(I Cor 15); (Introduction 1/3):
The Resurrection of Christ

Posted Spring, 1995 to soc.religion.christian.bible-study

I would like to encourage people to join me in an extended study of I Corinthians 15, a text concerning the significance of Christian belief in the resurrection of the dead.

What follows is:

I. The purpose of the study;

II. The format I intend to use when posting;

III. My assumptions regarding the study of the Bible;

IV. A brief introduction to the historical-critical methods that I use in interpreting the text, and

V. Some preliminary assumptions regarding I Corinthians that I bring to the text.

Obviously any of the above (format, assumptions, methodology, etc.) need not be followed by other participants.

This will be a controversial study. My posts will use methodologies that Fundamentalists, literalists, and many Evangelicals will not accept to examine a concept (resurrection) that many modernists will not accept.

 I hope all of us, Christians and humanists alike, can be Christian and humane in our challenges to another's beliefs and charitable in our treatment of another's personhood.

I. Purpose of this study:

To encourage open-minded people regardless of faith commitments (or lack thereof) to study I Cor. 15, to share their findings, and to be open to the challenge of alternative perspectives.

II. Suggested format:

The subject format I will use for posting:

(Citation); (Category): (Sub-Category)

alerts the reader to the text being studied, the particular category of study being done in that particular post, and space to add an additional comment if desired. I will use three categories:

A. Introduction: The preliminary assumptions I am bringing to the text. This could include thoughts on inerrancy, historical critical study, the nature of revelation, etc. This would also include preliminary hypotheses about the text concerning authorship, date of composition, occasion or purpose, intended audience, etc.

B. Interpretation: I will present as careful an observation of the text as possible (conversational English being my only language) and a suggested interpretation. The interpretation may include comments on how the text was understood when it was included in the canon or how it was understood across two thousand years of Christian tradition. Primarily, I will attempt to interpret the text as Paul intended it to be interpreted by the Corinthians.

C. Application: My suggested answer as to how God is calling for our (or at least my) response in belief and action through the text today.

By using these formal subject categories it might be possible to separate (at least to the extent they *can* be separated) the discussions on first principles, interpretation of the text, and ethics.

 In the interest of encouraging wide, active participation I will try to restrict myself to one post every other week. This will allow me to read, digest, and continue fruitful (but secondary) discussions with other active participants through e-mail. If you don't wish my correspondence, just let me know. I will also attempt to deny myself the pleasure of having the last word once it is obvious that agreement is impossible.

I would also retain my previous posts and my working bibliography; these could be requested (again through e-mail) if desired.

Return to top of page .

Return to Bible page.

Return to Archive

Return to The Inclusive Christian

Bill Bekkenhuis

Return to top of page.