1 Corinthians 15:44

44 When buried, it is a physical body; when raised, it will be a spiritual body. There is, of course, a physical body, so there has to be a spiritual body.

1 Corinthians 15:44 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 15:44

It is sown a natural body
Or an animal one, being generated as animals are, and supported with food as they be, and die at last as they do: see ( Ecclesiastes 3:19-21 ) .

It is raised a spiritual body;
not as to substance, but as to its quality; it will not be changed into a spirit; our Lord's risen body, to which ours will be conformed, was not a spirit, but, as before, consisted of flesh and bones: but the body will then be subject to the spirit and soul of man; it will be employed in spiritual service, for which it will be abundantly fitted and assisted by the Spirit of God; and it will be delighted with spiritual objects; it will be like the angels, those excellent spirits; it will live as spirits do, without natural helps and means, as meat, drink, clothes, sleep, and, as they, will never die:

there is a natural;
or "animal body", such as the first man's was, and those are that descend from him by ordinary generation; and

there is a spiritual body;
such as the body of Christ now is, and as will be the bodies of the risen saints; the phrase is Jewish, (ynxwrh) (Pwgh) , "the spiritual body" F25 and the flesh of the righteous, being (Mynxwr Mrvb) , "spiritual flesh" F26, are to be met with in their writings.


FOOTNOTES:

F25 Nishmath Chayim. fol. 37. 1.
F26 Tzeror Hammor, fol. 9. 4.

1 Corinthians 15:44 In-Context

42 This is how it will be when the dead are raised to life. When the body is buried, it is mortal; when raised, it will be immortal.
43 When buried, it is ugly and weak; when raised, it will be beautiful and strong.
44 When buried, it is a physical body; when raised, it will be a spiritual body. There is, of course, a physical body, so there has to be a spiritual body.
45 For the scripture says, "The first man, Adam, was created a living being"; but the last Adam is the life-giving Spirit.
46 It is not the spiritual that comes first, but the physical, and then the spiritual.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.