1 Corinthians 15:34

Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame (KJV)

Then: "Awake" translates a Greek word directed to drunks (Baker, p. 229). Paul uses strong language for these party-loving Corinthians, people who walk so close to sin they don't recognize elements of paganism or atheism. Wright (p. 219) points to the need for people to question how an idea matches known characteristics of the Lord. When they let their minds be corrupted, their actions reflect their shameful lack of knowledge of God.

Now: In a quick return to Paul's teachings on resurrection, Baker reminds readers that the author of the resurrection of Christ, and of us, can do all things. He is especially able to change and fit a physical body for life in eternity. If our knowledge of God places limits on his abilities and powers, then surely those foreign ideas are to our shame just as much as they were shameful to the Corinthians.

Extra source: Cornerstone Biblical Commentary 1 Corinthians (William Baker), 2 Corinthians (Ralph Martin & Carl Toney), ed. by Philip Comfort. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, c2006.

1 Corinthians 15:33

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners (KJV)

Then: Everybody recognized Paul's allusion as a quote, "Bad company destroys good ways" (Witherington, p. 306). It was part of a now lost play called Thais by Menander. Witherington agrees with a suggestion by Fee. Paul is chiding that those people eating in the "temple restaurants" were also imbibing non-Christian theology. The resurrection was a real event essential to God's plan of salvation. With the resurrection of Christ, the forerunner (first fruits) of all following resurrections of believers, Christians live out God's plan. Skepticism does not bring honor, just corruption (Baker, p. 229).

Now: That's not quite what parents say today, but they agree completely with the sentiment. Hanging around with a gang of disreputable characters is a poor way for a teen to grow up to become a God-fearing citizen of heaven. It happens. We don't often think of the church or church people as hanging out with unworhty ideals or philosophies, but Paul's letter warns us, it happens.

Extra source: Conflict and community in Corinth: a socio-rhetorical commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians by Ben Witherington (Grand Rapids MI: Wm B. Eerdmans, c1995 online at http://books.google.com/books?id=HXWNsxX2irkC&pg=PA60&lpg=PA60&dq=Witherington+1st+Corinthians&source=bl&ots=nm3jFPByR2&sig=qyPMM3WWXZvkeWc9PO_GmV-LewI&hl=en&ei=cLUJS7zqLMHTlAfV2-yEBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CBQQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Cornerstone Biblical Commentary 1 Corinthians (William Baker), 2 Corinthians (Ralph Martin & Carl Toney), ed. by Philip Comfort. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, c2006.

1 Corinthians 15:32

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

Then: Look at that! the biblical version of "Eat, drink, and be merry." And the Corinthians heard it first. Corinthians also had an advantage of an overland rumor express. They probably knew whether Paul's reference to fighting with beasts was an actual event or a metaphor. Some commentators call the reference an agon, a figurative hellenistic device in which an image substitutes for and describes a speaker's moralistic intent (Collins & Harrington, p.557).

Now: Others read the sentence as another instance of Paul's continued defense against those who believe his leadership is lacking. Since the New Living Testament translation uses a phrase "those people of Ephesus" after the words "wild beasts," Baker (p. 228) pictures Paul's suffering as being physical, emotional and spiritual. At any rate, it is part of the build up to another interim reason to know that resurrection is as actual and real as the creation.

Extra Source: First Corinthians by Raymond F. Collins and Daniel J. Harrington (Collegeville MN: Liturgical Press, c1999) http://books.google.com/books?id=c4VXq9fKoRwC&dq=Sacra+Pagina+and+1st+Corinthians&printsec=frontcover&source=in&hl=en&ei=NqEJS7XzEITklAeejdiEBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=11&ved=0CDUQ6AEwCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Cornerstone Biblical Commentary 1 Corinthians (William Baker), 2 Corinthians (Ralph Martin & Carl Toney), ed. by Philip Comfort. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, c2006.

1 Corinthians 15:31

I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. (KJV)

Then: Corinthians probably understood "I protest" to mean "I swear" (Baker, p. 224). Paul wanted them to know of his pride in them. He feels able to boast about their faith and Christ's work in thier lives. What Paul intended the Corinthians to understand through his phrase, "I die daily," is subject to a lot of explanations. John Calvin presents it as a "contempt of death" because of the ever present formidable dangers to his life.

Now: To "die daily for Christ" is an oft preached phrase taken from Paul's ministry. The Wiersbe Bible Commentator states that here it does not mean the same as the theme of Romans 6 "dying to self." Instead it refers to physical dangers(p.494). Baker (p.228) feels that Paul means the slow wearing out of his physical body.

Extra Source: Cornerstone Biblical Commentary 1 Corinthians (William Baker), 2 Corinthians (Ralph Martin & Carl Toney), ed. by Philip Comfort. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, c2006.
Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians by John Calvin translated from the Original Latin, and Collated with the Author's French Version by the Rev. John Pringle, Volume one from the Calvin Translation Society edition and downloaded from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library on line at http://www.biblestudyguide.org/comment/calvin/comm_vol40/htm/i.iv.htm
Wiersbe Bible Commentary The Complete New Testament by Warren W. Wiersbe (Colorado Springs CO: David C. Cook, c2007) http://books.google.com/books?id=Sn18qwyJw9QC&pg=PA453&lpg=PA453&dq=1+Corinthians+15+commentary&source=bl&ots=uEH6xD4cBX&sig=O-Yucl21olPnNQo8wDjVu1LTrs4&hl=en&ei=pzcJS_igCZHTlAe9t4mFBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CBEQ6AEwAzhk#v=onepage&q=1%20Corinthians%2015%20commentary&f=false