An Early Creed or the First Written Gospel
We have jumped ahead this week, skipping over chapter 14 and now have landed in the midst of a new point for Paul.
Depending on the commentary, there are some who view 15:1-11 as an early church Creed or as the first written Gospel.[1] Because of the Corinthian Correspondence being one of the earlier writings of Paul, this could be the first time that the revelation of the Risen Christ is written down. And because of this, there are some who argue that this is the foundation of Paul’s Gospel.
Douglas J. Moo writes, “Recent scholarship has stressed the breadth of Paul’s gospel, seeing it as encompassing broadly the central truth that Christ is Lord and all the implications that flow from that truth. There is much to be said for this more expansive view of the gospel. However, his breadth should not take the focus of the gospel away from where Paul puts it: on the salvation made available to humans through Christ’s death and resurrection.”[2]
Of course, this a beautiful sentiment. Paul simply wishes for the proclamation of the Gospel, that Jesus died and rose for us and our sins. Reformation and systematic theologians are rejoicing everywhere (“Preach the damn gospel!”). But just as was true for the wedding text last week, this chapter is not just about the gospel proclamation but has explicit Corinthian context. Paul is setting up a larger point that will be addressed further next week: in order to believe that Jesus is Lord, you have to believe that Jesus died, and that Jesus rose.
We have to remember that the four Gospel accounts do not exist at this time. And so, while we recognize this as a simplified gospel message that also quickly recounts the ‘appearances’ to the twelve, the Corinthians would not be as well versed in that. They only have Paul’s message of the gospel (and possibly other disciples like Apollos). This chapter is Paul giving evidence and proof of the resurrection and not just regurgitating an overly familiar story. This is not summarizing the four Gospel accounts that the Corinthian community has heard Easter after Easter for generations. In 15:1, it is clear that Paul has of course taught the Corinthian Church of Jesus’ death and resurrection. However, these appearances are clearly giving evidence and proof (there are witnesses!) that Jesus did in fact rise from the dead after having been crucified.
And this leads to an overarching theme that should convict the Corinthian Church (but probably won’t).
The Un-Apostle
8Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them — though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.
If Paul is trying to convince the Corinthians that Jesus did rise from the dead, why (after sharing all these other resurrection encounters) does he belittle himself so much? Why should we trust someone who actually persecuted the Church? Why should we trust the lesser, un-apostle?
Paul is illustrating two things here brilliantly. The first is that he just told the Corinthians not to boast. And so here, he is lowering himself and not boasting (you have to practice what you preach, you know). He is demonstrating power is made perfect weakness (which is a phrase he uses explicitly in 2 Corinthians 12:9). But more importantly, Paul is illustrating that a person can change and change their mind.
In an intensive class on the Corinthian letters this past year, Dr. Allison deForest introduced the letters by reminding us that undergirding all of Paul’s writing (and boasting) he openly admits time and time again, that as a former persecutor of the Church, he was once 100% wrong.[3]
The Corinthians seem to believe that there is no reason to be concerned about the resurrection (which we’ll talk about more next week). Paul is beginning this argument by saying that he once believed that Christians needed to be persecuted. And now, through the love and faith of Jesus Christ, he is an apostle of the Christian Church, called to share the gospel (the good news) of Jesus Christ. If he can change his mind, so can they. And not only that, but they should believe him more BECAUSE he was a persecutor of the Church. Why would Paul change his mind if he didn’t have reason not to? And it is not Paul’s work, honor, or strength that give credence to his message, but it is the grace of God that shines through his message because of what God does through him (spiritual gifts made manifest through faith, hope, and love in the Good News of Jesus Christ for this world). This should give us Gospel whispers like, “I have come to call not the righteous but sinners (Mark 2:17).”
It’s a subversive message for the Corinthians. These folks who believe in their own hard work. These folks who appreciate power, authority, knowledge, and status. But Paul lifts up his own story. In his brokenness and in his weakness, the grace and love of God shine through.
Preaching Possibility
By the Grace of God
I am about 10 years into my ministry at this point. I served in a Co-Op internship for 3 years. I served 2 years as an associate pastor. And now I’ve served 5 years as a solo pastor. I’ve done good ministry in all these settings. I’ve raised money for the Delaware-Maryland Synod as the generosity person. I’ve led many Bible Studies. I’ve preached hundreds of sermons. I’ve taught confirmation and led small groups at numerous Youth Gatherings. I’ve done a lot of good ministries.
But do you know what I’m most well known for? Being in recovery.
For almost the exact same amount of time (about 10 years), I have been in recovery for alcoholism. And you know what I’ve done to earn that? Absolutely nothing.
I am here and in recovery by the grace of God. Sure, I go to meetings. Sure, I have worked the 12-steps. And yet, I know I would not have been able to go to those meetings or worked the steps if the grace of God had not opened a pathway for me to take those steps. And this has been (and probably always will be) the story I am most well-known for and the story that the most people can articulate seeing God working. A story where I am powerless, weak, and in need of the grace of God.
We talk a big game about grace in the Lutheran Church. We are the ‘grace people’ after all. But I don’t think we talk enough about where we’ve experienced grace in our lives. It is in places of grace where we open up opportunities for people to change and change their mind.
Paul is calling the Corinthians to repentance here. He is calling them to turn. Turn away from these thoughts and actions that they think they know. Turn away from division and factions. And he’s doing so by showing them that he has changed. He does so by reminding them that he once needed the grace of God to show him that he was broken and in need of faith, hope, and love. He leads by sharing how he needs grace.
What if that’s how we talked about repentance? What if we led with our own stories? Inviting others into these places of imperfection and brokenness. Just demanding that someone change usually does little to change someone’s mind. But by illustrating that we are malleable and that we have made mistakes, maybe that invitation would invite the possibility for others.
How can we lead with the grace of God?
[1] Michael D. Coogan, Ed. The New Oxford Annotated Bible,3rd ed., (New York: Oxford University Press, 2001), 288 (footnote).
[2] Douglass J. Moo, A Theology of Paul and His Letters, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2-21), 153.
[3] Allison deForest, ULS Class on the Corinthian Correspondence, Summer 2024.
Micah Krey 
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