As
we have borne the image of those made of dust, let’s also bear the image of the heavenly. Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood can’t inherit God’s Kingdom; neither does the perishable inherit imperishable.
Context / meaning
1 Corinthians 15 [40.] There are also celestial bodies, and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial differs from that of the terrestrial. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown perishable; it is raised imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; 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 also a spiritual body.
1 Corinthians 15 [45.] So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” [c] The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However that which is spiritual isn’t first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let’s[d] also bear the image of the heavenly. Now I say this, brothers,[e] that flesh and blood can’t inherit God’s Kingdom; neither does the perishable inherit imperishable.
1 Corinthians 15 [51.] Behold,[f] I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”[g]
1 Corinthians 15 [55.] “Death, where is your sting? Hades,[h] where is your victory?”[i]
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Footnotes:
c. 1 Corinthians 15:45 Genesis 2:7.
d. 1 Corinthians 15:49 NU, TR read “we will” instead of “let’s”.
e. 1 Corinthians 15:50 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
f. 1 Corinthians 15:51 “Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
g. 1 Corinthians 15:54 Isaiah 25:8.
h. 1 Corinthians 15:55 or, Hell.
I. 1 Corinthians 15:55 compare Hosea 13:14.
heaven - world
we have borne the image of those made of dust, let’s also bear the image of the heavenly. Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood can’t inherit God’s Kingdom; neither does the perishable inherit imperishable.
1 Corinthians 15:49-50
Context / meaning
1 Corinthians 15 [40.] There are also celestial bodies, and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial differs from that of the terrestrial. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown perishable; it is raised imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; 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 also a spiritual body.
1 Corinthians 15 [45.] So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” [c] The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However that which is spiritual isn’t first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let’s[d] also bear the image of the heavenly. Now I say this, brothers,[e] that flesh and blood can’t inherit God’s Kingdom; neither does the perishable inherit imperishable.
1 Corinthians 15 [51.] Behold,[f] I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”[g]
1 Corinthians 15 [55.] “Death, where is your sting? Hades,[h] where is your victory?”[i]
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Footnotes:
c. 1 Corinthians 15:45 Genesis 2:7.
d. 1 Corinthians 15:49 NU, TR read “we will” instead of “let’s”.
e. 1 Corinthians 15:50 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
f. 1 Corinthians 15:51 “Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
g. 1 Corinthians 15:54 Isaiah 25:8.
h. 1 Corinthians 15:55 or, Hell.
I. 1 Corinthians 15:55 compare Hosea 13:14.
heaven - world