So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
1 Corinthians 15:58
I don’t think Paul is closing the epistle with this comment. I think he is making the comment in the context of his comments on the significance of the resurrection that he has been making above. This is a summary statement on his thoughts related to the resurrection. Some of you think the resurrection is a myth. If there is no resurrection, all we do is meaningless. But the resurrection is fact so don’t be caught up in the live for today philosophy. Be careful how you live your life and who your friends are. Rejoice in the fact that death is dead. Be strong and immovable on your stand on this. Be enthusiastic on what you do for the Lord because nothing you do for Him is wasted. There you have Ian’s summary of 1 Cor 15.
It is clear that Paul is still working his way through the Corinthians’ questions in his methodical way. For that reason the opening of 1 Cor 16:1 is not an after thought. “Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem.” Paul is still dealing with their questions and he always meant to comment on the question about the money. Hence 1 Cor 16:1 can’t be an after thought and the verse before it must be a summary verse to wrap up the thoughts on the resurrection.
Some other points to note:
be strong – be seated, stable, firm, particularly in the question of the resurrection from the dead and of the dead. Ἑδραιοι, from ἑδρα, a seat; be settled; seated, confident in the truth of the resurrection, and every thing that pertains to it, as confidently as a man sits down on a seat.
Immovable – Αμετακινητοι, from α, negative, and μετακινεω, to move away, firm, fixed, stable, unmoved. Let nothing shake your faith. Let nothing move you away from this hope of the Gospel, firm and unshaken in our Christian hope. Our faith in the gospel and the fact of resurrection intact.
Always working enthusiastically for the Lord – The phrase means not only to be engaged in this, but to be engaged diligently, laboriously; excelling in this with all your might and enthusiasm. The “work of the Lord” here means that which the Lord requires.
for you know – Greek “Knowing.” You know it by the arguments for the truth of the gospel and the resurrection; by your deep conviction that that gospel is true.
nothing is useless – contrary to what these no-resurrectionists are saying.
I like what Albert Barnes has to say concerning the no-resurrectionists attempt “to convince the poor dying man that he has no solid ground of hope; that the universe is “without a Father and without a God;” “that the grave terminates the career of man forever; and that in the grave he sinks away to eternal annihilation. Strange that man should seek such degradation! Strange that all people, conscious that they must die, do not at once greet Christianity as their best friend, and hail the doctrine of the future state, and of the resurrection, as that which is adapted to meet the deeply-felt evils of this world; to fill the desponding mind with peace; and to sustain the soul in the temptations and trials of life, and in the gloom and agony of death!”
It Never Matters Who’s Wrong; It Only Matters That God Is Right.
Robb Thompson
Your level of Influence reflects your level of Understanding. You can never influence what you do not understand.
Jose Carol
Something amazing will happen in your life when you live in complete obedience to God.
Joyce Meyer