First Corinthians winds down with a similar issue to that of encountered by the Thessalonians. Here, Paul discusses the various contexts of the Resurrection. There are three parts to this overall discussion.
First, it was the Resurrection of Jesus that gives the Christian faith any value at all.
Second, there will be a Resurrection of the saints. In similar fashion to what is discussed in Thessalonians, this will happen when Jesus returns.
Third, Paul gives specifics on the corporal Resurrection of the saints. They will be raised incorruptible, as spiritual beings.
Discussions like these are why people believe in "soul sleep". The assumption being that there is no conscience awareness until there is a Resurrection. Relatedly, people discount the existence of "ghosts" based on this understanding of the afterlife.
I think part of the confusion is the collapse of several concepts into one. First, a conscience awareness of the soul. This spirit lacks a corporal body. For those rejecting soul sleep, this spirit meets with Christ after death. This would fall in line with several key verses:
1. What Jesus said to the criminal on the cross ("this day you will be with me in paradise")
2. What Jesus said to the disciples about his body and distinguishing it from ghosts (Luke 24:39)
3. The appearance of Samuel to the necromancer (witch) of Endor and the appearance of Moses and Elijah with Jesus.
4. The parable of Lazarus the Rich Man. Although a parable, it distinguished a soul hanging out with Abraham in the afterlife with that of the resurrection of a body.
One last note on this chapter, Paul gives some clarity about when he saw Jesus. Specifically, he saw Jesus after Jesus' Resurrection. Likewise, it was after the final appearance to the rest of the Apostles and 500 disciples. This alone does not make it sufficient for his commission as an Apostle (since 500 others saw the resurrected Jesus), but it is an important part in the story of Paul.
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