Passage
1 Corinthians 15.42-58
Book: 1 Corinthians · NASB95
Immediate context (±2 verses)
ASV
40. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 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 a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45. So also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46. Howbeit that is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; then that which is spiritual. 47. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is of 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 tell you a mystery: We all shall not 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. 53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54. But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55. O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? 56. The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law: 57. but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:40-58, ASV)
WEB
40. There are also celestial bodies, and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial differs from that of the terrestrial. 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.
42. So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown perishable; it is raised imperishable. 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 a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body. 45. So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46. However that which is spiritual isn’t first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual. 47. The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven. 48. As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49. As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let’s also bear the image of the heavenly. 50. Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood can’t inherit God’s Kingdom; neither does the perishable inherit imperishable. 51. Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 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 will be changed. 53. For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54. But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55. “Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?” 56. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:40-58, WEB)
KJV
40. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
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. 53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? grave: or, hell 56. The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:40-58, KJV)
YLT
40. and [there are] heavenly bodies, and earthly bodies; but one [is] the glory of the heavenly, and another that of the earthly; 41. one glory of sun, and another glory of moon, and another glory of stars, for star from star doth differ in glory.
42. So also [is] the rising again 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. so also it hath been written, 'The first man Adam became a living creature,' the last Adam [is] for a life-giving spirit, 46. but that which is spiritual [is] not first, but that which [was] natural, afterwards that which [is] spiritual. 47. The first man [is] out of the earth, earthy; the second man [is] the Lord out of heaven; 48. as [is] the earthy, such [are] also the earthy; and as [is] the heavenly, such [are] also the heavenly; 49. and, according as we did bear the image of the earthy, we shall bear also the image of the heavenly. 50. 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; 51. lo, I tell you a secret; we indeed shall not all sleep, and we all shall be changed; 52. 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: 53. for it behoveth this corruptible to put on incorruption, and this mortal to put on immortality; 54. 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; 55. where, O Death, thy sting? where, O Hades, thy victory?' 56. and the sting of the death [is] the sin, and the power of the sin the law; 57. and to God, thanks, to Him who is giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ; 58. 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. (1 Corinthians 15:40-58, YLT)
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Setting
- Speaker: TBD
- Audience: TBD
- Location: TBD
- Time period: TBD
Theological reading
Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added.
Key words
Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word.
- G0086 - hades, hades, Strong's G0086
- G1504 - eikon, eikon, Strong's G1504
- G3466 - mysterion, mysterion, Strong's G3466
- G0386 - anastasis, anastasis, Strong's G0386
- G5590 - psyche, psyche, Strong's G5590
- G2288 - thanatos, thanatos, Strong's G2288
Quoted in
Arguments and defeaters:
- Anonymous Gospels Objection Defeater, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Anthropology Defeats Christianity Objection Defeater, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Argument from Personal Identity, via 1 Corinthians 15.35-58
- Argument from Prophecy Fulfillment, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Argument from the Fear of Death, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.35-49, 1 Corinthians 15.54-55, 1 Corinthians 15.54-57
- Argument from the Information-Conservation Convergence, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.35-58
- Argument from the Memory-Continuity Convergence, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.42-44, 1 Corinthians 15.51-52
- Argument from the Narrative-Identity Convergence, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.35-58, 1 Corinthians 15.42-44, 1 Corinthians 15.44, 1 Corinthians 15.49, 1 Corinthians 15.50, 1 Corinthians 15.53-54
- Argument from the Proportionate-Causality Convergence, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Argument from the Resurrection, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Argument from the Universal Burial Convergence, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.36-44, 1 Corinthians 15.42-44
- Argument from the Unlivability of Nihilism, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Argument from Twin Asymmetries, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.42-44
- Causal Adequacy Argument, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Christ Before Jesus Thesis Defeater, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Conditional Immortality from Text-First Method, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.53-54
- Failed Second Coming Prophecy Objection Defeater, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.51-57
- Genetic Entropy Argument, via 1 Corinthians 15.45
- Inherited Guilt and Visiting Iniquity Objection Defeater, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.45-49
- Jesus Is an Egregore Objection Defeater, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Jesus Was Not Buried in a Tomb Objection Defeater, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.42-44
- Job Bet Objection Defeater, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.12-58
- Manuscript Variants Bible Corruption Objection Defeater, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Marks Ending Proves the Resurrection Was Invented Objection Defeater, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Minimal Facts Argument, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Mitochondrial Eve Argument, via 1 Corinthians 15.45
- Moses Did Not Exist Objection Defeater, via 1 Corinthians 15.45
- Nag Hammadi Suppressed Gospels Objection Defeater, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Necessity of the Incarnation, via 1 Corinthians 15.45-49
- No One Can Die For Another Objection Defeater, via 1 Corinthians 15.45-49
- Paul Invented Christianity Objection Defeater, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Population Genetics for Historical Adam Argument, via 1 Corinthians 15.45
- Resurrection Implies Christian Theism, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Stolen Body Hypothesis Defeater, via 1 Corinthians 15
- The Gospels Copied Each Other Objection Defeater, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Tree of Knowledge Objection Defeater, via 1 Corinthians 15.45-49
- Why Doesn't God Heal Amputees Objection Defeater, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Why Doesnt God Stop Satan Objection Defeater, via 1 Corinthians 15.45-49
Concepts:
- Adam and Eve Historicity, via 1 Corinthians 15.45-49
- Apostles' Creed, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Biblical Dignity, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Christ vs Other Religion-Founders, via 1 Corinthians 15.42-44
- Christianity, via 1 Corinthians 15.42-44
- Christians Behaving Badly, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Christology, via 1 Corinthians 15.45, 1 Corinthians 15.54-57
- Church at Corinth, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Conditional Immortality, via 1 Corinthians 15.53-54
- Crucifixion Denial in Islam, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Debate Logic Toolkit, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Dying and Rising God Motif, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Eschatology, via 1 Corinthians 15.35-57, 1 Corinthians 15.51-57, 1 Corinthians 15.54-55
- Failed Messianic Prophecy Objections, via 1 Corinthians 15.45
- Federal Headship, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.45, 1 Corinthians 15.45-49
- Heaven, via 1 Corinthians 15.42-44, 1 Corinthians 15.50, 1 Corinthians 15.53-54
- Hell and Eternal Punishment, via 1 Corinthians 15.53-54
- Inherited Guilt and Visiting Iniquity, via 1 Corinthians 15.45, 1 Corinthians 15.45-49
- Lesson 2.2, The Six Structural Commitments of Christianity, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Lesson 3.6, The Resurrection, Historical Evidential, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Lesson 4.5, Comparative Religion Engagement, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Original Sin, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.45, 1 Corinthians 15.45-49
- Penal Substitutionary Atonement, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Pre-Pauline Creeds, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Rapture Timing Comparison, via 1 Corinthians 15.51-52, 1 Corinthians 15.52
- Reincarnation, via 1 Corinthians 15.42-44
- Resurrection, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Resurrection of Jesus, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Resurrection of Jesus - Naturalistic Counter-Theories, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Resurrection of Jesus - Scholarly Landscape, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Resurrection of Jesus - Theological Significance, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Resurrection of the Body, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.1-58, 1 Corinthians 15.42-44, 1 Corinthians 15.44, 1 Corinthians 15.44-45, 1 Corinthians 15.49, 1 Corinthians 15.50, 1 Corinthians 15.53-54, 1 Corinthians 15.58
- Sad in Heaven, The Eschatology of Family Loss, via 1 Corinthians 15.54-55
- Soul, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.42-44
- Spirit of Vanity and Futility, via 1 Corinthians 15.58
- Spiritualism, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Straw Man, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Substance Dualism, via 1 Corinthians 15.42-44, 1 Corinthians 15.53-54
- Synoptic Problem, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Theistic Evolution, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.45-49
- Tree of Knowledge Objection, via 1 Corinthians 15.45-49
- Young Earth Creationism, via 1 Corinthians 15.45
- Young's Literal Translation, via 1 Corinthians 15.44-45, 1 Corinthians 15.45
People:
- Gary Habermas, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Irenaeus of Lyons, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Jesus, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Paul the Apostle, via 1 Corinthians 15
- Plato, via 1 Corinthians 15
Lexicon:
- G0086 - hades, via 1 Corinthians 15.55
- G0386 - anastasis, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.12-58, 1 Corinthians 15.42, 1 Corinthians 15.42-49
- G1453 - egeiro, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.42-44, 1 Corinthians 15.52
- G1504 - eikon, via 1 Corinthians 15.49
- G2288 - thanatos, via 1 Corinthians 15.54-55
- G3466 - mysterion, via 1 Corinthians 15.51
- G3498 - nekros, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.42-44, 1 Corinthians 15.51-52
- G4983 - soma, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.35-49, 1 Corinthians 15.44
- G5485 - charis, via 1 Corinthians 15.57
- G5590 - psyche, via 1 Corinthians 15
- H0001 - ab, via 1 Corinthians 15
- H0120 - adam, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.45-49
- H1320 - basar, via 1 Corinthians 15.42-44
- H4191 - mut, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.54-55, 1 Corinthians 15.55
- H4194 - mavet, via 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 15.54, 1 Corinthians 15.54-55, 1 Corinthians 15.55
- H7585 - sheol, via 1 Corinthians 15.55
Guides:
Notes
Your annotations.
Why these four translations
ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.
The four:
- ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.
See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.