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1 Corinthians 15:42
Verse
Context
The Resurrection Body
41The sun has one degree of splendor, the moon another, and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.42So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable.43It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
Sermons




Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
So also is the resurrection of the dead - That is, the bodies of the dead, though all immortal, shall possess different degrees of splendor and glory, according to the state of holiness in which their respective souls were found. The rabbins have some crude notions concerning different degrees of glory, which the righteous shall possess in the kingdom of heaven. They make out seven degrees: - "The first of which is possessed by צדיקים tsaddikim, the just, who observe the covenant of the holy, blessed God, and subjugate all evil affections." "The second is possessed by those who are ישרים yesharim, the upright; whose delight it is to walk in the ways of God and please him." "The third is for תמימים temimim, the perfect: those who, with integrity, walk in the ways of God, and do not curiously pry into his dispensations." "The fourth is for קדושים kedoshim, the holy ones; those who are the excellent of the earth, in whom is all God's delight." Psa 16:3. "The fifth is for בעלי תשובה baaley teshubah, the chief of the penitents; who have broken through the brazen doors, and returned to the Lord." "The sixth is for תינוקות של בית רבן rof si ht tinukoth shel beith raban, the scholars and tender ones; who have not transgressed." "The seventh is for חסידים chasidim, the godly: and this is the innermost of all the departments." These seven degrees require a comment by themselves. There is a saying among the rabbins very like that of the apostle in this and the preceding verse Siphri, in Yalcut Simeoni, page 2, fol. 10: "The faces of the righteous shall be, in the world to come, like suns, moons, the heaven, stars, lightnings: and like the lilies and candlesticks of the temple." It is sown in corruption - The body is buried in a state of degradation, decay, and corruption. The apostle uses the word sown to intimate that the body shall rise again, as a seed springs up that has been sown in the earth. It is raised in incorruption - Being no more subject to corruption, dissolution, and death.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
sown--Following up the image of seed. A delightful word instead of burial. in corruption--liable to corruption: corruptible: not merely a prey when dead to corruption; as the contrast shows, "raised in incorruption," that is, not liable to corruption: incorruptible.
John Gill Bible Commentary
And so it is written,.... In Gen 2:7 the first man Adam was made a living soul: in the Hebrew text it is, man, or Adam, became, or was made a living soul; that is, as the apostle says, "the first man Adam": he calls him, as the Jews (a) frequently do, , "the first man"; he was the first man that was made, and the first parent of mankind, and the head and representative of all his posterity, and so the first in time, causality and dignity; whose name was Adam, so called by God in the day he was created, because he was formed , "from the ground, or earth"; when God breathed life into the earthly mass, or lump; and being animated with a rational soul, it became an animal body, or a living creature; and so the apostle proves, from the first man that was upon earth, that there is a natural, or animal body; a body animated by a soul, and which was supported by eating and drinking, by sleep and rest; and was capable of dying, and should die, in case of sin; and which was the state of it in its first creation, whilst in innocence, and before the fall; and this is all he meant to prove by this Scripture; for what follows is not mentioned as therein written, or elsewhere, but as the apostle's own assertion: the last Adam was made a quickening spirit: by "the last Adam" is meant Jesus Christ, called Adam, because he is really and truly a man, a partaker of the same flesh and blood as the rest of mankind; and because he is the antitype of the first man Adam, who was a figure of him that was to come; and therefore called Adam, for the same reason as he is called David and Solomon: he is said to be "the last", in distinction from the first Adam, with respect to him he stood, last upon the earth, as in Job 19:25 to which passage some think the apostle here alludes; and because he appeared in the last days in the end of the world, and is the last that shall rise up as a common head and representative of the whole, or any part of mankind: now he is made "a quickening spirit"; which some understand of the Holy Spirit, which filled the human nature of Christ, raised him from the dead, and will quicken our mortal bodies at the last day; others of the divine nature of Christ, to which his flesh, or human nature, was united; and which gave life, rigour, and virtue, to all his actions and sufferings, as man; and by which he was quickened, when put to death in the flesh, and by which he will quicken others another day: though rather I think it is to be understood of his spiritual body, of his body, not as it was made of the virgin, for that was a natural, or an animal one; it was conceived and bred, and born as animal bodies are; it grew and increased, and was nourished with meat and drink, and sleep and rest; and was subject to infirmities, and to death itself, as our bodies be; but it is to be understood of it as raised from the dead, when it was made a spiritual body, for which reason it is called a "spirit": not that it was changed into a spirit, for it still remained flesh and blood; but because it was no more supported in an animal way; nor subject to those weaknesses that animal bodies are, but lives as spirits, or angels do; and a quickening one, not only because it has life itself, but because by virtue of the saints' union to it, as it subsists in the divine person of the Son of God, their bodies will be quickened at the last day, and made like unto it, spiritual bodies; also because he lives in his body as a spiritual one, they shall live in theirs as spiritual ones: and so the apostle shows, that there is a spiritual, as well as an animal body; that as the first man's body, even before the fall, was an animal or natural one; the last Adam's body upon his resurrection is a spiritual and life giving one, as the Syriac version renders it; so the Cabalistic writers (b) speak of "Adam; who is the holy and supreme, who rules over all, and gives spirit and life to all.'' (a) T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol 38. 2. & 100. 1. & alibi passim. & , Cabala denud. par. 4. p. 195, &c. Vid. 2 Esdras iii. 21. (b) Zohar in Exod. fol. 59. 4.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
15:42-44 Just as growing plants differ from the seeds out of which they sprout, so resurrection bodies will be vastly unlike our mortal bodies.
1 Corinthians 15:42
The Resurrection Body
41The sun has one degree of splendor, the moon another, and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.42So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable.43It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
The Significance of Resurrection - Part 2
By Derek Prince2.4K28:261CO 15:42This sermon delves into the significance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, emphasizing the continuity of the body in resurrection, the transformation from a soulish to a spiritual body, and the five specific changes that occur in our resurrection bodies as outlined by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15. It highlights the importance of believing in the physical resurrection of Jesus for salvation and the attestation of the resurrection through Old Testament prophecies. The sermon also underscores the resurrection as the completion of our redemption, the consummation of our union with Christ, and the three phases of the resurrection process.
The Glorification of Man 02 Physically
By James R. Cochrane67254:02ACT 2:161CO 15:422CO 5:1In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of the body bringing dishonor when it can no longer be controlled or used as desired. He reflects on the sadness of seeing someone with a strong personality and joy begin to lose control over their body. The speaker emphasizes the importance of the inward man, the Christian, who continues to move upward towards God's glory even as the outward man disintegrates. The sermon concludes with a reminder to focus on the things that cannot be seen, rather than the visible and tangible aspects of life.
(Through the Bible) 1 Corinthians - Part 2
By Zac Poonen53757:231CO 6:181CO 7:21CO 9:241CO 12:121CO 13:41CO 14:51CO 14:271CO 14:311CO 15:421CO 16:14This sermon delves into the importance of understanding and applying the teachings from 1 Corinthians, emphasizing the need to overcome temptations, maintain purity in relationships, and operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit within the context of love and unity in the body of Christ. It highlights the significance of running away from immorality, the purpose of marriage as a protection, the need for self-control and faithfulness, the value of surrendering individual gifts for the benefit of the church, and the essential role of love in all aspects of Christian life and ministry.
Living in Light of Eternity (1 Cor. 15; 2 Cor. 4)
By Mike Bickle2144:17EternityPassion for Jesus1CO 15:42Mike Bickle emphasizes the importance of living in light of eternity, explaining that understanding our future with God is essential for maintaining motivation and love for Jesus. He warns that a lack of revelation about eternity can lead to offense and condemnation, hindering our spiritual growth. Bickle describes the reality of the resurrection and the physical, material nature of our eternal existence, where we will have real bodies, relationships, and meaningful work. He encourages believers to view their current lives as an internship that prepares them for their eternal assignments, highlighting that our actions now directly impact our experience in the age to come. Ultimately, he calls for a passionate commitment to Jesus, urging believers to invest their lives in what truly matters for eternity.
How Does the Butterfly Get Out?
By Walter Wilson0GEN 1:27ROM 1:201CO 15:42COL 4:51PE 3:15Walter Wilson addresses the prevalence of the theory of evolution in schools and colleges, emphasizing the need for Christians to counteract this false teaching. He argues that the intricate design in nature, such as the unique odor, taste, color, and shape of various creations, points to a deliberate decision by the living God. Wilson also discusses the mystery of life and power, drawing parallels between the resurrection of seeds in nature and the future resurrection of human bodies. Through a compelling encounter with a skeptical student, Wilson challenges the notion of rejecting truths simply because they are beyond human understanding, ultimately leading some to accept Christ as their Savior.
January 17. 1678. the Threefold State of Man.
By Jane Lead0GEN 3:23JOB 32:81CO 15:42GAL 6:7REV 21:2Jane Lead preaches about the threefold state humanity must pass through to recover the lost prerogative of power and purity. The first state is a rocky, ruinous ground of nature, void of goodness, where the curse of sin dwells. In this state, one must diligently work with the Spirit of God to prepare the ground for transformation, removing all obstacles of self-love, haughtiness, and earthly-mindedness. The second state involves spiritual fruitfulness and faithful labor to rectify and improve the internal world, leading to a good harvest despite facing challenges and trials. The final state reveals the potential for mortality to be transformed into a pure, incorruptible being through the divine seed within, resulting in a glorious, immortal spirit, soul, and body fit to dwell with Christ in a heavenly paradise.
Lxviii. to a Christian Brother, on the Death of His Daughter
By Samuel Rutherford0PSA 116:15ROM 8:181CO 15:421TH 4:14HEB 12:23Samuel Rutherford delivers a comforting sermon to a grieving family, assuring them of the hope of resurrection for their departed daughter. He encourages them to find solace in the belief that those who have passed away in Jesus will be brought back by God. Rutherford reminds them that their daughter is now in the presence of God, experiencing the glory of heaven, and that it is a blessing for her to be with the Lord. He emphasizes the eternal perspective of life and the assurance that their prayers for her have been answered through her sinless glorifying of God.
The Heavenly Cloud Now Breaking
By Jane Lead0PSA 16:11ROM 6:61CO 15:42Jane Lead preaches about the profound spiritual journey of dying to the sinful nature and being raised to a new life in Christ, emphasizing the necessity of surrendering to God's transformative work in the soul. She describes the process of spiritual dying as essential for believers to experience the fullness of joy, glory, and encouragement in their spiritual journey. The sermon highlights the stages of dying to the body of sin, offering it up as a sacrifice, and being transformed into a new spiritual body in Christ. Jane Lead encourages believers to embrace the resurrection power of Christ, to live in heavenly places, and to manifest God's wonders on earth.
Christ and the Future Life
By Barton W. Johnson0JHN 11:251CO 15:421TH 4:16REV 21:4REV 22:1Barton W. Johnson preaches about the hope of immortality and the bliss of heaven as revealed in the Bible. He discusses the ancient world's ponderings on life after death, the human longing for eternal life, and the various beliefs across different cultures hinting at immortality. Johnson emphasizes that the ultimate hope of the saints lies in the resurrection and eternal life brought to light by Jesus Christ, who abolished death and promised a glorious future. He delves into the basis of this hope, highlighting the significance of Christ's resurrection and the assurance of a heavenly home prepared by God's love.
Enemies of the Cross of Christ
By Martin Luther0LUK 18:11ROM 3:27ROM 4:21CO 15:42PHP 3:17PHP 4:8Martin Luther preaches about the enemies of the cross of Christ and the righteousness of faith in Christ. He emphasizes the dangers of relying on human righteousness, which leads to pride, idolatry, and ultimately condemnation, contrasting it with the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ alone. Luther urges believers to focus on heavenly citizenship, awaiting the Savior who will transform their lowly bodies into glorious ones, by the power of Christ who is able to subject all things to Himself.
A Confession of Faith, Containing Twenty Three Articles
By Robert Barclay0JHN 4:24JHN 5:29ACT 5:29ROM 13:11CO 15:42Robert Barclay preaches about the fundamental beliefs concerning God, the Scriptures, the Divinity of Christ, the New Birth, the Unity of the Saints with Christ, and the Universal Love and Grace of God. He emphasizes the importance of true worship, baptism, good works, and the liberty of Christians in observing rites and days. Barclay also addresses the topics of swearing, fighting, persecution, magistracy, and the resurrection, highlighting the need for spiritual growth, obedience to God over man, and the assurance of resurrection for both the just and unjust.
The Tree of Faith
By Jane Lead0ROM 6:41CO 15:421CO 15:512CO 5:17GAL 3:22EPH 4:22PHP 3:20COL 3:11JN 3:2REV 21:1Jane Lead preaches about the deep mysteries of faith, emphasizing the need for a spiritual transformation and the importance of dying to the earthly self to rise in a new life of divine essence. She highlights the process of passing through various baptisms symbolized by pools of conviction, repentance, renovation, dedication, blood, oil, and fire, leading to the attainment of a deified body capable of living in the celestial realm. Jane Lead envisions a future age where faith will transfigure mortal bodies into immortal ones, bringing about a radical transformation and the manifestation of the glorified presence of Christ and the saints.
The Interpretation of the Foregoing Vision.
By Jane Lead0ROM 8:111CO 15:42PHP 3:201TH 4:16Jane Lead preaches about a vision she had on October 8, 1678, where she saw a fair and comely image formed from the third heavens, signifying the transformation of the paradisical figure into a corruptible fleshly being. She emphasizes the longing of the spirit to rise out of the earthly body and be joined to a new modeled body made of high, holy, and pure matter, similar to the glorified body of Jesus. Lead discusses the need for the Holy Spirit to breathe life into the spiritual body, enabling believers to rise with power and authority into heavenly places.
I Expect Great Things Then
By James Smith0PSA 37:4JHN 14:21CO 2:91CO 15:42TIT 2:13HEB 9:281PE 1:41JN 3:2REV 22:12James Smith preaches about the blessed hope of the Christian, focusing on the glorious return of Jesus Christ. Believers are encouraged to eagerly anticipate the coming of Jesus, where they will be freed from pain, sin, and receive a glorious crown and eternal satisfaction. The sermon emphasizes living in holy obedience, enduring trials with hope, and actively serving the Lord in anticipation of Christ's return.
Spiritual Lessons From the Trees
By John Hames0GEN 2:16PSA 1:3ISA 49:16MAT 3:10ACT 20:241CO 15:42John Hames preaches on the valuable lessons we can learn from trees as divine creations, highlighting their instructive nature, dependence on unseen sources, resilience to weather changes, and provision for others. He emphasizes the importance of patience, perseverance, and faith in our Christian journey, drawing parallels between the growth of a tree and the development of believers in Christ. Hames also points out the unity, reliability, and steadfastness that trees exhibit, challenging Christians to emulate these qualities in their faith walk and interactions with others. Furthermore, he connects the changing seasons of a tree to the need for variety and freshness in our spiritual lives, urging preachers and believers to avoid monotony and embrace diversity in their expressions of faith.
Equality of Men With Angels.
By Edward Payson0PRO 11:30MAT 25:46LUK 20:361CO 2:91CO 15:422CO 3:18HEB 12:221JN 3:2REV 22:5Edward Payson preaches about the potential for humans to be made equal to the angels in the future world, emphasizing the capacity for immortality, moral excellence, intellectual qualities, power, honor, glory, and felicity. He discusses the importance of the ministerial office in preparing individuals for this elevated state. Payson urges the pastor-elect to diligently care for the souls entrusted to him, highlighting the immense responsibility and rewards associated with guiding others towards an angelic destiny. He also addresses impenitent sinners, warning them of the consequences of neglecting salvation and the possibility of sinking to a dreadful equality with fallen angels. Payson passionately appeals to all listeners to consider their eternal fate and strive for a heavenly destiny.
June 14. 1678. God Doth Sow Himself in Man.
By Jane Lead0JHN 12:24ROM 8:111CO 15:42GAL 6:8EPH 1:181JN 3:2Jane Lead preaches about the interpretation of a vision revealing the renovation of Paradise as a new Creation-Glory, symbolized by the sowing and springing up of various seeds in different seasons. She emphasizes the importance of the Spirit sowing light in our hearts, transforming and preparing us for a celestial body. Lead discusses the sowing of celestial-fire, healing water, and the essential matter of God being sown within us, leading to a unity with the Godhead. She delves into the fulfillment of Christ's prayer for believers to be glorified with the same glory as Him, urging listeners to aspire to a higher spiritual consistency and image in Christ.
Fifth Theory -- Sanctification Will Be Obtained in the Resurrection
By B.A. Cundiff0PSA 116:15ROM 8:61CO 15:421CO 15:53HEB 2:111JN 3:2REV 21:1B.A. Cundiff preaches about the misconception that carnality is essential in the body and must be destroyed in the resurrection, emphasizing that carnality is in the mind, leading to death of the soul. The sermon highlights that at the resurrection, our characters will remain the same as when we died, and we will be judged accordingly. It explains that through sanctification and becoming one with Christ, we can have the assurance of passing through death triumphantly and facing judgment without fear, ultimately dwelling in the new heaven with Christ and the saints forever.
July 1. 1678.
By Jane Lead0JOS 1:91CO 3:111CO 15:42EPH 2:22HEB 12:26Jane Lead preaches about the call to be strong and courageous in the Lord's might, drawing parallels to the deliverance from Egypt and the future shaking of the heavens and earth. She emphasizes the foundation of the Temple being God and the Lamb, pointing to a new Temple-Body that will be raised up by God's power alone, distinguishing the chosen ones. This new body will be formed by the divine breath, free from corruption, leading to the inhabitants of the Eternal Canaan being the glory and strength of it, united under Christ their Head.
The Resurrection
By Thomas Boston0JHN 5:28JHN 11:251CO 15:421TH 4:132TH 1:7Thomas Boston preaches about the certainty of the resurrection, emphasizing the power of God to raise the dead and the distinction between the resurrection of the godly to life and the wicked to damnation. He describes the qualities of the resurrected bodies of the saints as incorruptible, glorious, powerful, and spiritual, bringing comfort to believers. On the other hand, he paints a terrifying picture for the unregenerate, warning them of the shame and everlasting contempt they will face at the resurrection. Boston urges sinners to repent and unite with Christ by faith to secure a part in the resurrection of the just.
Emblem of the Resurrection
By Clement of Rome0JHN 11:25ROM 6:41CO 15:42REV 21:5Clement of Rome shares a fascinating story of the phoenix bird as a symbol of resurrection, highlighting its unique life cycle and journey from Arabia to Egypt. The bird's death and rebirth process, involving a nest of spices and the emergence of feathers from a worm, mirrors the concept of new life emerging from death. The precise return of the phoenix to Heliopolis after 500 years astonishes the priests and serves as a powerful illustration of resurrection and renewal.
Life in Heaven
By Mary Wilder Tileston0JHN 12:241CO 15:42PHP 1:21PHP 1:23Mary Wilder Tileston preaches about the perspective of a Christian on life and death, emphasizing the joy and anticipation of departing from this world to be with Christ in a far better place. She highlights the willingness to endure sorrow and suffering on earth knowing that it leads to a glorious eternity with loved ones and an intensified life in a world fitted for highest life. Tileston uses the analogy of a seed's hidden life underground, preparing to bloom into a flower in the sunshine, to illustrate the transformative nature of death into the life of heaven.
The Portion of the Righteous
By Jonathan Edwards0MAT 11:28ROM 2:101CO 15:421TH 4:16REV 22:12Jonathan Edwards preaches about the portion of the righteous, emphasizing that glory, honor, and peace are the rewards assigned to those who work good. He describes the characteristics of a good man as one who does good deeds, and the rewards of glory, honor, and peace that await them. Edwards delves into the happiness of the righteous in this world, highlighting their conversion, blessedness, and the excellency, honor, and peace bestowed upon them. He also explores the happiness of the saints in death, the state of separation from the body, the joy of the saints at the resurrection and day of judgment, and the glory, honor, and peace they will receive at the resurrection and the day of judgment.
Sowing and Reaping
By Catherine Booth0JOB 4:8PSA 126:5PRO 11:18PRO 22:8HOS 10:12LUK 8:111CO 15:422CO 9:6GAL 6:7Catherine Booth preaches on the universal principle of sowing and reaping, emphasizing that just as in the physical world, there is a direct correlation between what one sows and what one reaps spiritually and morally. She warns against sowing to the flesh, which leads to corruption, and encourages sowing to the Spirit, which results in everlasting life. Catherine delves into the consequences of sowing to the flesh, illustrating how sin darkens the understanding, hardens the heart, and leads to a spiral of corruption and despair.
Life for These Mortal Bodies
By Richard E. Bieber01CO 15:42Richard E. Bieber preaches on the transformation of mortal bodies into vessels of redemptive power and lights in this dark world through the life of the world to come. He emphasizes how Jesus, with a body that will never die, imparts resurrection life to his followers, giving them power to become children of God. By drawing near to Jesus and receiving his resurrection life, believers become servants of heaven's wisdom and power, shining God's light in their daily lives.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
So also is the resurrection of the dead - That is, the bodies of the dead, though all immortal, shall possess different degrees of splendor and glory, according to the state of holiness in which their respective souls were found. The rabbins have some crude notions concerning different degrees of glory, which the righteous shall possess in the kingdom of heaven. They make out seven degrees: - "The first of which is possessed by צדיקים tsaddikim, the just, who observe the covenant of the holy, blessed God, and subjugate all evil affections." "The second is possessed by those who are ישרים yesharim, the upright; whose delight it is to walk in the ways of God and please him." "The third is for תמימים temimim, the perfect: those who, with integrity, walk in the ways of God, and do not curiously pry into his dispensations." "The fourth is for קדושים kedoshim, the holy ones; those who are the excellent of the earth, in whom is all God's delight." Psa 16:3. "The fifth is for בעלי תשובה baaley teshubah, the chief of the penitents; who have broken through the brazen doors, and returned to the Lord." "The sixth is for תינוקות של בית רבן rof si ht tinukoth shel beith raban, the scholars and tender ones; who have not transgressed." "The seventh is for חסידים chasidim, the godly: and this is the innermost of all the departments." These seven degrees require a comment by themselves. There is a saying among the rabbins very like that of the apostle in this and the preceding verse Siphri, in Yalcut Simeoni, page 2, fol. 10: "The faces of the righteous shall be, in the world to come, like suns, moons, the heaven, stars, lightnings: and like the lilies and candlesticks of the temple." It is sown in corruption - The body is buried in a state of degradation, decay, and corruption. The apostle uses the word sown to intimate that the body shall rise again, as a seed springs up that has been sown in the earth. It is raised in incorruption - Being no more subject to corruption, dissolution, and death.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
sown--Following up the image of seed. A delightful word instead of burial. in corruption--liable to corruption: corruptible: not merely a prey when dead to corruption; as the contrast shows, "raised in incorruption," that is, not liable to corruption: incorruptible.
John Gill Bible Commentary
And so it is written,.... In Gen 2:7 the first man Adam was made a living soul: in the Hebrew text it is, man, or Adam, became, or was made a living soul; that is, as the apostle says, "the first man Adam": he calls him, as the Jews (a) frequently do, , "the first man"; he was the first man that was made, and the first parent of mankind, and the head and representative of all his posterity, and so the first in time, causality and dignity; whose name was Adam, so called by God in the day he was created, because he was formed , "from the ground, or earth"; when God breathed life into the earthly mass, or lump; and being animated with a rational soul, it became an animal body, or a living creature; and so the apostle proves, from the first man that was upon earth, that there is a natural, or animal body; a body animated by a soul, and which was supported by eating and drinking, by sleep and rest; and was capable of dying, and should die, in case of sin; and which was the state of it in its first creation, whilst in innocence, and before the fall; and this is all he meant to prove by this Scripture; for what follows is not mentioned as therein written, or elsewhere, but as the apostle's own assertion: the last Adam was made a quickening spirit: by "the last Adam" is meant Jesus Christ, called Adam, because he is really and truly a man, a partaker of the same flesh and blood as the rest of mankind; and because he is the antitype of the first man Adam, who was a figure of him that was to come; and therefore called Adam, for the same reason as he is called David and Solomon: he is said to be "the last", in distinction from the first Adam, with respect to him he stood, last upon the earth, as in Job 19:25 to which passage some think the apostle here alludes; and because he appeared in the last days in the end of the world, and is the last that shall rise up as a common head and representative of the whole, or any part of mankind: now he is made "a quickening spirit"; which some understand of the Holy Spirit, which filled the human nature of Christ, raised him from the dead, and will quicken our mortal bodies at the last day; others of the divine nature of Christ, to which his flesh, or human nature, was united; and which gave life, rigour, and virtue, to all his actions and sufferings, as man; and by which he was quickened, when put to death in the flesh, and by which he will quicken others another day: though rather I think it is to be understood of his spiritual body, of his body, not as it was made of the virgin, for that was a natural, or an animal one; it was conceived and bred, and born as animal bodies are; it grew and increased, and was nourished with meat and drink, and sleep and rest; and was subject to infirmities, and to death itself, as our bodies be; but it is to be understood of it as raised from the dead, when it was made a spiritual body, for which reason it is called a "spirit": not that it was changed into a spirit, for it still remained flesh and blood; but because it was no more supported in an animal way; nor subject to those weaknesses that animal bodies are, but lives as spirits, or angels do; and a quickening one, not only because it has life itself, but because by virtue of the saints' union to it, as it subsists in the divine person of the Son of God, their bodies will be quickened at the last day, and made like unto it, spiritual bodies; also because he lives in his body as a spiritual one, they shall live in theirs as spiritual ones: and so the apostle shows, that there is a spiritual, as well as an animal body; that as the first man's body, even before the fall, was an animal or natural one; the last Adam's body upon his resurrection is a spiritual and life giving one, as the Syriac version renders it; so the Cabalistic writers (b) speak of "Adam; who is the holy and supreme, who rules over all, and gives spirit and life to all.'' (a) T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol 38. 2. & 100. 1. & alibi passim. & , Cabala denud. par. 4. p. 195, &c. Vid. 2 Esdras iii. 21. (b) Zohar in Exod. fol. 59. 4.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
15:42-44 Just as growing plants differ from the seeds out of which they sprout, so resurrection bodies will be vastly unlike our mortal bodies.