Prev1 Corinthians 15:53Next

1 Corinthians 15

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?

I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:

And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:

But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.

There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

What does 1 Corinthians 15:53 mean?

Explanation

1 Corinthians 15:53 speaks to the transformation that believers in Jesus Christ are promised at the end of times.

In this passage, the "corruptible" refers to the human body in its current, mortal state, which is subject to decay and death.

The "incorruption" mentioned here symbolizes a state of eternal existence, free from the limitations and frailties of the current physical body.

The "mortal" is our life-limited existence on Earth that ends in death, whereas "immortality" is the eternal, deathless state that believers are expected to enter following the resurrection.

The apostle Paul explains that this change is necessary because corruptible flesh cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

Top Rated 1 Corinthians Books

Historical Context

1 Corinthians 15 is part of a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the Christian church in Corinth, which he had founded during his second missionary journey.

Corinth was a significant city in ancient Greece, known for its wealth, trade, and diversity of religious beliefs.

This chapter addresses concerns and questions about the resurrection of the dead, which was a concept that faced skepticism among the Greeks.

During this time, there was also confusion among the Corinthians about the nature of the physical body and the resurrection.

Theological Insights

Christian theologians often refer to 1 Corinthians 15:53 to discuss eschatological beliefs, the study of the end times and the final destiny of souls.

The verse suggests a future event where believers will be transformed to exist eternally.

This aligns with the Christian doctrine of resurrection, where it is believed Christ's resurrection is the first fruit and believers will follow.

Different theological traditions, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism, interpret the details of this transformation according to their broader eschatological frameworks but generally agree on the promise of a glorified body.

Practical Applications

1 Corinthians 15:53 can inspire hope for Christians, reminding them of the promised eternal life. It may provide comfort in times of grief and loss, highlighting the belief in a future resurrection where mortality is overcome.

This verse can motivate believers to live with an eternal perspective, valuing spiritual growth and moral integrity, considering the transient nature of the current world in comparison to the promised eternal existence.

Cross-References

1 Corinthians 15:42-44: "So also is the resurrection of the dead.

It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:"

1 Corinthians 15:54-57: "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality..."
2 Corinthians 5:1-4: "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God..."
Romans 8:20-21: "For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,"
Philippians 3:20-21: "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:"

Language Study

The word "corruptible" (φθαρτὸν in Greek) refers to something that is perishable or subject to decay.

The term "incorruption" (ἀφθαρσίαν) depicts an imperishable or undying state.

"Mortal" (θνητὸν) describes something that is subject to death, while "immortality" (ἀθανασίαν) has a sense of deathlessness and eternal life. This language illustrates the contrast between life now and life in the age to come according to Christian eschatology.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Many ancient cultures have myths regarding immortality and transformation.

For example, the ancient Greeks believed in the idea of an immortal soul reaching a divine realm, as seen in their myths about the afterlife and the Elysian Fields.

In the Egyptian religion, the concept of the afterlife involved the transformation or transmutation of the soul into a glorified form.

However, unlike these myths, Christian theology uniquely centers on the physical resurrection, not just the immortality of the soul.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the concepts of "incorruption" and "immortality" do not align with the natural processes known to biology and physics, where decay and entropy are fundamental laws.

The verse represents a supernatural belief in a transformation that transcends natural laws.

While science can provide no evidence for such events, the themes have been explored in fields such as gerontology, which studies aging, and cryonics, which banks on future technologies to overcome death.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and theologians have elaborated on this verse, emphasizing the dramatic contrast between the perishable nature of the earthly body and the glorified body believers are promised in the resurrection.

Matthew Henry's Commentary, for example, describes the change from corruption to incorruption as a mystery of Christianity and a powerful motivation for holiness.

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible highlights that this change must occur to inherit the kingdom of God, which is designed for eternal beings.

Contemporary theologians may speak about this verse in the context of Christian hope and the ultimate victory over death proclaimed in the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 15

1 Corinthians 15

What does 1 Corinthians 15:53 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated 1 Corinthians Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does 1 Corinthians 15:53 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated 1 Corinthians Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?