1 Corinthians 15:35-49
Summary for 1Cor 15:35-58: 15:35-58 a Paul discusses the nature of resurrection bodies, perhaps responding to skeptical questions. In the Greco-Roman world, belief in the immortality of the soul was common, but not belief in the resurrection of the body.15:36 b What a foolish question! Paul’s strong response suggests that the question is skeptical. It might also imply that the answer is unknowable.
Summary for 1Cor 15:37-39: 15:37-39 c Just as the shape of a plant does not resemble the seed, yet the plant’s growth is determined by the kind of seed, so the resurrection body will be unlike the present body, yet identifiable as belonging to the same person.
Summary for 1Cor 15:40-41: 15:40-41 d Everything that God has made has its own glory—its own unique beauty and magnificence. The resurrection body will be unlike anything else.
Summary for 1Cor 15:42-44: 15:42-44 e Just as growing plants differ from the seeds out of which they sprout, so resurrection bodies will be vastly unlike our mortal bodies.
Summary for 1Cor 15:45-49: 15:45-49 f Adam and Christ founded two distinct humanities: One is natural and earthly, enslaved to sin and death; the other is spiritual and heavenly, purified and destined for life. Adam represents the natural (physical) body and Christ the spiritual (resurrection) body. See also 15:21-22 g; Rom 5:12-21 h.
Summary for 1Cor 15:45-46: 15:45-46 i Just as Christ’s life-giving Spirit supersedes the natural life, the spiritual body will supersede the physical body.
15:47 j made from the dust of the earth: Adam’s earthly origin (Gen 2:7 k) is here contrasted with Christ’s heavenly origin.
15:48 l Earthly people (literally those of the dust): Like Adam, natural human beings are under the curse of sin and death. All return to dust (see Gen 3:19 m)—they all die.
• heavenly people are like the heavenly man: Those who belong to Christ are like him in having an unending spiritual life.
15:49 n Like the earthly man, Adam, we have physical bodies in this life. But we will someday be like Christ, the heavenly man, experiencing the Kingdom of God in resurrection bodies (cp. Rom 6:4-14 o).
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