1 Corinthians 15:54

54 So this body that can be destroyed will clothe itself with that which can never be destroyed, and this body that dies will clothe itself with that which can never die. When this happens, this Scripture will be made true: "Death is destroyed forever in 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,

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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 It will take only a second -- as quickly as an eye blinks -- when the last trumpet sounds. The trumpet will sound, and those who have died will be raised to live forever, and we will all be changed.

53 This body that can be destroyed must clothe itself with something that can never be destroyed. And this body that dies must clothe itself with something that can never die.

54 So this body that can be destroyed will clothe itself with that which can never be destroyed, and this body that dies will clothe itself with that which can never die. When this happens, this Scripture will be made true: "Death is destroyed forever in victory."

55 "Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your pain?"

56 Death's power to hurt is sin, and the power of sin is the law.