What is Paul proving to the Corinthians?
Paul is proving to the Corinthians that Christ truly died and literally, physically rose from the grave, confirming resurrection from the dead. This resurrection is the very hope of every believer; if Christ did not rise, faith and Scripture would be futile.
Les explains that Paul is proving to the Corinthians beyond a shadow of a doubt that Christ died but arose from the dead. He connects this to the statement that there is resurrection from the dead because Christ arose. Les illustrates the same kind of proof with Josh McDowell, who set out to disprove the resurrection but became a born-again believer and then spent years proving to college students that Christ literally, physically arose from the grave. This resurrection, Les says, is the very hope of every believer.