Paul's side of an early church debate!

1Co 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Some Corinthian believers were saying that there is no resurrection of the dead! Just as some believers today say that once you're dead that's it, you can't be saved unless you made prior arrangements. But Paul concludes that if there is no resurrection of the "dead"... then Jesus is'nt raised. He clinches his arguement by saying. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." The same amount of people who die shall be made alive. Paul repeats this astounding claim three more times in Romans.

Ro 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. - Here the word many is used both for those who die, followed by "much more" for those who get the free gift. But just in case there is any doubt, Paul goes on...

Ro 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. - All!

Ro 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. - How many were made sinners? All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. All! How many SHALL be made righteous??? The same many at least for the next verse states:

Ro 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did MUCH MORE abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

I believe in the resurrection of the dead as well as the living.

Ro 14:9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.