the apostle continued to tell the church members in Corinth about the “resurrection of Jesus Christ” as he wrote, “I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily”, and in chapter fifteen and verse thirty-two of First Corinthians, Paul asked the church members in Corinth what “advantage” he had when he, “fought with beasts at Ephesus”, where we read:

If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantages it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

The verse begins, “If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantages it me, if the dead rise not?” Paul began with the words, “If” or “whether” “after the manner” which means “down from, through out and according to the ways” “of men” or “of human beings whether male or female” “I have fought with beasts” which means “Paul contended with wild beasts or furious men” “at Ephesus” which means “permitted” and was “a maritime city of Asia Minor, capital of Ionia and under the Romans, of proconsular Asia which was situated on the Icarian Sea between Smyrna and Miletus”, “what advantages it me” or “what profit or accumulated benefit or gain was it to Paul”, “if the dead” which refers to “forasmuch as or whether that those who are have breathed their last, are lifeless, deceased, departed, destitute of life and inanimate” “rise not” or “are not aroused, made to appear, raised or stirred up”? Paul rhetorically asked what “benefit” or “gain” it was to him when he “contended” with furious people in Ephesus if there was no “resurrection”.

The verse goes on to say, “let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.” Paul added the words, “let us eat” which means “let Paul and the church members consume meat or food” “and drink” which means “and imbibe”; “for to morrow” which means “because the next day or soon” “we die” or “Paul and the church members shall be as those who are have breathed their last, are lifeless, deceased, departed, destitute of life and inanimate” as well. If there is not a “raising of the dead”, then Paul and the church members might as well “eat and drink” to their heart's content, because there is no hope but to “die”.

When we consider these words from Paul, we see how gives further argument to the “resurrection”. His contention with the people of Ephesus would have been useless and without meaning if there is no “resurrection” (See Acts 19), and furthermore, he and the church members should just “enjoy” “meat and drink” because they were to “die” soon. Jesus Christ wants us to know about the “resurrection” that is waiting for those who believe and trust in Him. Though “death” is certain for all, those who give their lives to Jesus Christ shall be “resurrected” is as well. The idea of the “resurrection” is worth contending with “beasts”.

Next time Paul shares with the church members how, “evil communications corrupt good manners”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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