1 Corinthians 15:44

44 The seed sown is natural; the seed grown is supernatural - same seed, same body, but what a difference from when it goes down in physical mortality to when it is raised up in spiritual immortality!

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 image of planting a dead seed and raising a live plant is a mere sketch at best, but perhaps it will help in approaching the mystery of the resurrection body - but only if you keep in mind that when we're raised, we're raised for good, alive forever!
43 The corpse that's planted is no beauty, but when it's raised, it's glorious. Put in the ground weak, it comes up powerful.
44 The seed sown is natural; the seed grown is supernatural - same seed, same body, but what a difference from when it goes down in physical mortality to when it is raised up in spiritual immortality!
45 We follow this sequence in Scripture: The First Adam received life, the Last Adam is a life-giving Spirit.
46 Physical life comes first, then spiritual -
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.