firstfruits

[catholictiger]

simple question what does the firstfruits mean

1 cor 15:20 thanks for any help

 

[Verbum]

Hi Catholic,

I wish people would give us the quote instead of the citation alone

First fruits precede the others. The resurrection of Christ is an assurance of our own resurrection. This is developped in the verses that follow.

Verbum

 

[catholictiger]

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27For he “has put everything under his feet.”[c] Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.

29Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? 30And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,
“Let us eat and drink,
for tomorrow we die.”[d] 33Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

hi Verbum

here is the passage for you

and thanks

 

[Joe_5859]

For Verbum.

“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

The concept of “firstfruits” (and firstlings) is prevalent throughout the Old Testament. Here is what the Ignatius Study Bible says about that verse:

15:20 the first fruits: In the liturgy of ancient Israel the first portion of a crop was offered to God in the Temple as a means of consecrating the whole of the expected harvest (Ex 23:19; Lev 23:10-14). So, too, Christ is not only the first to be raised in glory, but his resurrected humanity is an offering that ensures an entire harvest of believers will be raised as he was (Acts 26:23; Rom 11:15-16).

The whole concept is very helpful in understanding parts of the OT. For example, in Genesis 4:3-5:

In the course of time Cain brought an offering to the LORD from the fruit of the soil, while Abel, for his part, brought one of the best firstlings of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not. Cain greatly resented this and was crestfallen.

Notice what it does not say. It does not say that Cain brought the firstfruits. Some scholars take this to mean that Cain was bringing God the “leftovers”. That is why his offering was rejected. Cain was not giving God the best he had. His offering was an afterthought.

Does that help?

 

[James224]

simple question what does the firstfruits mean

1 cor 15:20 thanks for any help

“The earliest fruit of the earth, which under the Old Law was to be offered to God, was called the “firstfruits;” so Christ, after His resurrection, was offered to God as the firstfruits of the earth, into which He had been cast as a corn of wheat, and from which He sprang forth again in the new birth of the resurrection.” Cornelius Lapide’s Commentary.

 

[panevino]

I found this interesting

2kings4:42 And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.
43 And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the LORD, They shall eat, and shall leave [thereof].

Num18:eat of it. 12 All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD, them have I given thee.

1cor15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept.

 

[bkayw]

In food production, the first fruits on a plant represent the end of a period of time when a plant is coming out of Spring rains. On tomatoes, peppers and beans, the first fruit must come off to encourage a plant to produce its second summer crop.

Jesus of course was the first fruit of Christianity, with John the Baptist and St. Stephen dying before and after Him as martyrs. The Apostles also spent their lives so that Christianity would be spread throughout the Jewish and the pagan worlds.

John 12:20

“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.”

“Unless a grain of wheat
fall to the ground and die
it remains a single grain
but if it dies
it will yield a rich harvest.
In His own body
by His own wounds
He brought your
sins to the cross and suffered for you
pour’d out His life blood
upon the tree
poured out His life blood
for you and for me!”

 

[steve53]

First fruits likely has a strong connection to the Second Temple ritual in the Passover festival. There, on the second day of the festival, people were expected to bring to the temple the first fruits of the field, and of their livestock (as well as requiring even male Jew over the age of eighteen to tithe a shekel or two!). Every village was expected to save up their first fruits, and designate someone to travel to Jerusalem to the Temple to give it to the High Priesthood.
This was a big deal in the times of Jesus, and probably figures strongly whenever it is found in the Bible.