Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin (continued)
Commentary on the Corinthians
14. Then is our preaching vain — not simply as having some mixture of falsehood, but as being altogether an empty fallacy. For what remains if Christ has been swallowed up by death — if he has become extinct — if he has been overwhelmed by the curse of sin — if, in fine, he has been overcome by Satan? In short, if that fundamental article is subverted, all that remains will be of no moment. For the same reason he adds, that their faith will be vain, for what solidity of faith will there be, where no hope of life is to be seen? But in the death of Christ, considered in itself, 929 there is seen nothing but ground of despair, for he cannot be the author of salvation to others, who has been altogether vanquished by death. Let us therefore bear in mind, that the entire gospel consists mainly in the death and resurrection of Christ, so that we must direct our chief attention to this, if we would desire, in a right and orderly manner, to make progress in the gospel — nay more, if we would not remain barren and unfruitful. (2 Peter 1:8.)
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's 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. 930 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. 931 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. 932
Erasmus, on the other hand — concerning. 933 But, as it has also among have deceived himself with the double meaning of the words which he uses — 'nulla ejus resurrectio foret;' — these may mean either 'ejus resurrectio non est,' or 'ejus resurrectio non est vera resurrectio,' his resurrection is no real ressurection, and indeed only the latter suits his view of Paul's argument." It is justly observed, however, by Dr. Alexander, in his translation of Billroth, that Calvin may be considered to have "used the word nulla here in the sense of our null, void, useless," his assertion being to this effect — that "if we rise not, then Christ's resurrection becomes null." See Biblical Cabinet, volume 23 — Ed.
929"C'est a dire, sans la resurrection;" — "That is to say, apart from his resurrection." 930"Et aussi il auoit desia parle du deshonneur qui en reuindroit aux hommes, c'est a dire aux Apostres et autres prescheurs;" — "And besides, he had spoken previously of the dishonor that resulted from it to men — that is to say, to the Apostles and other preachers."
931"Comme subornez;" — "As it were hired." 932In accordance with this Wiclif (1380) renders the words thus — "We haw seide witnessynge agens God." — Ed.
933Raphelius adduces two instances of {Ταῦτα} {μὲν} {δὴ} {κατα} {πάντων} {Περσῶν} {ἔχομεν}