Did Paul believe in the resurrection?

15 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

This may seem odd but biblical critics who deny the resurrection will argue for the organization of a myth and many have claimed that Paul did not really have a full understand that christ was really physically resurrected and did not profess the gospel.  Thus nobody understood the resurrection.

Now this is an amazing leap because we have to assume that Luke never taught the resurrection based on His account even though Luke was His disciple.  we also have to believe that the apostles were clueless as to the fact of a physical resurrection.  But I fifgured I would humor these assumptions and ask the question did Christ resurrect according to paul?

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:
Now at this point the claim would be made that Paul is referring to a future resurrection.  Although we do see a present tense reference.

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:
   They would also claim paul understood a spiritual resurrection.  But why would that be a point of contention?  Who could make a solid arguement over whether anyone truly is in heaven?




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.
   Here we see the idea of annihilation is looked upon as a curse.  which would have to be the case if there was no reurrection of christ.


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.
How could christ be the firstfruits of the dead if never rose from the grave?

23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

Obviously they expected christ alive.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

So Paul believed that jesus was real because he had so many witness his life and resurrection.  Also they believe he literally would die.
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
5 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come