Resurrection in 1 Corinthians - Matthew Malcolm

A significant paper delivered at the Resurrection of the Dead Conference (7-9 April, 2010, Louvain-le-Neuve, Belgium).

The Resurrection of the Dead in 1 Corinthians (Matthew Malcolm, Nottingham).
"There can be no attaining of glory or immortality apart from following the path of Christ, whose own death was followed by resurrection - a resurrection that ensures the future vindication of those whose cruciform labour indicates that they belong to him". This is the last sentence in the abstract of what was a refreshing paper by Matthew. He is to complete his PhD under Anthony Thistleton at Nottingham fairly soon.
In his paper, Matthew went on to suggest that the arrangement of 1 Corinthians follows an important cultural pattern of "double reversal", summoning the believers at Corinth to choose between the destinies of the presently-honoured "human rulers", and the presently shameful "Christ crucified". They are called to give up their boastful, clamouring divisions, and inhabit Christ's death in the present, looking ahead to sharing in his vindication (resurrection) in the future. With this in view, Paul hears the denial of "the resurrection of the dead" (1 Cor. 15) as the ultimate refusal to accept the validity of the dead - and thus, of the cricified.What is Paul's response? He insists on the necessity of taking the path that leads from death - or a death-filled way of life - to God-given resurrection.

Afterwards I had a great talk with Matthew, who is actually from Australia. In him I found a brother who also believes in the bodily resurrection of Jesus, and wants to incorporate the insights of the Patristic era into his New Testament research. Exciting stuff!