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1 corinthians 15:42-52

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1 Corinthians 15:42-52

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”

— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

42. So also [is] the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43. It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a quickening spirit. 46. Howbeit that [was] not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47. The first man [is] of the earth, earthy: the second man [is] the Lord from heaven. 48. As [is] the earthy, such [are] they also that are earthy: and as [is] the heavenly, such [are] they also that are heavenly. 49. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52. 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.

1 Corinthians 15:42-52 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on 1 Corinthians 15:42

Theological / Devotional

Sown in corruption. Paul returns to the comparison between the vegetable kingdom and man (vs. 37, 38). He speaks of the bodies of the redeemed as seed sown in the ground, seed that will produce a harvest for God’s kingdom. The graveyard is sometimes appropriately called God’s acre. The dissolution that quietly goes on there, out of sight, is preliminary to the glorious resurrection, when the winter of this world’s history is past and eternal spring dawns with the coming of Christ (see 1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:16).

It is raised. Paul affirms that the resurrection of the righteous dead with glorified bodies not only is possible, but will actually take place. This is one of the most encouraging truths that can be presented to those who in this life are wasting away with disease, and who look forward with dread to the grave.

Incorruption. The resurrected body of the believer will never again be subject to sickness, decay, or dissolution.

By SdaBc