1 Corinthians 15:34
Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The apostle Paul connects spiritual ignorance directly to a lack of self-control, urging believers to shake off their "drunken stupor" not just to stop sinning, but to truly know God. His sharp "I say this to your shame" isn't just about calling out bad behavior; it's a call to wake up to the reality of their relationship with God and live accordingly.
Paul is addressing a serious issue within the Corinthian church: a denial of the resurrection of the dead. He's just spent a good portion of this chapter explaining why the resurrection is crucial to Christian faith, arguing that without it, Christ himself isn't raised, and their faith is pointless. He then directly confronts them, urging them to sober up from their spiritual complacency and stop sinning, because their disbelief in the resurrection shows a fundamental lack of understanding of God.
Paul doesn't mince words here. He calls the believers to 'wake up' from a 'drunken stupor.' What does that even look like in our lives today?
A Call to Awareness
The church in Corinth was facing serious issues, including the denial of the resurrection. Paul uses strong imagery – a drunken stupor – to describe their spiritual state. This isn't just about physical intoxication; it's about being dull, insensitive, and unaware of the spiritual realities God has revealed.
This stupor can make us apathetic about sin, complacent in our faith, and blind to the truth. It’s a state where God’s commands and the seriousness of sin lose their edge.
The 'Right' Way to Be Awake
Paul says to wake up 'as is right.' This implies there’s a proper, healthy, God-honoring way to live, and their current state is anything but. It's a call to re-align their thinking and behavior with God's truth, especially concerning the resurrection which underpins everything.
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Paul connects ongoing sin to a lack of knowledge and calls it 'shameful.' Why is ignorance of God so deeply connected to sin and shame?
The Root of Sin
Paul directly links the continued sinning of the believers to a fundamental lack of knowledge: 'For some have no knowledge of God.' This isn't necessarily about intellectual atheism, but a practical ignorance – not truly grasping who God is, His character, His holiness, and His commands.
When we forget or ignore who God is, sin loses its gravity. We start to think of it as a minor issue, a personal preference, or something that doesn't have eternal consequences. This ignorance paralyzes our ability to live the 'right' way Paul just mentioned.
The Weight of Shame
He concludes with 'I say this to your shame.' This is a powerful statement. Their ongoing sin, stemming from this ignorance, should bring them to a place of humble recognition and repentance. It’s a shame that leads to correction, not despair. True knowledge of God should fill us with awe and motivate us to live differently.
Understand the original words
hamartanō · Greek Verb
An intentional act of disobedience against God's law or a failure to conform to His character. It is a rebellion against God's holy standard.
gnōsis · Greek Noun
An experiential and relational acquaintance with God through His Word and His Spirit, which leads to spiritual life and transformation. It is more than intellectual information; it is covenantal intimacy.
Paul is writing to a church he personally founded, addressing deep-seated problems. The issues he tackles, like the 'drunken stupor' mentioned here, reveal that the Corinthians were struggling to live out their new faith in practical ways, a challenge that echoes in churches today.
c. AD 40-50
Paul's First Missionary Journey
Paul establishes churches in cities across Asia Minor, laying the groundwork for future correspondence.
c. AD 50-52
Paul Visits Corinth
Paul spends about 18 months in Corinth, preaching the gospel and forming the church there.
c. AD 53-55— this verse
Paul Writes 1 Corinthians
From Ephesus, Paul addresses serious issues within the Corinthian church, including divisions, immorality, and doctrinal confusion.
c. AD 60-62
Paul's Imprisonment in Rome
While imprisoned, Paul reflects on Christian life and writes epistles that further shape the understanding of the early church.
Paul urges believers to 'wake up' and 'put on the Lord Jesus Christ,' echoing the call to soberness and leaving behind the works of darkness.
Ephesians 4:17-24This passage describes the futile way of the Gentiles, who are darkened in their understanding and live without knowledge of God, directly linking ignorance to sinful living.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11Paul speaks about being alert and sober, like children of light, contrasting it with the spiritual slumber that characterizes those who do not know God.
2 Timothy 2:22-26This passage encourages believers to flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, reminding them that the Lord's servant must be gentle and able to teach those who are ignorant.
The apostle Paul connects spiritual ignorance directly to a lack of self-control, urging believers to shake off their "drunken stupor" not just to stop sinning, but to truly know God. His sharp "I say this to your shame" isn't just about calling out bad behavior; it's a call to wake up to the reality of their relationship with God and live accordingly.
Paul is addressing a serious issue within the Corinthian church: a denial of the resurrection of the dead. He's just spent a good portion of this chapter explaining why the resurrection is crucial to Christian faith, arguing that without it, Christ himself isn't raised, and their faith is pointless. He then directly confronts them, urging them to sober up from their spiritual complacency and stop sinning, because their disbelief in the resurrection shows a fundamental lack of understanding of God.
Paul is addressing a serious issue within the Corinthian church: a denial of the resurrection of the dead. He's just spent a good portion of this chapter explaining why the resurrection is crucial to Christian faith, arguing that without it, Christ himself isn't raised, and their faith is pointless. He then directly confronts them, urging them to sober up from their spiritual complacency and stop sinning, because their disbelief in the resurrection shows a fundamental lack of understanding of God.
"Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame." — The apostle Paul connects spiritual ignorance directly to a lack of self-control, urging believers to shake off their "drunken stupor" not just to stop sinning, but to truly know God. His sharp "I…
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