1 Corinthians 15:54

54 And when the rotting body has been clothed in what can't decay, and the dying body has been clothed in what can't die, then this statement in scripture will happen: Death has been swallowed up by a victory.

1 Corinthians 15:54 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 15:54

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption,
&c.] As at the coming of Christ, both the bodies of living saints, and of dead ones being raised, will: and this

mortal shall have put on immortality;
which will be the case, in the resurrection morn:

then shall be brought to pass that saying that is written;
then that passage will have its full accomplishment, which stands in ( Isaiah 25:8 ) where it is read,

he will swallow up death in victory,
or "for ever". That is, the Messiah shall by his death, and resurrection from the dead, obtain such an entire victory over death, not only for himself, but for all his people, that in the resurrection morn, when they will be all raised from the dead, death will be so swallowed up, that it will be no more: the Jews acknowledge that this prophecy belongs to the times of the Messiah; so they say F16, that

``the Messiah shall descend from Pharez, and in his day the holy blessed God will cause death to be swallowed up, as it is said, ( Isaiah 25:8 ) "he shall swallow up death in victory":''

and again F17,

``when the King Messiah comes, the holy blessed God will raise up those that sleep in the dust, as it is written, he shall swallow up death in victory:''

they also say F18, that this passage refers to future time, and to the world to come. The prophet expresses it actively, it being a prediction of what was to be done by the Messiah; the apostle cites it passively, as being accomplished by him after the resurrection, and considered as a part of the song sung by the risen saints; to which is added,


FOOTNOTES:

F16 Shemot Rabba, sect. 20. fol. 131. 4.
F17 Zohar in Gen. fol. 73. 1.
F18 Zohar in, Exod. fol. 108. 1, 2, 4. Misn. Moed Katon. c. 3. sect. 9. Zohar iu Lev. fol. 46. 3. Yade Mose in Shirhashirim Rabba, fol. 20. 1. Echa Rabbati, fol. 48. 2.

1 Corinthians 15:54 In-Context

52 in an instant, in the blink of an eye, at the final trumpet. The trumpet will blast, and the dead will be raised with bodies that won't decay, and we will be changed.
53 It's necessary for this rotting body to be clothed with what can't decay, and for the body that is dying to be clothed in what can't die.
54 And when the rotting body has been clothed in what can't decay, and the dying body has been clothed in what can't die, then this statement in scripture will happen: Death has been swallowed up by a victory.
55 Where is your victory, Death? Where is your sting, Death?
56 (Death's sting is sin, and the power of sin is the Law.)

Footnotes 1

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