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The Resurrection Body
This passage answers two questions about resurrection: how the dead are raised, and what kind of body they have. Paul explains with examples from seeds, living creatures and heavenly bodies, then contrasts what is sown with what is raised.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In this part of 1 Corinthians 15, Paul responds to questions about the resurrection of the dead. He stays focused on the body God gives, using examples from creation before applying them to resurrection. The passage contrasts what is perishable, weak and natural now with what is raised.
1 Corinthians 15:35–49Main takeaway
Paul teaches that in the resurrection God gives a body that truly belongs to the raised person, yet differs greatly from the present body.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A seed is sown, and God gives the bodyPaul begins with two questions about resurrection bodies. He answers with sowing: what is sown must die, and the sower does not plant the final body, only a bare grain.
Explanation
Paul begins with two questions about resurrection bodies. He answers with sowing: what is sown must die, and the sower does not plant the final body, only a bare grain. God then gives each seed a body of its own. His point is that what is raised need not look like what was sown.
02Creation already shows varietyPaul adds more examples from creation. Human, animal, fish and bird flesh are not the same.
Explanation
Paul adds more examples from creation. Human, animal, fish and bird flesh are not the same. Celestial and terrestrial bodies also differ in glory, and even sun, moon and stars are not identical in glory. These examples show that God already makes different kinds of bodies with different kinds of splendour.
03What is sown and what is raisedPaul now applies the comparisons directly. The body is sown perishable and raised imperishable, sown in dishonour and weakness, raised in glory and power.
Explanation
Paul now applies the comparisons directly. The body is sown perishable and raised imperishable, sown in dishonour and weakness, raised in glory and power. It is sown a natural body and raised a spiritual body. Paul states both clearly: there is a natural body, and there is also a spiritual body.
04From dust to the heavenly imagePaul supports this with Adam and the last Adam. The first man Adam became a living soul, while the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
Explanation
Paul supports this with Adam and the last Adam. The first man Adam became a living soul, while the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. The natural comes first, then the spiritual. The first man is of the earth, made of dust, but the second man is from heaven. We have borne the image of those made of dust, and Paul says, let us also bear the image of the heavenly.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01How does the seed picture answer the question about what kind of body is raised?
Notice that the sown seed is a bare grain, while God gives it a body of its own.
02Which words does Paul use to contrast the body that is sown with the body that is raised?
List the paired terms in verses 42 to 44 and compare each one carefully.
03What order does Paul give when he compares the natural and the spiritual?
Follow his wording about what comes first and then connect it with dust, heaven and bearing the image.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Corinthians 15:35–49
35But someone will say, “How are the dead raised?” and, “With what kind of body do they come?”
36You foolish one, that which you yourself sow is not made alive unless it dies.
37That which you sow, you don’t sow the body that will be, but a bare grain, maybe of wheat, or of some other kind.
38But God gives it a body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own.
39All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.
40There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial differs from that of the terrestrial.
41There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
42So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown perishable; it is raised imperishable.
43It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body.
45So also it is written, “The first man Adam became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
46However, that which is spiritual isn’t first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual.
47The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven.
48As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let’s also bear the image of the heavenly.