The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-13
SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK.
ELUCIDATION AND REVIEW OF IN
TERNATIONAL LESSON, APRIL Ia.
The Resurrection of Jesus, as Told
by the Apostle Paul in First
Corinthians, Verses 3-I4.

BY REV. JAMES e. GILBERT, d. D.,
Secretary of the American Society OF Re-
ligious Education.
students of these lessons are requested
to send to DR.. Gilbert, Washington, D. c.,
their names. denomination and postoffice
address fer enrolment in the office of the
society, mentioning this paper, that docu-
ments on Bible study may be mailed to
.hem)
DIGRESSION.-Suspend once more the
narrative of the life of Christ, the lesson
committee has appointed for our study d
passage in one of Pauls epistles. The mo-
tive for this depression is commendable-
to provide theme appropriate to the day.
Easter Sunday, commemorative the resur-
rection of Christ, ought to be observed
in all branches of the Christian church.
and the students of Sunday schools
should have part in that observance. One
cannot refrain from questioning, however,
whether il would not have been better so
to arrange the gospel study so that the
story of the resurrection, now set for June
2. should fall on this day. AS it is, our
lesson is not commemorative, and there
fore hardly appropriate. 1t presents the
resurrection, not historically. but doc
trinally, as it was discussed in the church
in the middle of the first century. Still,
ing to US.
CORINTH.--The city of Corinth was the
Vanity Fair of the Roman empire, the
London and Paris of the first century. 1t
was famous for dishonesty, debauchery and
drunkenness. The church established there
soon fell into the dissolute life of the
world q Cor. V, u, and, usually occurs.
lowered its doctrinal standards to suit its
practices. psalm xiv, H. The conduct of
men is generally regulated by their belief.
Paul wrote to correct those evils. That
letter, now lost CT Cor. v, 81, was ted
by the church. which questioned his au-
thority and arranged themselves in fac
lions protesting to be followers of other
teachers. q Cor. iii, A.. In the epistle
from which our lesson is taken, strictly
speaking the second, Paul endeavored to
assert his apostolic character and main
tain his control over the church which he
had founded acts xviii, d. and at the
time to set forth more fully those teachings
which would lead to reforms. 1t was writ
ten from Ephesus. A. d. So, and was re-
ceived with favor but it did not fully ac-
complish its purpose, making a third (our
second) letter necessary.
ARGUMENT.-Paul evidently believed
what theologians of the last century held,
that sound doctrine is the sure support of
right living. Rom. xvi, I'D Hence. in. this
letter he discusses twelve different sub
jects in very thorough manner, expecting
to gain purpose only by means of truth.
always argumentative, addressing the I'M
derstanding, and not the emotions. Rom.
xiv, Sd Nor is this ALL He makes life
beyond the grave the chief theme. Learn
ing that some doubted the resurrection
Il Cor XIV, I'D, he summons his best pow
NJ ma n
that he is destined to live again, and that
fact must be taken into consideration in
life. Il Cor. XIV, So That line of thought
occupies the chapter, of which the passage
set for our study forms only small sec
ton.
ANALYSIS-Th lesson is a defense of
the fact of the resurrection. 1t is treated
under four heads. The first verses and H.
shows how it was preached by Paul. The
second, verses to 10, shows how the res
direction o. of jesus us was a attested by those
that it had been believed by the. Corin-
sents it an essential doctrine of Chris
tianity. This orderly arrangement of Paul $
thought will be best appreciated by those
who read the entire chapter, observing
how, from conclusions reached here, he
proceeds to the elaboration of other points
involved, with a logical precision and force
that are irresistible. 1t is not surpris-
ing that on completing this theme he brings
his epistle to speedy close, for nothing
more was needed, the resurrection being
admitted to it's rightful place in the doc
trines of the church
PREACHED.-The manner in which the
feStb was % as e put
1t was delivered by Paul at his first APP
pearance among them verse -, and did
something added (Acts xviii, I'D to the first
teaching. Second it was part of a sys-
TEN Of truth, expressed thus that Jesus
that He arose again the third day. verse
that the doctrine. in question formed
,ort Of 1n%A rI,N14 tad t. \
so preached it because he had himself re-
ceived it directly from Christ (verse 81, re-
feerring, doubtless. in part to the instrue-
but chiefly to the subsequent disclosures
qI Cor. xii, d., and claiming. therefore. au-
thority in religious truth. Fourth. and
finally, he had sustained the doctrine by
rection of Jesus had been foretold In this
he may have quoted and explained several
passages. psalm xvi, 10, IL; Isaiah lii, 10
I'D This method of his early ministry he
claimed, was such as to inspire their con-
fidence.
ATTESTED-But he proceeds to show
further in proof that Jesus was seen after
worthy witnesses. He does not mention
all, nor proceed in order. but states that
Peter rd say saw Him duke xxv 3D. and after tn
twelve. Oohn Xxx, 1920 This allusion was
designed to influence those who held the
first apostles in superior regard. Later he
was seen by 'above five hundred brethren
at once" some of whom were still living
tVerSe %, and could TESTIFY (Matt. xviii
&c. 10, and afterward by James alone 1.-THE
time not known. and finally by all the
apostles a second time. duke xiv, ST.
Not content with his array of witnesses
Paul declares verse s. that he had seen
Jesus. (Acts TX, So In referring to himself
he is humbled because he prosecuted the
church (verse 81 before his conversion
(Acts tx, u, on which account he not
worthy to be called an apostle. But this
fact was all the greater evidence that his
vision of Jesus was deluSion, rendering
his testimony the more valuable
BELIEVED.-He then calls the Corinthi-
ans to remember that they had once be-
lieved this doctrine (verse III, which now
some of them attempt to reject. The preach
ing so faithfully done, and the ample tes-
tiYnony of living witnesses had carried con-
viction to their minds. (Gal i, g. Whether
because he preached because the other
apostles taught, it is now no matter, they
once rested in this great doctrine. That
was an important pont. 1t was designed to
recall them to the lines of experience and
thinking by which they had embraced the
gospel, and in this way restore them to
correct faith and purity of life that be-
longs to the gospel. 1t is serious matter
to turn away from the early convictions.
REV. ii. ~ The Christian life in its best
form is not series of corrections and re-
ress, a development a growth from a true
and noble beginning. (Heb. vi, IL
DENIED.-Paul then uirects attention to
the result of denial of the resurrection, as
a reason for believing it. First. How say
some that there is no resurrection
verse 12) Who can question what has been
preached, witnessed and cordially received