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1
Corinthians Chapter Fifteen
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Faith of Resurrection of Christians
A. The importance of Christ’s resurrection ----
(v.1-4);
B. The assurance of Christ’s resurrection (v.5-11):
1. The appearing of the risen Christ (v.5-8);
2. The testimony of Paul himself (v.9-11);
C. The faith of Christ’s resurrection (v.12-19);
1. Christ has risen, and the dead will rise (v.12-16).
2. If Christ is not risen, our faith is futile (v.17-19).
D. The result of Christ’s resurrection (v.);
1. He has become the first-fruits
of those who have fallen asleep (v.20-23).
2. He brings the
E. The effect of Christ’s resurrection (v.29-34):
1. The faith of resurrection is the pillar of
our walking today (v.29-32).
2. The faith of resurrection makes us live more
sober (v.33-34).
F. The body of Christ’s resurrection (v.35-49);
1. The difference of the bodies after resurrection
(v.35-42a);
2. The nature of the risen body (v.42b-49);
G. The hope of Christ’s resurrection (v.);
1. The body will be transformed (v.50-53).
2. Death is swallowed up in victory (v.54-57).
3. The labor today is not in vain in the Lord (v.58).
II.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1Cor. 15:1 “Moreover, brethren, I
declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and
in which you stand,”
YLT: “And I make known to you, brethren, the good news that I
proclaimed to you, which also ye did receive, in which also ye have stood,”
Literal
Meaning: “moreover, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you”, Paul here repeats
again the gospel which he preached to the Corinthians to remind them that they
should hold fast the gospel.
“Which also you received and in which you stand”, “the gospel” refers to the full gospel
that the believers have received, namely, the whole revelation of the New
Testament;
Enlightenment
in the Word: “which also you received and
in which you stand”, that we receive
the gospel is not appreciating a empty theory, but receiving the risen Christ
into us and letting Him our Lord and relying on Him in everything so that we
can stand firm without being stumbled.
1Cor. 15:2 “by which also you are
saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed
in vain.”
YLT: “through which also ye are being saved, in what words I
proclaimed good news to you, if ye hold fast, except ye did believe in vain,”
Meaning
of Words: “in
vain”: without a cause, idly, without effect;
Literal
Meaning: “unless you believed in vain”, “believed in vain”, it indicates that if the content of the
gospel is alternated or the important part of the gospel is eliminated, the
effect of man’s faith will be lost. It is a conditional negative tone ---- if
you have not changed the content of the gospel.
“If you hold fast that word which I preached to you”, it is to hold fast the whole truth that
Paul had preached to them.
“By which also you are saved”, once we have believed, our spirits have been
saved. However, it obviously also includes the salvation of the soul here.
Today, when we are in the process that our souls are saved today, we shall go
ahead on the way of salvation by the life of the Lord (
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) To receive Jesus is to believe His name.
When Paul preached the gospel, he preached the Lord’s death and resurrection.
If they received and believed, they would “stand … be saved” (v.1-2). Their
being saved and standing have revealed the truth of the gospel ---- Jesus died,
and rose again.
2) If someone asks me what the proof of the
resurrection of Jesus is, I will answer it is the
3) When every believer receives the gospel, he
has set foot on and will walk on the way of salvation. Our soul needs to be
saved gradually and daily. Worldly views, natural affections and the will of
the old man should be changed until we are just like the Lord.
1Cor. 15:3 “For I delivered to you
first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins
according to the Scriptures,”
YLT: “for I delivered to you first, what also I did receive,
that Christ died for our sins, according to the Writings,”
Literal
Meaning: “for I delivered to you that
which I also received”, “receive”, it
shows that what Paul preached was not created by him, but received from the
Lord. “Deliver”, it indicates that his own task was delivering the message.
“First of all that Christ died for our sins according to
the Scriptures”, “first of all”, it refers to the order of his account.
“Christ”: the name of the Savior; “According to the Scriptures”, all things that had happened to Christ were
according to the prophets in the Old Testament.
“Died
for our sins”, the gospel is not
He was crucified merely, but that He was crucified “for our sins”.
Enlightenment
in the Word: the excellent proof
of the gospel is the experience of those who have heard, and received and
believed ---- they prove the value of the Lord’s death for us and declare the
significance of the Lord’s resurrection.
1Cor. 15:4 “and that He was buried, and
that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,”
YLT: “and that he was buried, and that he hath risen on the
third day, according to the Writings,”
Literal
Meaning: “and that He was buried”, “was buried”, it indicated
that the death of Christ was a fact instead of transitory disappearance ---- He
truly died.
“And according to the Scriptures”, the
prophecy that Christ will rise is recorded in
the Book of Psalm (16:10).
“That He rose again the third day”, if Christ was only punished for our sins and yet
had not risen, he could not justify us or quicken us (
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) There are three foundations of the gospel:
a) the Lord died for our sins; b) He was buried;
c) He rose
again.
2) The risen Jesus is the rock of our faith, so
we should make sure it is true. However, it is insufficient to know rationally
only. And the real problem is whether the risen Lord Jesus has revealed to us.
3) The death and burial of Christ are
“according to the Scriptures” (v.3), so is the resurrection of Christ, which
shows that the death and resurrection of Christ were predominated and active.
All the hindrances and interruptions of the enemy are in vain. Christ is always
the Head and always victorious!
4) The death of the Lord Jesus has dealt with
our problem of sins, and His resurrection yet brings us positive effect ---- He
grants us His life, through which we can live.
1Cor. 15:5 “and that He was seen by
Cephas, then by the twelve.”
YLT: “and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve,”
Literal
Meaning: “and that He was seen by Cephas”, it happened after the
two disciples in Emmaus had witnessed the manifestation of the risen Lord and
before they returned to
“Then by the twelve”, “twelve” refers to the
whole group of the apostles instead of the exact number of the apostles. Since
Judas at that time hanged himself and Thomas was not absent, there were
actually ten apostles. Eight days later, Thomas was present when the risen
Christ manifested again (John 20:19, 26).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The manifestation of the Lord was for the
purpose of proving the resurrection. Therefore, every time when the Lord
reveals to us in our spirit, the risen Christ will be made known to us more
perfect.
2) All the apostles witnessed the revelation
of the Lord Jesus after His resurrection so that they could be witnesses of the
risen Christ (Acts 1:22) and their messages would bear witness to the
resurrection of Christ (Acts 2:32; 4:33) and even their life also testified the
risen Christ. We believers should also turn to the Lord and look on the glory
of the Lord with unveiled face (see 2Cor.3:16-18) so that we can be witnesses
of Christ’s resurrection.
1Cor. 15:6 “After that He was seen by
over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the
present, but some have fallen asleep.”
YLT: “afterwards he appeared to above five hundred brethren
at once, of whom the greater part remain till now, and certain also did fall
asleep;”
Literal
Meaning: “after that He was seen by
over five hundred brethren at once”, it might happen on the appointed mountain in
“Of whom the greater part remain to the present”, “remain to the present”, it meant that they
were still alive in the world when Paul wrote the First Epistle to the Corinthians. This epistle was a public
letter. If anyone who opposed Paul went to find any disciple who was alive to
accuse Paul of lying, there would be no Christianity today.
“But some have fallen asleep”, “have fallen asleep”: have been dead;
1Cor. 15:7 “After that He was seen by
James, then by all the apostles.”
YLT: “afterwards he appeared to James, then to all the
apostles.”
Literal
Meaning: “after that He was seen by
James”, “James” was the physical brother of the Lord Jesus
(Matt. 13:55), he did not believe the Lord at first (see John 7:5). However, he
believed the Lord later for the Lord appeared to him (see Acts 1:3, 14).
Therefore, his repenting and believing in the Lord were a proof of the Lord’s
resurrection.
“Then by all the apostles”, it might refer to the last manifestation of the
Lord to all the apostles before His ascension ---- He commanded them to wait
for the coming upon of the Spirit and receive power to be witnesses of the Lord
(Acts 1:4-11).
1Cor. 15:8 “Then last of all He was
seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.”
YLT: “And last of all -- as to the untimely birth -- he
appeared also to me,”
Literal
Meaning: “then last of all He was seen
by me also”, “last”: in the
end; the Lord Jesus manifested Paul after His ascension (Acts 9:1-5).
“As by one born out
of due time”, it was self-abasement of Paul, who describes himself as a
prematurely born baby that had not undergone the normal process. It might be
because Paul had not followed the Lord Jesus when He began to preach but was
called after the Lord’s resurrection. This was an abnormal condition, and was
different from other disciples.
Enlightenment
in the Word: even Paul who was
as a born out of due time in spirit can be used by the Lord, how much rather
shall those who have been superiorly cultivated from the outset be used by the
Lord and devote all themselves for the sake of the gospel?
1Cor. 15:9 “For I am the least of the
apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the
YLT: “for I am the
least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I did
persecute the assembly of God,”
Literal
Meaning: “for I am the least of the
apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle”,
there might be two reasons for Paul’s these
words: firstly, he was humble. Secondly, he was not an apostle called by the
Lord in His flesh and he persecuted the church after the Lord’s resurrection,
but he turned to serve the Lord after the Lord’s manifestation. Therefore, he
thought he was unworthy to be called an apostle.
“Because I persecuted the
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Paul, was primitively named Saul (Acts 9:4),
and he changed his name after he was saved. Paul means “littleness”. The Lord’s
workers should not be puffed up, but shall be willing to be humble to serve
all.
2) Man like Paul who persecuted the
1Cor. 15:10 “But by the grace of God I
am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more
abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
YLT: “and by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace
that towards me came not in vain, but more abundantly than they all did I
labour, yet not I, but the grace of God that with me;”
Literal
Meaning: “but”: nevertheless;
“I am what I am”, it refers to his present status and achievements;
“By the grace of God”, the tremendous transformation of Paul was totally
out of the grace of God.
“And His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored
more abundantly than they all”, it was the proof of the Lord’s resurrection that
Paul repented to be an apostle and was willing to labor more abundantly.
“Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me”, the grace of God is with Paul, which
makes him more laborious than all the apostles.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “But by the grace of God I am what I am”, the grace of God
makes our present condition.
2) The grace of God makes every turning point
of one’s life. The value of our life does not depend on our ability or effort,
but on the grace of God.
3) If we can love the Lord more than others and
serve the Lord more diligently, it is not that we are good but that the grace
of God is with us.
1Cor. 15:11 “Therefore, whether it was I
or they, so we preach and so you believed.”
YLT: “whether, then, I or they, so we preach, and so ye did
believe.”
Literal
Meaning: “therefore, whether it was I
or they”, no matter Paul or all the apostles, all of them had
witnessed the resurrection of the Lord, so they counted the resurrection as the
three great elements of the gospel (death, burial and resurrection).
“So we preach and so you believed”, “so we preach”: it refers to the content of the
gospel, namely, what is mentioned in verse three and four. “So you believed”,
the gospel that believers in
1Cor. 15:12 “Now if Christ is preached
that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is
no resurrection of the dead?”
YLT: “And if Christ is preached, that out of the dead he hath
risen, how say certain among you, that there is no rising again of dead
persons?”
Literal
Meaning: “how do some among you say
that there is no resurrection of the dead?” “Some among you”, it referred to the false
teachers in the church at
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Many times, those who preach the heresy may
not deny or oppose some truth in the Scriptures directly, but lead believers
astray with some oblique saying.
2) Christ has been raised from the dead, so those who believe Him shall also be raised
from the dead. Christ is the pioneer of the way of faith (see Heb. 6:20). What
He has experienced will also be experienced by us.
3) If there is no resurrection of the dead, God
is the God of the dead, not of the living. However, He is the God of the living
(Matt. 22:32). If Christ has not been raised from the dead, He is a dead Savior
instead of a living Savior. However, he is living to the ages of ages (Rev.
1:18).
1Cor. 15:13 “But if there is no
resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.”
YLT: “and if there be no rising again of dead persons,
neither hath Christ risen;”
Literal
Meaning: we can see from
this verse that they apparently deny the resurrection of the dead but actually
they scheme to deny the resurrection of Christ.
1Cor. 15:14 “And if Christ is not risen,
then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.”
YLT: “and if Christ hath not risen, then void our preaching,
and void also your faith,”
Meaning
of Words: “empty”:
vain, useless, of no effect;
Literal
Meaning: “and if Christ is not risen”, if Christ cannot
overcome the death;
“Then our preaching is empty”, the Christ preached by the apostles is a Savior
who can deliver man from sins and death. However, if He Himself cannot overcome
the death, how can He save others?
“And your faith is also empty”, if what man preaches is wrong, what man believes
is empty.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Today, the infidels say that Jesus Christ
rises in spirit or mind but not in body. Such man actually intends to overthrow
the testimony testified by the apostles and not believe the body of Jesus
Christ is risen. The so-called spiritual resurrection is an abstract noun. The
spirit is not a physical life, so it has nothing to do with resurrection.
2) The most important point of our faith is to
believe the Lord’s death and resurrection. It is truly doubtless of the
resurrection of the Lord, for there is the record of the Scriptures as well as eye-witnesses
(v.3-7). If the Lord has not been raised, He is just like the founders of
religions who are in death and yet can not deliver them from death. How can He
save us? Therefore, if we do not believe the Lord’s resurrection firmly and
thoroughly, the preachment and the faith of the gospel are both empty, and we
all “still in sins” (v.17) ---- we have no hope of the coming ages at all, and
are of all men
the most pitiable. And it would be
better to eat
and drink and spend the whole
life aimlessly, for everything comes to an end when we die (v.17, 19, 32).
3) If Christ is not living, everything of us
has become empty and dead: no content and no life. The preachment and the faith
of the gospel are empty, everything will not be practical.
1Cor. 15:15 “Yes, and we are found false
witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ,
whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise.”
YLT: “and we also are found false witnesses of God, because
we did testify of God that He raised up the Christ, whom He did not raise if
then dead persons do not rise;”
Literal
Meaning: “because we have testified of
God that He raised up Christ”, the apostles testified again and again that God
raised Christ (see Acts 1:22; 2:31-33; 4:2; 17:18; 23:6; 24:15, 21).
“Whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise”, if there was no resurrection of the dead,
Christ had not been raised from the dead (see v.13). If Christ had not been
raised from the dead, it proved that God had not raised Christ up.
1Cor. 15:16 “For if the dead do not
rise, then Christ is not risen.”
YLT: “for if dead persons do not rise, neither hath Christ
risen,”
Literal
Meaning: it emphasizes the
words of verse thirteen again.
1Cor. 15:17 “And if Christ is not risen,
your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!”
YLT: “and if Christ hath not risen, vain is your faith, ye
are yet in your sins;”
Meaning
of Words: “futile”:
vain, empty;
Literal
Meaning: “and if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile”,
it emphasizes the words of verse fourteen
again.
“You are still in your sins!” ---- Christ was marked out Son of God in
power by resurrection of dead Jesus Christ our Lord (
Note that Paul does not
say the condemnation has not been removed, for Christ was dead and the
condemnation had also been eliminated. However, if Christ had not been raised
from the dead, we were still in sins. Here we see the significance of the
resurrection.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Jesus had paid our debt of sins on the
cross. His resurrection was like the receipt sent by God. If Jesus had not been
raised from the dead, it showed that the ransom price had not been paid and we
still owned God.
2) If Christ had not been raised, that He is
the Son of God and He is Christ sent by God could not been proved and His death
was valueless, and it was a problem whether He had the right to redeem us.
3) The death of Christ saves us from the
condemnation of sins. The resurrection of Christ delivers us from the power of
sin (see
1Cor. 15:18 “Then also those who have
fallen asleep in Christ have perished.”
YLT: “then, also, those having fallen asleep in Christ did
perish;”
Literal
Meaning: if those who have believed
Christ and have also fallen asleep have believed a wrong object, their will
perish.
1Cor. 15:19 “If in this life only we
have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.”
YLT: “if in this life we have hope in Christ only, of all men
we are most to be pitied.”
Literal
Meaning: “if in this life only we have
hope in Christ”, if man can not rise, there will not be the
so-called future life or eternal life, and all hope will be thus confined in
this life only.
If there is no resurrection, we will have no future or hope toward the
future. All the hope of Christians relates to our resurrection, e.g. Christ is
the hope of glory (
“We are of all men the most pitiable”, “all men” refer to men in the world. Men
in the world enjoy this life because of the absence of the cares for the coming
age. However, if we Christians suffer various persecutions and troubles for the
sake of our faith but have no hope in the future, we are of all men the most
pitiable.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Since we follow Christ, we may suffer loss
or be persecuted or be humiliated by men or sacrifice the temporary pleasure of
sin in this life. If we finally still enter the eternal darkness, we are of all
men the most pitiable, aren’t we?
2) How transient this life is! And how long the
eternal life is! How foolish it is that one exchanges eternal perdition for the
present pleasantness! However, if troubles in this life could exchange for
eternal blessings, we would be only too glad to do it! Since we believers have
the hope of resurrection, we divert our sight from this life into the eternal
life and see the inheritance in the future from afar off so that we can run on
the way of troubles with joy (see
Heb. 11:13).
1Cor. 15:20 “But now Christ is risen
from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
YLT: “And now, Christ hath risen out of the dead -- the
first-fruits of those sleeping he became,”
Literal
Meaning: “and has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep”, “those who have fallen asleep” refer to Christians who have departed from
the world. “The
first-fruits”, it is the proof that the rest fruits will
also be ripe. The resurrection of Christ is like the first fruit, which is the
proof that all believers shall also rise. The resurrection of Christ proves
that all believers shall also rise. Though believers will rise in the future,
since Christ has already risen, we know that we will also rise according to the
risen Christ. It is just like that we know that the rest fruits will be ripe
soon when we see the first-fruits.
The
day of the first-fruits of the
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “The first-fruits” are the assurance and
sample of all the fruits in the future. The first-fruits will ensure the rest
fruits will ripe. The color and character of the rest fruits depend on that of
the first-fruits. Thank the Lord! Christ is the first-fruit of us. Since He has
risen and entered into full glory, He will guarantee that we who believe Him
shall also enter full glory with Him and be like Him completely.
2) Christ is the first-fruit, and the
victorious Christians are also first-fruits, for they imitate Christ ---- these
are they who follow the Lamb wherever it goes (see Rev. 14:4).
1Cor. 15:21 “For since by man came
death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.”
YLT: “for since through man the death, also through man a
rising again of the dead,”
Literal
Meaning: “for since by man came
death”, when Adam sinned, death passed upon all men (see
“By Man also came the
resurrection of the dead”, since Jesus
Christ has risen, those who believe Him will also rise again (John 11:25).
1Cor. 15:22 “For as in Adam all die,
even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”
YLT: “for even as in Adam all die, so also in the Christ all
shall be made alive,”
Literal
Meaning: “for as in Adam all die”, all men in Adam are
dead in spirit (see Eph. 2:11), and their bodies will die sooner or later. And
through fear of death, they are bondmen of the devil who has the might of death
(Heb. 2:15).
“Even so in Christ all shall be made alive”,
we are the new creation in Christ (see 2Cor. 5:17) and will rise in the future.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Men in Adam are doomed to death. After they
are born, they walk on the way of death. Men do not live everyday, but are
dying everyday. When death works in men, they are running into death.
2) However, men in Christ have changed their
dwelling places and walk on the way of life and run into life from the day when
they are saved. Everyday, we experience the risen life of Christ, so we “live”
everyday. And the more we live, the more we will grow up and the more we will
be transformed. One day, when we meet the Lord, our bodies will be redeemed and
be changed completely and live to ages of ages.
1Cor. 15:23 “But each one in his own
order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.”
YLT: “and each in his proper order, a first-fruit Christ,
afterwards those who are the Christ's, in his presence,”
Literal
Meaning: “but each one in his own
order”, “order”: order of
time; everyone will rise according to his order in different time.
“Christ the first-fruits”, Jesus Christ is the
first one who truly rise from the dead, so He is the first-fruit. The
resurrection of others, like Lazarus and the saints who have fallen asleep
arose when the Lord yielded up the spirit, are transient (see John 12:1; Matt.
27:52-53), so they can not be counted as the first-fruits.
“Afterward those who are Christ's at His
coming”, the saints who have fallen asleep will also rise when the Lord comes
again (1Thess. 4:16). It is called the first resurrection in the Scriptures
(Rev. 20:5). The resurrections before the first one are transient ---- for
instance, the resurrection of Dorcas (Acts 9:40-41) and etc. ---- so they are
not the first resurrection.
Paul compares the order of resurrection with
the condition that the army returns in triumph: the ruler is the foremost and
the second one is the army and the captives are in the end. The order of
resurrection is: Christ is the first, and believers before the kingdom of one
thousand years after, and those who hindmost. The first is the first-fruit, and
the second is the harvest, and the last one is burning the useless things after
threshing grains (see v.24).
1Cor. 15:24 “Then comes the end, when He
delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all
authority and power.”
YLT: “then -- the end, when he may deliver up the reign to
God, even the Father, when he may have made useless all rule, and all authority
and power --”
Literal
Meaning: “then comes the end”, “end”: the end of
the old heaven and the old earth (see Rev. 20:11; 2Pet. 3:10).
“When He puts an end to all rule and all authority and
power”, “when…”, after the kingdom of one thousand years
(see Rev. 20:7-10); “all
rule and all authority and power”,
it refers to Satan and His messengers (see Eph. 1:21). “Put an end”: be cast
into the lake of fire and brimstone (see Rev. 20:10; Matt. 25:41).
“When He delivers the kingdom to God the Father”, “kingdom” refers to the
1Cor. 15:25 “For He must reign till He
has put all enemies under His feet.”
YLT: “for it behoveth him to reign till he may have put all
the enemies under his feet --”
Literal
Meaning: “for He must reign”, it is before Christ delivers
the kingdom to God the Father: what the seventh angel sounded: “the kingdom of
the world of our Lord and of his Christ is come, and he shall reign” (Rev.
11:15).
“Till He has put all enemies under His
feet”, it reveals the perfect victory of Christ. “Till”, when Christ reigns in
the kingdom of a thousand years, the end of Satan has not come (see Rev. 20:7).
When the appointed time of God comes, Satan will be put under the feet of
Christ (Heb. 1:13; Ps. 110:1).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Since Christ is such a victorious king, we
need not fear the attacks of Satan, for it had been early defeated by the Lord.
As long as we rely on the Lord closely, we will overcome the devil in
everything.
2) The church is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:23;
1Cor. 15:26 “The last enemy that will be
destroyed is death.”
YLT: “the last enemy is done away -- death;”
Literal
Meaning: “the last”: the end (v.24), when the old heaven and
the old earth; “death”: be cast into the lake of fire with Hades (see Rev.
20:14).
Death is the last enemy, for the devil has the might of death, through
which he enslaves sinners (see Heb. 2:14-15). And the souls of dead sinners are
held in Hades by death. Therefore, death and Hades will be lastly destroyed
after giving up the dead in them (see Rev. 20:13-14).
1Cor. 15:27 “For "He has put all
things under His feet." But when He says "all things are put under
Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted.”
YLT: “for all things He did put under his feet, and, when one
may say that all things have been subjected, evident that He is excepted who
did subject the all things to him,”
Literal
Meaning: “for”, the following scriptures are quoted from the Book of Psalm (8:6).
“He has put all things under His feet”, “under”: be in subjection to; it
indicates that it is the will of God that Christ shall reign and destroy all
the enemies (v.25-26) and inherit all (see Eph. 1:22; Heb. 2:8; 1Pet. 3:22).
“But when He says "all things are put under
Him," It is evident that He who
put all things under Him is excepted.”
“He who put
all things under Him”, it refers to God
the Father.
1Cor. 15:28 “Now when all things are
made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put
all things under Him, that God may be all in all.”
YLT: “and when the all things may be subjected to him, then
the Son also himself shall be subject to Him, who did subject to him the all
things, that God may be the all in all.”
Literal
Meaning: “now when all things are made
subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all
things under Him”, “Him”: God the Son, namely, Christ; “Him who put all things
under Him”: God the Father;
The persons of the Holy Trinity: the Son is on an equality with God the Father
(see Phil. 2:6), for the Son and the Father are one (John 10:30). And as for
the work of God, the Son confesses that the Father is greater than Him (John
14:28).
“That God may be all in all”, “God” refers
to the Holy Trinity, for Christ shall reign with God the Father for ever (see
Rev. 11:15; 19:6).
1Cor. 15:29 “Otherwise, what will they
do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are
they baptized for the dead?”
YLT: “Seeing what shall they do who are baptized for the
dead, if the dead do not rise at all? why also are they baptized for the dead?”
Literal
Meaning: there are different
views upon this view on theology:
1) At that time, there was a strange custom in
the church ---- the dead believers could be baptized again. Paul did not
approve this custom, for it was opposite to his habitual view of paying attention
to reality instead of letters (see Rom. 2:28-29; Col. 2:14-17; 1Cor. 1:17). And
such custom disappeared soon. Paul just attacked their shield with their spear.
Though he did not approve this custom, he used it to prove that man needed not
be baptized if he did not believe the resurrection of the dead.
2) The relatives of believers were baptized
when they were living because of being touched by the dead believers in the
hope that they could still be gathered when the dead rose in the future.
3) Here “the dead” were believers who had been
dead, but they were baptized when they lived. And when Paul now mentioned their
baptism, he called “who
are baptized for the dead”.
4) It is a saying with implied meanings, such
as “die daily” (v.31), “have fought with beasts” (v.32). “Dead”: those who are dead in
spirit (Eph. 2:1); “Be baptized” refers to the suffering (see Luke 12:50).
Believers suffer the troubles caused by unbelievers for the sake of the hope of
resurrection.
The first and second views
are reasonable. But the last two ones are rather farfetched.
1Cor. 15:30 “And why do we stand in
jeopardy every hour?”
YLT: “why also do we stand in peril every hour?”
Literal
Meaning: it indicates that
Christians should often face with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of
faith (see Acts 14:22). If we do not believe the dead will rise in the future,
we need not adhere to our faith and oppose to compromise with the world.
1Cor. 15:31 “I affirm, by the boasting
in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.”
YLT: “Every day do I die, by the glorying of you that I have
in Christ Jesus our Lord:”
Literal
Meaning: “I affirm, by the boasting
in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord”,
“boast in Christ”, it indicates that all his achievements
are not out of himself, but of Christ. Therefore, he can only boast in Christ
(see Phil. 3:3).
“I die daily”,
Paul suffered many persecutions and dangers for the sake of preaching the
gospel (see 2Cor. 11:23-27, 32-33).
1Cor. 15:32 “If, in the manner of men, I
have fought with beasts at
YLT: “if after the manner of a man with wild beasts I fought
in
Literal
Meaning: “if, in the manner of men”, “in the manner of men”, the manner like men in the world;
“I have fought with beasts at
“What advantage is it to me”? He faced with the
challenge of death so bravely. But if there was no resurrection of the dead, he
profited nothing.
“If the dead do not rise, "Let us eat and drink, for
tomorrow we die!" If mean does not
rise after death, man shall eat and drink to enjoy life when he lives.
Otherwise, if he dies tomorrow, it will be late, for everything finishes after
death.
Enlightenment
in the Word: since men have no
hope after death, the world live with the attitude of “living for today not
tomorrow”. However, we believers live with a total different attitude for the
sake of the hope of resurrection.
1Cor. 15:33 “Do not be deceived:
"Evil company corrupts good habits."”
YLT: “Be not led astray; evil communications corrupt good
manners;”
Meaning of Words:
Literal
Meaning: “do not be deceived”, Paul often uses this
word to warn others (see 1Cor. 3:18; 6:9; Gal. 6:7).
“"Evil company corrupts good habits."” ---- “Evil company”: evil fellowship; “corrupt”: decay as the wood;
“good habits”: good morality, or “the manner of Christians”.
There were many false teachers in the church
at
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) A common saying goes like this: he that lies
down with dogs must rise up with fleas. We believers should beware of the
objects that we have fellowship with so as not to be entangled by them and that
our testimony will not be destroyed.
2) We believers should love one another in
truth (2John 1-2). If we go forward the love in truth, we may be partakes in
the wicked works of others (2John 9-11).
1Cor. 15:34 “Awake to righteousness, and
do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your
shame.”
YLT: “awake up, as is right, and sin not; for certain have an
ignorance of God; for shame to you I say.”
Literal
Meaning: “awake to righteousness, and
do not sin”, Paul encouraged
believers in
“For some do not have the knowledge of God”, it indicated that those false teachers
had spiritual knowledge apparently and yet did not know God and His will.
“I speak this to your shame”, “your”, that of believers in
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Though all Christians are “alive”, many of
them did not “stay awake”.
2) We should carefully discern between who has
the knowledge of God and who has not. Otherwise, we may be affected
unconsciously by those who have not the knowledge of God and sin against God.
1Cor. 15:35 “But someone will say,
"How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?"”
YLT: “But some one will say, `How do the dead rise?”
Literal
Meaning: “but someone will say,
"How are the dead raised up”? ---- “Someone” refers to the false teacher, or
refers to the one in the church at
“And with what body do they come?"”, do
they come with the body when they were in the flesh? or with other body?
1Cor. 15:36 “Foolish one, what you sow
is not made alive unless it dies.”
YLT: “unwise! thou -- what thou dost sow is not quickened
except it may die;”
Literal
Meaning: “foolish one”, Paul rebukes them
for their ignorance of truth and spiritual things.
“What you sow”,
here Paul explains the resurrection by the well-known phenomenon of growth of
plants (see John 12:24).
“Is not made alive unless it dies”, the seed
fell on the ground and died, and then yielded life. The flesh of us should die
first and become rotten afterwards. And then the new body will be grown.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) All the seeds of life “not
made alive unless it dies” ---- this is the
law in the universe. Likewise, if the spiritual life we have received has not
passed the long-time death, it will not have the risen image of glory. If
indeed we suffer with Christ, we may also be glorified with Him (see Rom.
8:17).
2) If we believers are always delivered unto
death on account of Jesus, the life also of Jesus will be manifested in our
mortal flesh (2Cor. 4:10-11).
1Cor. 15:37 “And what you sow, you do
not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain--perhaps wheat or some other
grain.”
YLT: “and that which thou dost sow, not the body that shall
be dost thou sow, but bare grain, it may be of wheat, or of some one of the
others,”
Literal
Meaning: “and what you sow, you do not
sow that body that shall be”, “body
that shall be”, the body of the
grain after it has sprouted and grown up;
“But mere grain--perhaps wheat or some other grain”, “grain”: the shape of the seed in its raw
condition, e.g. the seed of wheat or some other grain;
1Cor. 15:38 “But God gives it a body as
He pleases, and to each seed its own body.”
YLT: “and God doth give to it a body according as He willed,
and to each of the seeds its proper body.”
Literal
Meaning: “but God gives it a body as
He pleases”, the body of the grain is given by God as He
pleases.
“And to each seed its own body”, each seed has its respective body.
Enlightenment
in the Word: God sets that law that every
living creature is “after its kind” (Gen. 1:11-12, 21-25). The spiritual life
that we believers have received from the Lord has also the nature of “being after its kind”. This life
makes us not like disorder, but have fellowship with those who have the same
life (see 2Cor. 6:14-18).
1Cor. 15:39 “All flesh is not the same
flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another
of fish, and another of birds.”
YLT: “All flesh not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of
men, and another flesh of beasts, and another of fishes, and another of birds;”
Literal
Meaning: “all flesh is not the same
flesh”, it means that all the animals have different
bodies.
“But there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of
animals, another of fish, and another of birds.” The bodies of men, and of animals, and of fish, and of birds are different.
1Cor. 15:40 “There are also celestial
bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the
glory of the terrestrial is another.”
YLT: “and heavenly bodies, and earthly bodies; but one the
glory of the heavenly, and another that of the earthly;”
Literal
Meaning: “there are also celestial
bodies and terrestrial bodies”, “celestial
bodies” refer to the stars
in the heavens;
“terrestrial bodies” refer to the bodies of animals, vegetation and
minerals.
“But the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of
the terrestrial is another”, “the glory of the celestial”, all the celestial bodies (including the
reflected celestial body, e.g. the moon) shine day and night; “the
glory of the terrestrial is another”,
everything on the earth has its value and manifests its glory from its function
and appearance.
Enlightenment
in the Word: our God does not
like monopoly. The terrestrial bodies He created like trees and flowers have
their glory respectively, so do all the celestial bodies like the sun and the
moon and the stars. These are images of the risen bodies. Since God can give
such beautiful bodies to the old creature, He can also give those who shall be
raised more wonderful and glorious bodies.
1Cor. 15:41 “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.”
YLT: “one glory of sun, and another glory of moon, and
another glory of stars, for star from star doth differ in glory.”
Literal
Meaning: the intensity of
the light of all the celestial bodies in the heaven such as the sun and the
moon and the stars is different. Even it is different among all the stars.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) It is not monotonously the same in the
eternal age in the future, but that everyone has his glory respectively ---- “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.”
Thus the fullness of the glory of Christ is manifested. Therefore, various
differences should be allowed to exist in harmony today in the church so that
the fullness of Christ shall be manifested. If everyone is made mechanically
the same by man’s hands, the principle of God’s eternal work has been
disobeyed.
2) Every light has its glory and differs in
intensity. Every believer is the light in the world (Matt. 5:14) and even the
youngest brother can bear witness to the Lord, though the degree of the light
is different.
1Cor. 15:42 “So also is the resurrection
of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.”
YLT: “So also he rising again of the dead: it is sown in
corruption, it is raised in incorruption;”
Literal
Meaning: “so also is the resurrection
of the dead”, it answers the
question of verse 35.
“The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in
incorruption.” ---- “Sown” refers
to death; “corruption”: physical bodies will be corrupted (see
2Cor. 4:16). “Incorruption”: the risen body will live forever.
1Cor. 15:43 “It is sown in dishonor, it
is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.”
YLT: “it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is
sown in weakness, it is raised in power;”
Literal
Meaning: “it is sown in dishonor, it
is raised in glory”. “Dishonor”: man’s fleshly body carries sins and the
shameful conduct of sins is often exposed therein. Therefore, “nakedness” is
counted as a sign of shame in the Scriptures (see Gen. 3:25). “Glory”, it
indicates that the risen body will be transformed into conformity to the body
of the Son of God of glory (Phil. 3:21).
“It is sown in weakness, it
is raised in power.” “Weakness”, man’s
physical bodies can be ill, hungry or be bound by sin, and man may often feel
strengthless, so it is sown in weakness. “In power”, the risen body can not be infected or entangled
by anything, so it is raised in power.
Enlightenment
in the Word: Lazarus was raised,
but it was not the glorious resurrection, and he still died. When he was
raised, he was still in a dead manner ---- bound feet and hands with grave-clothes,
and his face was bound round with a handkerchief. He was still called “the
dead” in the Scriptures: “the dead came forth” (John 11:44). The resurrection
of us in the future is a better as well as glorious resurrection. Our body will
be transformed into the body as
glorious as the Lord.
1Cor. 15:44 “It is sown a natural body,
it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a
spiritual body.”
YLT: “it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual
body; there is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body;”
Literal
Meaning: “it is sown a natural body”, “natural”: that is of soul; “spiritual”: that is of spirit;
1Cor. 15:45 “And so it is written,
"The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a
life-giving spirit.”
YLT: “so also it hath been written, `The first man Adam
became a living creature,' the last Adam for a life-giving spirit,”
Literal
Meaning: “and so it is written”, the following
scriptures are quoted from the Book of Genesis (Gen. 2:7).
“The last Adam became a life-giving
spirit.” “The last Adam” refers to Jesus Christ; “a life-giving spirit” refers to the Spirit. Here, it clearly
tells us that the Lord Jesus has become the life-giving spirit after
resurrection as well as another Comforter, namely, the spirit of truth. He
comes to be with us and abide in us (see John 14:16-20).
1Cor. 15:46 “However, the spiritual is
not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.”
YLT: “but that which is spiritual not first, but that which
natural, afterwards that which spiritual.”
Literal
Meaning: “however, the spiritual is
not first”, the principle in the Scriptures is that many first shall be last,
and last first (Matt. 19:30; 20:16).
“But the natural, and
afterward the spiritual”, the first is natural and the second is spiritual. God
often elects the second one, e.g. He chose Abel instead of Cain (Gen. 4:4-5),
Ishmael instead of Isaac (Gen. 17:18-19), Jacob instead of Esau (Gen. 25:23).
1Cor. 15:47 “The first man was of the
earth, 1made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.”
YLT: “The first man out of the earth, earthy; the second man
the Lord out of heaven;”
Literal
Meaning: “the first man was of the
earth, 1made of dust”, “the first man” refers to Adam, who was made by God with
dust on the earth (Gen. 2:7), so the first man was of earth as well as of dust.
“The second Man is the Lord from heaven.” “The second Man” is Christ, who came down out of
heaven and is in heaven (John 3:13), so He is from heaven.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Here, it is written, the first one was of the earth, and the second Man is from heaven. The first is natural and the second is spiritual.
The most amazing thing in the Scriptures is that God often chooses the second
one (see Gen. 17:18-19; 25:23; Rom. 9:12-13; Gen. 48:18-19; 1Sam. 8:5; 16:1;
2Sam. 12:14, 24-25). Why? Literally speaking, this chapter talks about the
resurrection of body. However, according to spiritual principles, it tells us
that all that is spiritual is afterward, and all that is fleshly is first. This
is why God chooses the second one and refuses the first one. And God refuses
the first one, but accepts the second one, for the natural one is first and the
second one can not be born from man’s natural body but from the Spirit (John
3:6). Here, we have the “second principle” or “the second law”.
2) Christ is “last Adam” (v.44), which shows
that He finishes all the race of Adam. Christ is “second Man”, which indicates
that He starts a new race. All that is in Christ is also ended in the last Adam
and can also live before God in the second Man. Hallelujah! Christ is the
turning point of all human beings.
1Cor. 15:48 “As was the man of dust, so
also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are
those who are heavenly.”
YLT: “as the earthy, such also the earthy; and as the
heavenly, such also the heavenly;”
Literal
Meaning: “as was the man of dust, so
also are those who are made of dust”,
it points that how Adam sinned and fell into the dust, all those who are in the
flesh will also be dead in sins and transgressions before God and be into the
dust in the end.
“And as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are
heavenly.” It means that how
Christ pleases God (Matt. 3:17; 17:5) and died and ascended into the heaven and
was glorified (Eph. 1:20), all those who are of Him will also be manifested in
glory with Him (Col. 3:4).
Enlightenment
in the Word: Adam was created by
God with dust (Gen. 2:7). How we were sinful and would be dead as Adam in the
past, we will also rise and enter into glory like Christ since we have already
been of Christ.
1Cor. 15:49 “And as we have borne the
image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly
YLT: “and, according as we did bear the image of the earthy,
we shall bear also the image of the heavenly.”
Literal
Meaning: “and as we have borne the
image of the man of dust”, we have inherited the image of the dust from the
life of Adam.
“We shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man”, we will also inherit the heavenly image
from the life of Christ.
1Cor. 15:50 “Now this I say, brethren,
that flesh and blood cannot inherit the
YLT: “And this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood the
reign of God is not able to inherit, nor doth the corruption inherit the
incorruption;”
Literal
Meaning: “now this I say, brethren,
that flesh and blood cannot inherit the
“Nor does corruption inherit incorruption”,
the inheritance reserved in heavens for us is incorruptible and undefiled and
unfading (1Pet. 1:4), which should be inherited in the incorruptible body ----
the risen body.
1Cor. 15:51 “Behold, I tell you a
mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--”
YLT: “lo, I tell you a secret; we indeed shall not all sleep,
and we all shall be changed;”
Literal
Meaning: “we shall not all sleep”, it means that not
all of us will die, for when the Lord comes again, some believers will be
raised when they live (1Thess. 4:17).
“But we shall all be changed--”, when the Lord comes again, no matter those who
have fallen asleep or who still live, all of them should be transformed.
1Cor. 15:52 “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 shall be changed.”
YLT: “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, in the last
trumpet, for it shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we
-- we shall be changed:”
Literal
Meaning: “in a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye”, the transformation of our body is transient, but
gradual.
“At the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound”, when the Lord comes
again, the trumpet of God will sound (1Thess. 4:16; Matt. 24:31).
“And the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed”, it indicates that
the transformation of body and the resurrection happen at one time.
Enlightenment
in the Word: the rapture does
not happen suddenly, but gradually. Here, the transformation in the twinkling of an eye speaks of the resurrection of body instead
of life. The rapture is not flying individually, but walking with the Lord. The
experiences of a Christian in the Lord have their interrelationship: die, live
and be taken. We will enter into glory step by step. Many times, we can not
obey in a certain thing. However, if we die one more time, we will be filled
with the Lord’s life one more time and the further we will be raised.
1Cor. 15:53 “For this corruptible must
put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
YLT: “for it behoveth this corruptible to put on
incorruption, and this mortal to put on immortality;”
Literal
Meaning: “for this corruptible must
put on incorruption”, the risen man will bring a spiritual body. God
gives believers who still live spiritual bodies and they will be changed
immediately after putting on them.
1Cor. 15:54 “So when this corruptible
has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be
brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in
victory."”
YLT: “and when this corruptible may have put on incorruption,
and this mortal may have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the
word that hath been written, `The Death was swallowed up -- to victory;”
Literal
Meaning: “the saying that is written”, the following words are quoted from the
Book of Isaiah (25:8) according to the meaning.
“Then shall be brought to pass: "Death is swallowed up
in victory."” “Victory” refers
to the victory of the redemption of Christ. That is to say, the salvation of
the cross will overcome death. This prophecy will be fully fulfilled when the
Lord comes again and believers are raised up.
1Cor. 15:55 “"O Death, where is
your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"”
YLT: “where, O Death, thy sting? where, O Hades, thy
victory?'”
Literal
Meaning: “o death”: the invisible world;
“Where is your sting? O
Hades, where is your victory?"”
---- This is a declaration of the triumph against death.
Enlightenment
in the Word: what we are waiting
for is not death, but that morning ---- the risen morning.
1Cor. 15:56 “The sting of death is sin,
and the strength of sin is the law.”
YLT: “and the sting of the death the sin, and the power of
the sin the law;”
Literal
Meaning: “the sting of death is sin”, death damages men in
the world through sins. Therefore, sin is the sting of death.
“And the strength of sin is the law”, sin
activates man’s lusts by the law to sin (see Rom. 7:8) and then condemns those
who have disobeyed the law (1John 3:4) and kills men through the law (Rom.
7:11). Therefore, the strength of sin is the law.
1Cor. 15:57 “But thanks be to God, who
gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
YLT: “and to God -- thanks, to Him who is giving us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ;”
Literal
Meaning: victory is a gift
given to us by God. The victory to us is obtained freely, not earned by our
labor. We have a terribly false opinion: we think we are saved by the free
salvation, but overcome through ourselves.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Sin stings man into death through the
strength of the law (v.56). However, praise the Lord! The risen Christ
destroyed all of them. Therefore, how foolish that if we still live under the
law and are stung into death by sin. If we live in the risen Christ, we can
joyfully boast: “thanks
be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”.
2) The previous two verses (v.55-56) mention
sin, and the law and death. And here, God gives us the victory. We can not only
overcome sin but also the law; not only the law but also death. Here, there is
a gospel: God gives the victory to each of us.
1Cor. 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved
brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
YLT: “so that, my brethren beloved, become ye stedfast,
unmovable, abounding in the work of the Lord at all times, knowing that your
labour is not vain in the Lord.”
Literal
Meaning: “therefore, my beloved
brethren”, “therefore”, there are two reasons: 1) the Lord has
risen for us; 2) we have the
assured hope of resurrection and
transformation of our bodies.
“Be steadfast, immovable”,
1) since Christ has risen, we should be
steadfast in faith and be immovable and not accept the heresy holding the dead
do not rise; 2) if we have full hope for the future, we should be steadfast and
be immovable and not lose zeal and love.
“Always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that
your labor is not in vain in the Lord”,
since we know that the Lord remembers our labor for Him today, we should seize
the opportunity and abound in the work of the Lord, for the works follow with
us (Rev. 14:13) and we will be rewarded by the Lord.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The encouragements of Paul to brothers and
sisters are focused on two points: a) “be steadfast and immovable
in the Lord”; b) “always
abound in the work of the Lord”; these are two things of eternal value.
2) “Therefore … be
steadfast … always abounding in the
work of the Lord … not in vain”, the word “therefore” shows that we can be
steadfast and immovable and not labor in vain by the risen Christ only. Christ
makes us be stand firmly. And He is the value of our labor.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lesson
The Knowledge of the
Resurrection
A. The resurrection of the Lord is the
generally acknowledged faith of the church (v.1-11).
B. If there was no resurrection, the Lord might
have not risen, and there would be dire consequences (v.12-19).
C. Since the Lord has been indeed raised, we
will surely be raised (v.20-28).
D. Since we will rise, we do not dare death
(v.29-34).
E. The risen ones are better (v.35-37);
F. We should labor for the Lord, for we have
hope (v.58).
The Relation of the Resurrection of Christ
with Christians
A. The resurrection of Christ is the center of
our preachment (v.12, 14a).
B. The resurrection of Christ is the center of
our faith (v.14b, 17a).
C. The resurrection of Christ is the center of
our testimony (v.15).
D. The resurrection of Christ delivers us from
sin (v.17b).
E. The resurrection of Christ gives us hope in
the coming age (v.19).
F. The resurrection of Christ is the
significance of our life (v.32).
G. The resurrection of Christ is the motive of
our service (v.58).
The Comparisons between the Bodies of
Christians at Present and the Risen Bodies in the Future
A. Corruption ---- in incorruption (v.42);
B. In dishonor
---- in glory (v.43a);
C. In weakness
---- in power (v.43b);
D. Natural ---- spiritual (v.44);
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou