Episode220 Resurrected Bodies 1Corinthians15:35-49

1Cor. 15:35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 39 For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

1Cor. 15:42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is 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. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

It seems appropriate to handle a bigger chunk of Scripture this week and attempt to offer a simplified explanation of Paul’s point here. The basic question, as I see it, is “How does this resurrection thing work, especially if the deceased has significantly decomposed?”

In the Scriptures, there are many illustrations from nature. Paul uses the illustration of a seed that falls to the ground or is buried, and it “dies.” In other words, it will soon cease to have the same appearance as it had as a seed. The outer shell will decompose, and a plant eventually appear with a different body. Paul also points out that there are many different kinds of bodies. Animal species have different bodies, as do birds and fish. Humans also have a unique body. So, Paul says, there are earthly bodies and heavenly bodies. The bodies in which we are now are earthly bodies. But in the resurrection, we will have bodies designed for a greater glory, a glory in God’s presence, and are eternal.

The obvious question that might follow from this is, “If I have a different body, how will we recognize others and be recognized? It seems clear that Jesus’ resurrected body was recognizable. His disciples even recognized the wounds on his hands, feet, and side. Somehow, Moses and Elijah were recognizable to Peter, James, and John who accompanied Jesus to the mountain where he was transformed. Yet these men would not have been living at the times of Moses or Elijah. So, it would appear that even though our bodies are different in nature, we will still look like ourselves, AND our knowledge and recognition will be made better along with our bodies. Judging from what people witnessed with Jesus after his resurrection, we will be able to eat and do normal things. Jesus also appeared inside locked structures not having entered through a door or window, revealing that his body was not limited by the things in our physical world. It seems like this could be an indication of what our resurrected embodiment will be like.

Beginning in verse 42, Paul lists some key differences between the earthly body we use today and what will be in our resurrected and glorified bodies. First, our current body is perishable, but our glorified body will be imperishable. Second, our current body is “sown in dishonor,” but our resurrected body will be “raised in glory.” (v.43a) How is our body sown in dishonor? It speaks of our sin and the effects of it upon our bodies. We age, break down, and die. It reveals all our limitations and weaknesses. Third, our current bodies are “sown in weakness,” but we will be “raised in power” (v. 43b). Finally, what is sown is a “natural body,” but we will have a “spiritual body.” (v. 44) This does not mean we will be ghosts. If I understand this correctly, this doesn’t suggest there won’t be a physical aspect to our glorified bodies. However, it will be a body that will be best suited for eternal life in God’s presence and service. Paul supports and explains this in verses 45-49. Here, Paul compares and contrasts Adam with Christ (the last Adam). Adam received life, whereas Christ gives life. The natural came first, then the spiritual. Adam’s body came from the dust of the ground, but Jesus came from heaven.

Paul’s point in verses 48-49 is that because we are descended from Adam, who was made from dust, our bodies will become dust. But if we have had a spiritual birth in Christ, we will receive bodies like Christ.

Well, I don’t know if that shines light on this text or muddles it. But I think Paul would want to encourage us not to worry about how God is going to accomplish this resurrection thing but to be confident that it’s going to be really good.