1 Corinthians 15:42-45 (WEL) So also the resurrection from the dead. It is sown in corruption. It is raised incorruptibly. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown as a natural body; it is raised as a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 So it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul” [Genesis 2:7], the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
V42 So also the resurrection from the dead. It is sown in corruption. It is raised incorruptibly.
Paul is continuing to explain the resurrection. All resurrections in the Bible refer to a physical resurrection, not a ghost/spirit/spiritual.
Our physical body is buried and decays. If burned, then ashes and bones. The new body is like the body of Jesus.
Jesus’s body was physical—it could be touched and felt. Jesus’s body was physical—He could eat and drink.
Jesus’s body was different—it could disappear and appear at will. Jesus’s body was different—it could go through walls and doors as if they did not exist.
The new body will be an incorruptible body. I believe it will not be from the molecules of the old body as some believe.
V43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
The physical body we have now is honorable, for it is created by God, but it corrupts by age and death. The physical body is weak, for it can be injured or altered by disease and/or accident.
The new body is more honorable, for it is a glorious body that is blessed and will not corrupt by age or death. The new body is strong, for it cannot be injured or altered by age and disease.
V44 It is sown as a natural body; it is raised as a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
The natural body is made of atoms. The resurrected body is spiritual but not a ghost or spirit.
Believer’s Bible Commentary: “Here we must be very careful to emphasize that spiritual does not mean nonmaterial. Some people have the idea that in resurrection we will be disembodied spirits. That is not at all the meaning of this passage, nor is it true. We know that the resurrection body of the Lord Jesus was composed of flesh and bones because He said, “A spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have” (Luke 24:39). The difference between a natural body and a spiritual body is that the former is suited to life here on Earth whereas the latter will be suited to life in heaven. The former is usually soul-controlled whereas the latter is spirit-controlled. A spiritual body is one that will be truly the servant of the spirit.”
V45 So it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul” [Genesis 2:7], the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
Adam’s body was formed from dirt, yet it had no life. It was nothing more than a statue. God breathed/created a soul and spirit to live inside our body. Sometimes the body is compared to a tent (2 Peter 1:13), a clay jar (2 Corinthians 4:7 and 1 Thessalonians 4:4), and 2 Corinthians 5:1.
The last Adam is the Lord Jesus. The first Adam disbelieved, disobeyed, sinned, was cursed, and died bringing corruption to all humans. The second/last Adam believed, obeyed, never sinned, was blessed, and died as the Passover Lamb for our sins.
We learn:
• What the resurrected body will be like.
• God is the only creator and giver of life.