1 Corinthians 15:54

54 But when this deadly thing shall clothe undeadliness, then shall the word be done, that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory [+then shall be made, or fulfilled, the word that is written, Death is sopped up 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,


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 a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, in the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and dead men shall rise again, without corruption [forsooth the trump shall sing, and dead men shall rise again, incorrupt], and we shall be changed.
53 For it behooveth this corruptible thing to clothe uncorruption, and this deadly thing to put away undeadliness. [For it behooveth this corruptible thing for to clothe incorruption, and this deadly thing for to cloth undeadliness.]
54 But when this deadly thing shall clothe undeadliness, then shall the word be done, that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory [+then shall be made, or fulfilled, the word that is written, Death is sopped up in victory].
55 Death, where is thy victory? Death, where is thy prick?
56 But the prick of death is sin; and the virtue of sin is the law.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.