1 Corinthians 15:35-41 (WEL) 35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised, and what kind of body do they get?” 36 You fool! That which is sown is not made alive unless it dies. 37 What you sow, you don’t sow the body that it will be but a bare kernel, perchance wheat or some other. 38 God gives it a body as it has pleased him, and each seed has its own body. 39 All flesh is not the same, for one is human flesh, another animal flesh, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40 Furthermore, [there are] heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one kind and the earthly is another. 41 The sun has one glory, the moon another, the stars another, even one star differs from another in glory.
V35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised, and what kind of body do they get?”
The body goes in the grave or tomb. The body discomposes. Where will the new body come from; how can something be resurrected if it is not even there?
Paul now answers that question.
V36 You fool! That which is sown is not made alive unless it dies.
Paul wants the people to think. A seed changes from the seed to root and plant. After a while, it is not even noticed. It is not a death of now existence but of separation from what it was to what it is presently.
Paul is repeating the principle taught by the Lord Jesus in John 12:24.
When I believed in Jesus Christ when I was 11 years old sitting in a rescue mission, my old soul and spirit died, and I was born again (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The old flesh with its desires is still present but will die only to be resurrected at the Rapture (for believers from Pentecost to the Rapture). The other eras believers will be resurrected separately, and finally the unbelievers who are resurrected for the final judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).
Paul is not insulting them but getting their attention. (Holman Commentary) “Literally, he called his hypothetical opponent a “fool.” He considered these objections foolish because they disregarded God’s incomparable abilities.”
V37 What you sow, you don’t sow the body that it will be but a bare kernel, perchance wheat or some other.
Our raised bodies will not be the same molecules of the old body. It will be a spiritual body like Jesus had. His body was recognizable, was able to walk, talk, eat, carry things, etc. The soul, our the real me, is eternal and never dies.
The body is corruptible, the new incorruptible. Our body had dishonor (sickness, age, etc.); the new glorious. The old body is weak (fatigue, sickness, etc.); the new will be strong.
Philippians 3:21 (EHV) By the power that enables him to subject all things to himself, he will transform our humble bodies to be like his glorious body.
V38 God gives it a body as it has pleased him, and each seed has its own body.
God has a purpose, a blueprint. He follows that plan. Each animal and plant is designed independently with the best and most efficient possible.
V39 All flesh is not the same, for one is human flesh, another animal flesh, another of fishes, and another of birds.
(Believer’s Bible Commentary): “To illustrate the fact that the glory of the resurrection body will be different from the glory of our present bodies, the Apostle Paul points out that all flesh is not the same kind.”
V40 Furthermore, [there are] heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one kind and the earthly is another.
Each has its own glory and purpose.
V41 The sun has one glory, the moon another, the stars another, even one star differs from another in glory.
When God created everything, He declared it good (Genesis 1:31). He gave to each an individual glory. Glory is used (WordHippo): “Magnificence or great beauty.”
We learn:
- God develops a plan, creates by that plan, and judges the result. He inspects the final work. All of God’s works have a glory.
- The glory of God is His alone. He does not share His glory with anything or anyone. See Psalm 8:1, Psalm 24:10, Isaiah 6:3, and Isaiah 42:8.
Questions:
- Are you looking forward to your new body?
- Are you living for Jesus today and forever?