The Final Triumph of God: Jesus, the Eyewitnesses, and the Resurrection of the Body in 1 Corinthians 15

by James P. Ware, A. Andrew Das (foreword)

A groundbreaking exposition of the resurrection hope in 1 Corinthians 15
 
Making a compelling case based on new evidence and fresh exposition, James Ware affirms the church’s historic reading of 1 Corinthians 15. He shows that the apostolic formula in 1 Corinthians 15:1–11 proclaims, in continuity with the Gospels, the resurrection of Jesus’s crucified body from the tomb, and that the hope of the resurrection described in 1 Corinthians 15:12–58 involves the miraculous revivification of our present bodies of flesh and bones and their transformation to imperishability.
 
Ware’s monumental study is unmatched for its comprehensive examination of the historical setting, literary structure, syntax, and vocabulary of 1 Corinthians 15. This in-depth verse-by-verse commentary provides new insights into the text, original solutions to hitherto seemingly irresolvable difficulties, and a convincing reading of the chapter unfolding its rich theology of the resurrection as the consummation of union with Christ.

Genres: Christian

510 pages, Hardcover

Published February 6, 2025

Reviews

[David Graieg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ware’s The Final Triumph of God is probably the best book ever written on First Corinthians 15. Anyone interested in the early Christian understanding of Jesus’ resurrection should read it. The book is a commentary on 1 Cor 15, so at 496 pages it is not necessarily meant to be read from cover to cover. It is suitable for all but is aimed at the academic level. Some of its contributions include arguing for the unity of 1 Cor as a single unified letter with 1 Cor 15 as the climax. Further, Ware argues that the traditions (or confessional statement) found in vv. 3–7 date between two to five years after Jesus’ death and originated “in the apostolic community at Jerusalem led by Peter, James, and the Twelve” (p.72). “And that he was buried” (v.4) implies in a known place and in a tomb, grave, or sepulcher (p. 80) and implicitly implies the empty tomb. That Jesus was raised (v.4) denotes “not a general hope of life after death but the specific hope of the reversal of death through the mortal body’s restoration” (p. 82). That Jesus appeared (ὤφθη) expresses “both that Jesus, as an act of divine self-manifestation, appeared to the disciples, and that he was seen by them” (p109). These appearances are to be understood as referring “to ordinary ocular sight of Jesus’s fleshly body” (p.112). Ware covers purported ancient parallels to resurrection, and finds Jesus’ to be unique. Ware interacts with scholars such as Ernst Teichmann, Hans Grass, Dale Martin, Troels Engberg-Pedersen, Dale C. Allison, etc., on the “spiritual body” and demonstrates that it should be interpreted not as ethereal but as a physical body composed of flesh. He also has insights on the untimely appearance to Paul (v.8 being a physical appearance of Jesus, involving the sense of sight and sound), the baptism for the dead v. 29 (people baptized in view of the dangers the martyrs faced), subordinationist Christology (Jesus the Son as coequal to the Father and the Son’s reign not as ending when handed to the father but continuing vv. 24–28), and more—highly recommended.

[Russell Matherly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Meticulous and yet well-paced. Never felt bogged down or too scant. Some of his conclusions are stronger than others, but there’s no question this guy defended his overall thesis like a BOSS. It makes me happy that so much cutting edge biblical scholarship is reaffirming traditional, historic, orthodox Christian theology. A must read for anyone taking any sides in the resurrection debate.