I DIE DAILY 

1 Corinthians 15:31(NKJV)

I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

The context of Paul’s discussion here is a defence of the bodily resurrection of Jesus because some individuals were spreading a false message that there is no such thing as the resurrection of the dead (verse 12). This was a subtle argument to ultimately discredit the gospel of the resurrection of Jesus. [For a proper understanding of this, first read the article, Believing in Vain; I Die Daily is meant to be a sequel.]

Knowing that the validity of the resurrection of us believers is totally hinged on the verity of the resurrection of Jesus, Paul gave evidence of the resurrection of Jesus (verse 3–11). Then, from verse 13–19, using a form of logic, called modus tollens, through a series of seven if-then statements, he shared how that if the implication of the claim of these perverts is not true, then the claim ultimately isn't true either.

He then went further to reemphasise that Jesus truly did rise again from the dead and that this was, in fact, God’s master plan right from time to save mankind from the power of sin and its concomitant aftermath—death (the fruit of Adam’s disobedience). Jesus’ resurrection was a show of victory over death; this victory is given to everyone that believes in Him and will be realized at His second coming. “The celebration of our victory over death, though postponed, has been purchased.”

1 Corinthians 15:20–28(NKJV)

20 - But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

21 - For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.

22 - For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

23 - But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.

24 - Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

25 - For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.

26 - The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.

27 - For "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted.

28 - Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

Paul then employs reductio ad absurdum, a phrase translated from Latin, which means a “reduction to absurdity.” This kind of argument is to imply that denying a claim leads to logical absurdity.

29 - Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?

This was apparently a popular practice in first century Corinth—baptism by proxy—in which certain persons stood in for someone who couldn't get baptized by immersion while alive (who perhaps got saved on the deathbed or something else).

Now, Paul was in no way endorsing such practice (which isn't doctrinally sound to begin with). It is quite noticeable from his expression that it wasn't a universal practice. (Notice his deliberate use of the third person plural “they” subtly implying that he wasn't involved in that.)

Paul was only trying to bring out a logical argument from this (in light of reductio ad absurdum), that who would do such a thing for a claim they know to be untrue?

He then switched to first person expression.

30 - And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour?

Why would we on a regular basis put our lives at risk preaching a message we know to be untrue? That would be absurd (reductio ad absurdum).

31 - I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

The context of Paul’s argument is clear. This is why he was full of confidence about them because the message of salvation he preached to them, which they believed, is a true message. This is why he put his life on the line daily in ensuring the gospel spreads everywhere.

“I die daily” means “I face death everyday,” meaning he was always in danger of losing his life each passing day as he aggressively preached the gospel of Jesus from place to place. And he could do this confidently because he knew the message of Jesus’ resurrection is true and hence, the future resurrection of those who believe the gospel is sure.

32 - If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!"

He used the word “beasts” metaphorically to describe human adversaries—the men who rose in opposition against him in Ephesus (very likely connected to the riot that broke out in Acts 19). It would be absurd to go through such turmoil for a message he knew to be untrue.

“...if the dead do not rise, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!'...”

This is not just about eating and drinking but the lackadaisical carefree attitude that inspires such.

Paul was quoting and using the context of such flippant attitude in Isaiah’s prophecy.

Isaiah 22:12–14(NKJV)

12 - And in that day the Lord GOD of hosts Called for weeping and for mourning, For baldness and for girding with sackcloth.

13 - But instead, joy and gladness, Slaying oxen and killing sheep, Eating meat and drinking wine: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!"

14 - Then it was revealed in my hearing by the LORD of hosts, "Surely for this iniquity there will be no atonement for you, Even to your death," says the Lord GOD of hosts.

When the Jews in Judah were supposed to be sober and remorseful for their iniquity, to show repentance, they rather chose to make merry, eating and drinking, showing no concern for the calamity that would shortly befall them.

So, what was Paul saying in essence in verse 32? It would be absurd for him to go through adversity on account of a message that he knew to be untrue. “If the gospel of Jesus’ resurrection weren't true, just eat and drink flippantly and die when death comes and that would be the end. If there is no resurrection, we may as well live only for the present. But if we truly have a hope of life after death, then our sufferings for proclaiming this truth are worth it; then denying ourselves of pleasures for the sake of the gospel is worth it.”

So back to our theme text:

31 - I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

“I die daily” refers to being exposed daily to death.

Paul used similar words in his letter to the church in Rome.

Romans 8:35–36(NKJV)

35 - Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 - As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."

Verse 36 is originally a quote from Psalm 44:22.

So, “I die daily” refers to being in the danger of losing his life on a daily basis on account of the preaching of the gospel. This story, he summed up in his second letter to the church in Corinth.

2 Corinthians 11:23–27(NKJV)

23 - Are they ministers of Christ?--I speak as a fool--I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.

24 - From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.

25 - Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;

26 - in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

27 - in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

Persecutions come hand-in-hand with preaching the gospel ardently.

So our theme text really has nothing to do with dying to self or the flesh. There are other references for that. But for this text, it is part of Paul’s discourse about suffering for the true gospel, full of hope.

Amen.

Victor Ibosiola © 2023