Paul ends the Prosperity Gospel

1 Corinthians 15:19 - If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

Paul is in the midst of explaining that there is a resurrection from the dead. Christ has been raised, and so if a person argues that there is no resurrection from the dead, then they are saying that Christ is not raised. This is where v. 19 comes in and says, describing believers in Christ, "If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied."

Why would Paul argue that Christians are the most to be pitied if we have Christ only in this life? It is because assumed with being a believer in Christ is that there will be not "health and wealth", but "trials in tribulations"! For those who believe that being a Christian gets you access to God's treasure chest of Gold and silver, how can this verse line up with your theology? Paul says we are to be pitied if we only have Christ in this life! But if in this life, Christ gets us money and health, then why would we be pitied? It just doesn't add up.