We will now proceed to notice those passages, which are applied to the immortal and general resurrection of the dead, point out their misapplication, and reconcile them with the views we have advanced.  We will first notice our context.  And here it will be necessary to ascertain the condition of those whom Paul addresses.  He introduces the chapter by referring to the many witnesses of Christ’s resurrection, and commences his argument in proof of this fact, and against those christians, who had not been eye-witnesses, but who had professed faith in his resurrection merely on the testimony of the apostles.  These christians were suffering persecution, and were, of all men most “miserable” if Christ were not risen from the dead; as in such case, their future deliverance and exaltation at his predicted coming, were but a visionary dream.  And as their Lord seemed to delay his coming, “some among them (being discouraged) began to say, there was no resurrection of the dead.”  The great evidence, to which they were looking for the final proof of his being the true Messiah was the fulfillment of all which the prophets had written of “the daily sacrifice being taken away, the holy people being scattered” and of the glory of the Messiah’s kingdom and reign, and of all, which Jesus himself had predicted of his coming to destroy their persecutors, to put an end to the Mosaic dispensation, and to raise them to a state of exaltation in his kingdom.  They had not seen Jesus alive from the dead as had the apostles; and however much they might be inclined to credit their testimony, yet their severe persecutions and sufferings, and the protracted period of his coming would, very naturally, create, in their hearts many doubts and fears as to its truth.

These are the persons, whom Paul addresses in our context, and labors to keep them in the faith by presenting the whole weight of testimony in favor of the resurrection of Christ, on which he hinged the resurrection of man.  He summons before them more than five hundred eye-witnesses, of whom himself was one, to satisfy them of the fact, and summons all the powers of philosophy in nature.  He refers them to grain sown in the earth, and its coming forth in a new body.  He refers them to all the various species of flesh, of men, beasts and birds on the earth, and to the glory of the sun, moon and stars in the heavens —­all differing from one another—­to prove that God is able to prepare an immortal body, differing from all these, and raise man immortal!  As he passes on, reveling in the greatness of his strength, and absorbed in the immensity of his theme, his argument gathers force, till earth and heaven appear to be in motion before him!  He ranges the universe, summons to his aid the power of God, lays his masterly hand upon every fact, gathers them in his grasp, condenses them before his hearers, and, in one overwhelming burst of eloquence, makes the whole bear upon the resurrection of Christ and of man!  He refers them