Research Paper On EXEGESIS: 1 CORINTHIANS 15 - RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD

Historical Background and Rhetoric

Scholars have dated this Epistle written by St. Paul to 55 A.D. It was written towards the end of Paul's three-year residency in Ephesus (NIV Study Bible, 1995).
The city of Corinth was at the heart of commerce with a population of 250,000 free individuals and as many as 400,000 slaves (NIV Study Bible, 1995). Because of its location, it was a crossroads for traders as well as travelers (NIV Study Bible, 1995), which brought many foreigners through the city. The diversity of the demographics also made Corinth a bed or immorality with people worshiping gods like Aphrodite, who allegedly promoted prostitution (NIV Study Bible, 1995). At the other end of the scale, people worshiped Asclepius, who was the god of healing (NIV Study Bible, 1995).
Paul received information about the immorality going on in Corinth with people doubting his teachings and practicing immoral activities (NIV Study Bible, 1995). False prophets or false apostles were telling the people that Paul was the one who was wrong in his preaching. It is unknown exactly who these people were although some scholars suggest at least s...