Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Calvin Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 15:15 - 15:15
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
15.We are also found to be false witnesses. The other disadvantages, it is true, which he has just now recounted, were more serious, as regards us — that faith was made vain — that the whole doctrine of the gospel was useless and worthless, and that we were bereft of all hope of salvation. Yet this also was no trivial absurdity — that the Apostles, who were ordained by God to be the heralds of his eternal truth, were detected as persons who had deceived the world with falsehoods; for this tends to God’ highest dishonor.
The expression,false witnesses of God, we may understand in two ways — either that by lying they used the name of God under a false pretext, or that they were detected as liars, in testifying what they had received from God. The second of these I rather prefer, because it involves a crime that is much more heinous, and he had spoken previously as to men. (36) Now, therefore, he teaches that, if the resurrection of Christ is denied, God is made guilty of falsehood in the witnesses that have been brought forward and hired by him. (37) The reason, too, that is added, corresponds well — because they had declared what was false, not as from themselves, but from God.
I am at the same time well aware that there are some that give another rendering to the particle κατα The old interpreter renders it against. (38) Erasmus, on the other hand — concerning. (39) But, as it has also among the Greeks the force of ἀπό, (from,) this signification appeared to me to be more in accordance with the Apostle’ design. For he is not speaking here of the reputation of men, (as I have already stated, (40)) but he declares that God will be exposed to the charge of falsehood, inasmuch as what they publish has come forth from him.
(36) “Et aussi il auoit desia parle du deshonneur qui en reuindroit aux hommes, c’ a dire aux Apostres et autres prescheurs;” — “ besides, he had spoken previously of the dishonor that resulted from it to men — that is to say, to the Apostles and other preachers.”
(37) “Comme subornez;” — “ it were hired.”
(38) In accordance with this Wiclif (1380) renders the words thus — “ haw seide witnessynge agens God.” — Ed.
(39) Raphelius adduces two instances of Ταῦτα μὲν δὴ κατα πάντων Περσῶν ἔχομεν λέγειν — being employed by classical writers in the sense of concerning. “ these are things that we may affirm concerning all the Persians.” — (Xen. Cyrop., Book 1 page 6, line 33.) ‘ ̔Ο κατα τῶν τεχνῶν καὶ ἐποστημε̑ν λέγειν εἰώθαμεν ταυτὸν καὶ κατα τὢς ἀρετὢς φατέον ἐστίν “ we are accustomed to say in reference to the arts and sciences, may also be said in reference to virtue.” — (Plutarch, chapter 4.) Bloomfield suggests that the Apostle probably employed κατα in the “ rare” sense of concerning, “ wishing to include the sense — to the prejudice of — which falsification would occasion, inasmuch as it would almost imply a want of power in God to raise the dead, for the Gentile philosophers denied it.” — Ed.
(40) See p. 19.