1 Corinthians 15:44

44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also 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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

1 Corinthians 15:44 In-Context

42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.

43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.

44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual.