THE NATURE OF THE RESURRECTION BODY.
1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 1 Corinthians 15:42-50.
We can imagine one of Paul’s hecklers in Corinth posing the question, “How are the dead raised? And with what body do they come?” (1 Corinthians 15:35). This does not sound like an inquiry of faith, but rather one of derision.
Paul’s response cuts right to the mocking source of the doubt: “Fool!” (1 Corinthians 15:36). Jesus’ response to ‘the Sadducees, ‘who say there is no resurrection’ (Matthew 22:23) was just as sharp: ‘Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God!’ (Matthew 22:29).
Paul draws an analogy from nature: “That which you sow is not made alive unless it dies” (1 Corinthians 15:36). Jesus used the same illustration: ‘Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it dies it brings forth much fruit” (John 12:24). In the context there, this refers to both the necessity of His death upon the Cross in order to bear fruit for our salvation; and our own need to die to self and live for Him (John 12:23-25).
Paul continues his analogy: “And that which you sow is not the body which shall be, but a bare grain…, and God gives it a body according as He willed, and to each of the seeds its own body” (1 Corinthians 15:37-38). There is continuity in nature, but also discontinuity. The seed is not the plant, and the plant is not the seed; but the seed comes from the plant, and the plant also comes from the seed (Genesis 1:11-12).
“So also is the resurrection of the dead,” Paul explains. “It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruptibility (1 Corinthians 15:42). The whole creation is awaiting deliverance ‘from the bondage of corruption’ (Romans 8:21). And we also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan within ourselves, waiting for ‘the redemption of the body’ (Romans 8:23). The words “corruptible” and “incorruptibility” also occur several times towards the end of today’s chapter (1 Corinthians 15:50; 1 Corinthians 15:52-54).
The Apostle continues, “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" (1 Corinthians 15:43-44).
Paul then returns to the analogy of Adam and Christ, already mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 (cf. Romans 5:12-21). The Apostle notices, as he develops his argument, that “the spiritual did not come first, but the natural, then the spiritual” (1 Corinthians 15:46).
“The first man Adam became a living soul” (1 Corinthians 15:45a). “The first man was made out of the dust of the earth” (1 Corinthians 15:47a). There is a reference to Genesis 2:7 here: ‘And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.’ This very earthiness is shared by all of Adam’s race (1 Corinthians 15:48a; 1 Corinthians 15:49a).
“The last Adam” (Jesus) is referred to as “a life-giving spirit” (1 Corinthians 15:45b). Jesus said, 'It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing' (John 6:63). That is why ‘you must be born again’ (John 3:7).
Jesus is described as “the Lord from heaven” (1 Corinthians 15:47b). John the Baptist observed, ‘He that comes from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthy, and speaks of the earth: He that comes from heaven is above all’ (John 3:31).
Paul says, “And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly” (1 Corinthians 15:49). After all, as Paul says elsewhere, ‘Our citizenship is of heaven’ (Philippians 3:20).
“For flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither can corruption inherit incorruptibility” (1 Corinthians 15:50). Yet those who are truly born again shall most definitely ‘see’ the kingdom of God (John 3:3; cf. Job 19:25-27).
The model for our own resurrection is the resurrection of Jesus (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:14). Taking the example of Jesus’ resurrection, it has both continuity and discontinuity. The marks of the crucifixion were still upon Him, and also, He ate; but He was able to appear in locked rooms, and just as easily to vanish from the sight of His fellow travellers.
We await the Lord Jesus Christ, ‘who will transform our body of humiliation for it to become conformed to the body of His glory, according to the working of His power even to subdue all things to Himself’ (Philippians 3:21). Amen.
