Why does Paul use such an obvious, almost ridiculous illustration in 1 Corinthians 15?
Paul uses the sowing of bare grain because it is a familiar, mundane agricultural picture that makes the resurrection unmistakable. The seed is not the final body; it must die before the stalk and grain appear. This illustrates the believer’s resurrection experience so hearers can get the matter straight without doubt.
Les explains that Paul deliberately uses an obvious, almost ridiculous illustration from agriculture to remove doubt. Paul says the sown seed is not quickened unless it dies. He is talking about mundane things—sowing wheat, rye, corn, or other grain—and about sowing things that produce a crop. You do not sow the whole stalk or the body that shall be, but bare grain, the individual kernel. You also do not expect the seed to suddenly come up above the ground; first comes the stalk, then the grain. Les says Paul uses this as a total illustration of our own resurrection experience, so people get things straight without a shadow of a doubt.