God's Superlatives

English students aren't the only ones who have occasion to study about comparative and superlative degrees.  Remember them?  Good, better, best; wise, wiser, wisest; dumb, dumber, dumbest!  Bible students also see contrasted concepts like these, leading to God's superlatives that we see in 1 Corinthians 15.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest message in the world (vv. 1-11).  Paul had kpreached it to the Corinthians as their hope of salvation.  It is the power of God to save us (Rom. 1:16).

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the greatest happening ever to occur (vv. 3-8, 12, 13).  The resurrection of Jesus is so important because the possibility of resurrection of others is based on its validity.  Also, Christ was declared to be the Son of God by His resurrection (Rom. 1:4).

The promise of resurrection Christians have is the greatest hope of the world (vv. 14-19, 29-34).  Because of this hope, Christians preach it to others.  If there is no such hope, our faith is in vain (v. 154), Christ really was not raised (vv. 15, 16), and we are still in our sins (v.17).

The kingdom of God is the greatest institution in the world (vv. 22-28).   The kingdom of God will survive "the end" and be delivered to God.  No other institution will (cf. Matt. 15:13).

The new and glorious body Christians will received is the greatest promise suffering humanity has (vv. 35-49).

And the triumph over death and hades is the greatest victory of all time (vv. 50-58).

- Andy Kizer