Letters to the Church

Paul revealed a mystery to the Corinthians. Believers who remain alive when Jesus returns will be transformed and receive immortal bodies . Certain members of the Corinthian congregation were denying the future resurrection of believers. Paul responded by stressing the necessity for resurrection. He also appealed to Christ’s past Death and Resurrection as the precedent of our resurrection. We will be raised bodily when he “ arrives <…> at the last trumpet ,” and those saints still alive will be transformed.

Christ’s Death and the Resurrection and transformation of his body are foundational to the Apostolic Tradition . The Apostle Paul discusses the future resurrection of believers in his second letter to Timothy in response to denials of this “ sound teaching ” by false teachers. Faith in the future resurrection is central to the doctrine of salvation proclaimed by Jesus and his Apostles. This teaching is undeniably reliable since it is based on the historical Death and Resurrection of Jesus.

The arrival of Jesus at the end of the age will mean our resurrection and the end of the Last Enemy, Death  - 1 Corinthians 15:24-28. Certain members of the Corinthian congregation were denying the future resurrection. Paul responded by stressing how necessary resurrection is, and he pointed to Christ’s past Death and Resurrection as the model and precedent for our future resurrection.  We will be raised bodily when Jesus “ arrives ,” and his appearance will mean the overthrow of death itself.

Christ’s real Death and bodily Resurrection are foundational and indispensable to the Apostolic Faith . The Apostle Paul discussed the future resurrection of believers in  2 Timothy , in response to denials of this “ sound teaching ” by false teachers. Faith in the promised resurrection of the righteous is central to the hope of salvation taught by Jesus and proclaimed by his Apostles. This teaching is unquestionably reliable  because it is based on the past Death and Resurrection of Jesus .

In  Colossians , Paul stresses the exaltation of Jesus following his Resurrection. Some members of the congregation were confused about his authority over the spiritual powers that were hostile to God and His people; therefore, Paul reminded the Assembly of just how highly God exalted the One who became the “ Firstborn of the Dead .”

Paul claimed that the source of his apostleship was the same God who raised His Son from “ among dead ones ” (literal rendering). This same Messiah died and was raised from the dead to “ deliver us from this evil age .” In  Galatians , The Apostle was responding to certain “ men from Jerusalem ” who were operating in the Assembly as if the old era was still in effect, insisting that Gentiles must be circumcised and keep the Jewish calendar, and challenging Paul’s Apostolic authority and credentials.

To the Colossians, Paul emphasized the exalted position of Jesus that he attained through his death and resurrection .  In his Letter, the Apostle stresses the exaltation of Jesus following his resurrection. It seems some members of the congregation were confused about his authority over the spiritual powers that remained hostile to God and His people; therefore, Paul reminds the Assembly of just how highly God exalted the very one who became the “ Firstborn of the Dead .”