What does 1 Corinthians 15:23 mean?
But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 1 Corinthians 15:23
Explanation
1 Corinthians 15:23 refers to the resurrection of the dead as taught by the Apostle Paul. In this passage, Paul speaks about an order to the resurrection, making a distinction between Christ as the “firstfruits” and those who belong to Christ at His second coming. The term “firstfruits” is a reference to the Jewish feast of Firstfruits, where the first yield of the harvest was offered to God as a symbol of the entire harvest to come. Jesus’ resurrection is seen as the first of its kind, a forerunner to the general resurrection of believers. The phrase “they that are Christ’s” refers to those who have faith in Jesus and are considered His, indicating a future resurrection when Jesus returns.
Historical Context
1 Corinthians 15:23 is a part of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, written approximately in the mid-50s AD to the Christian community in Corinth. Corinth was a significant metropolitan in Greece, known for its commerce and cosmopolitan culture. The church there was beset with doctrinal and practical problems, including misunderstandings and disagreements about the resurrection of the dead. Paul wrote to clarify these issues, to address misconceptions, and to establish the truth of the Gospel.
Theological Insights
Theologically, 1 Corinthians 15:23 lays out an eschatological order. Christ’s resurrection is seen as the “firstfruits,” a term steeped in the Jewish tradition that indicates the first and best offering to God. The use of this term would resonate with the Jewish understanding of redemption and sanctification. For Christian theology, this passage underlines the belief in Christ’s resurrection as the first instance of a bodily resurrection, guaranteeing and foreshadowing the resurrection of believers.
Different theological perspectives approach the verse in various ways. Amillennialists consider this sequence as a description of the resurrection at the end of the world, whereas pre-millennialists might interpret it in the context of a pre-millennial return and a subsequent resurrection of believers. Post-millennialists might understand this in the context of the present age and the transformation of society through the spread of the Gospel before Christ’s return.
Practical Applications
In practical terms, 1 Corinthians 15:23 can offer believers hope and reassurance of eternal life through Christ. It affirms the belief in the bodily resurrection of the dead for those who are faithful to Jesus, thus motivating ethical living and perseverance in faith amidst life’s challenges, comfort in grief, and encouragement for spiritual growth.
Cross-References
- 1 Corinthians 15:20 – “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16 – “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”
- Revelation 14:4 – “These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.”
Language Study
The phrase “Christ the firstfruits” (Χριστὸς ἀπαρχή) involves the term ἀπαρχή (aparche), which in Greek refers to the first portion of the harvest that is offered to God. It implies a promise of a fuller harvest to come, symbolising the initial phase of a sequence that will be completed in the future. The wording “they that are Christ’s” (οἱ τοῦ Χριστοῦ) emphasizes possession, indicating those who belong to Christ or are His followers.
Cultural and Religious Comparisons
The concept of the firstfruits is not unique to Christianity but has parallels in various ancient religions, where the first yield of the crop would be offered to deities. In terms of resurrection beliefs, many ancient myths and religions from Egypt to Greece included ideas of life after death, but Christianity was distinctive in its focus on a singular resurrection event extending to all believers, rather than a general immortality or descent into the underworld.
Scientific Perspectives
The scientific community generally does not channel efforts into verifying theological concepts like the resurrection because these are considered supernatural and outside the purview of empirical science. However, discussions on the relationship between science and religion have engaged with these beliefs, often emphasizing reconciliation through the compartmentalization of science to the natural world and religion to the realm of faith and personal belief.
commentaries
Commentators have offered various interpretations of 1 Corinthians 15:23. Matthew Henry’s Commentary emphasizes the glorification of the saints at the second coming of Christ and the importance of Christ’s resurrection as a guarantee of the future resurrection of believers. The Pulpit Commentary discusses the chronological sequence of resurrection as outlined by Paul and the identification of believers as those who belong to Christ. These insights tend to highlight the centrality of the resurrection in Christian faith and eschatology.
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