1 Corinthians 15:35
in 1 Corinthians 15But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But some one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what manner of body do they come?
KJV
But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
⋯
This verse in 1 Corinthians 15
Commentary
16 notes on this verseSome may wonder how decayed bodies can become sound again, scattered members brought together, and destroyed parts restored. Yet no one seems to wonder how seeds softened and broken by the dampness and weight of the earth grow and become green again. Such seeds, of course, are rotted and dissolved by contact with the earth. But when the generative moisture of the soil imparts life to the buried and hidden seeds by a kind of life-giving heat, they receive the animating force of the growing plant.
This site's exposition
But someone will ask
on 1 Corinthians 15:35-38
Paul voices the Greek objection, how are the dead raised, and answers from the seed, which comes to life only when it dies. The sown seed looks nothing like the plant, yet God gives it a body, keeping identity across a total change of form.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
What, then, shall they do who are baptized for the body, if the body rises not again? We stand, then, on firm ground (when we say) that the next question which the apostle has discussed equally relates to the body. But "some man will say, `How are the dead raised up? With what body do they come? '" Having established the doctrine of the resurrection which was denied, it was natural to discuss what would be the sort of body (in the resurrection), of which no one had an idea.
But some one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what body do they come? To that he has, be sure, an answer: Thou fool! he says, that which thou sowest is not quickened, unless it die, and that which thou sowest, thou …
But further, when they hear the resurrection preached to them, they pronounce this to be impossible, for how, say they, can one who has been used up to form countless bodies in succession, rise up? And, to be brief, they attack with sophistries the Giver …
Gentle and lowly as the apostle is to a great degree every where, he here adopts a style rather pungent, because of the impiety of the gainsayers. He is not however content with this, but he also employs reasons and examples, subduing thereby even the very contentious. And above he saith, "Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead;" but here he solves an objection brought in by the Gentiles. And see how again he abates the vehemence of his censure; in that he said not, "but perhaps ye will say," but he set down the objector indefinitely, in order that, although employing his impetuous style with all freedom, he might not too severely wound his hearers. And he states two difficulties, one touching the manner of the resurrection, the other, the kind of bodies. For of both they on their part made a question, saying, "How is that which hath been dissolved raised up?" and, "with what manner of body do they come?" But what means, "with what manner of body?" It is as if they had said, "with this which hath been wasted, which hath perished, or with some other?" Then, to point out that the objects of their enquiry are not questionable but admitted points, he at once meets them more sharply, saying, "Thou foolish one, that which thou thyself sowest is not quickened, except it die." Which we also are wont to do in the case of those who gainsay things acknowledged. And wherefore did he not at once appeal to the power of God? Because he is discoursing with unbelievers. For when his discourse is addressed to believers, he hath not much need of reasons. […]
For useless must that conflict be deemed (which is sustained in a body) for which no resurrection is in prospect. "But some man will say, How are the dead to be raised? And with what body will they come? " Now here he discusses the qualities of bodies, whether it be the very same, or different ones, which men are to resume.
9 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
964. – Having proved the resurrection of the dead, the Apostle now shows the quality and mode of those rising. In regard to this he does two things: first, he raises a question about the quality of those rising; secondly, he answers it (v. 36). …
He did not say: you say, in order that the speech might be more acceptable, when he would be examining the words as if of other unbelievers. Two subjects were called into doubt: one — the manner of the resurrection, how a body that has …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But some one possibly will say, How are the dead raised up, after their whole frame is dissolved? And with what kind of bodies do they come again, after these are mouldered into dust?
But some man will say,....
The Nineteenth Century5 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
But some man will say - An objection will be made to the statement that the dead will be raised. This verse commences the second part of the chapter, in which the apostle meets the objections to the argument. and shows in what manner the dead will be raised. See the Analysis. That objections were made to the doctrine is apparent from 1Co 15:12. How are the dead raised up? - (Πῶς Pōs.) In what way or manner; by what means.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The objector could not understand how the dead are to rise, and with what kind of a body they are to come. Is it to be the same body? If so, how is this, since the resurrection bodies will not eat or drink, or beget children, as the natural bodies do?
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The New Park Street Pulpit, Sermon No. 306: “Resurgam” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1860)
proposed
We preach with words; God preacheth to us in acts and deeds. If we would but perceive it, creation and providence are two continual sermons, streaming from the mouth of God. The seasons are four evangelists, each of them having his testimony to utter to us.
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The New Park Street Pulpit, Sermon No. 306: “Resurgam” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1860)
proposed
We preach with words; God preacheth to us in acts and deeds. If we would but perceive it, creation and providence are two continual sermons, streaming from the mouth of God. The seasons are four evangelists, each of them having his testimony to utter to us. Doth not summer preach to us of God’s bounty, of the richness of his goodness, of that lavish munificence with which he has been pleased to supply the earth, not simply with food for man, but with delights for both ear and eye in the beauteous landscape the melodious birds, and the flowers of various hue? Have you never heard the still small voice of autumn, who bears the wheatsheaf, and whispers to us in the rustling of the seer leaf? He bids us prepare to die. “All we,” saith he, “do fade as a leaf, and all our righteousnesses are but as filthy rags.” Then comes winter, crowned with snow, and he thunders out a most mighty sermon, which, if we would but listen to it, might well impress us with the terrors of God’s vengeance, and let us see how soon he can strip the earth of all its pleasantries, and enrobe it in storm, when he shall come himself to judge the earth with righteousness, and the people with equity. But it seems to me that spring reads us a most excellent discourse upon the grand doctrine of revelation. This very month of April, which, if it be not the very entrance of spring, yet certainly introduces us to the fullness of it; this very month> bearing by its name the title of the opening month, speaks to us of the resurrection.
But some man will say - Αλλα ερει τις. It is very likely that the apostle, by τις some, some one, some man, means particularly the false apostle, or teacher at Corinth, who was chief in the opposition to the pure doctrine of the Gospel, and to whom, in this covert way, he often refers. The second part of the apostle’s discourse begins at this verse. What shall be the nature of the resurrection body? 1. The question is stated, 1Co 15:35. 2. It is answered: first, by a similitude, 1Co 15:36-38; secondly, by an application, 1Co 15:33-41; and thirdly, by explication, 1Co 15:42-50.
The words behind it
11 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | But | G235 → | 635 times |
| ἐρεῖ | erei | will say | G4483 → | 46 times |
| τις· | tis | someone; | G5100 → | 528 times |
| πῶς | pos | How | G4459 → | 103 times |
| ἐγείρονται | egeirontai | are raised | G1453 → | 142 times |
| οἱ | hoi | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| νεκροί; | nekroi | dead? | G3498 → | 128 times |
| ποίῳ | poio | With what | G4169 → | |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| σώματι | somati | body | G4983 → | 142 times |
| ἔρχονται; | erchontai | do they come? | G2064 → | 628 times |
Ἀλλ᾽But
all᾽G235 →635 times
ἐρεῖwill say
ereiG4483 →46 times
τις·someone;
tisG5100 →528 times
πῶςHow
posG4459 →103 times
ἐγείρονταιare raised
egeirontaiG1453 →142 times
οἱthe
hoiG3588 →19766 times
νεκροί;dead?
nekroiG3498 →128 times
ποίῳWith what
poioG4169 →
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
σώματιbody
somatiG4983 →142 times
ἔρχονται;do they come?
erchontaiG2064 →628 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Philippians 3:21who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.
it leads to
- 1 John 3:2
Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as…
- Colossians 3:4
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
- 1 Corinthians 15:42–56
So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable.
- Romans 8:29
For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
- 1 John 3:2
Through
Ecclesiastes 11:5As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones are formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.
it leads to
- John 3:8
The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
- Psalms 92:5
How great are Your works, O LORD, how deep are Your thoughts!
- John 3:8
Through
Ezekiel 37:3Then He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones come to life?” “O Lord GOD,” I replied, “only You know.”
it leads to
- John 11:25–26
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.
- John 5:21
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes.
- John 11:25–26
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies34
On this chapter
- The Seven Brothers and Their Mother
- Adam
- Adam to Noah
- Afterlife Vocabulary
- The Numbers of Scripture
- The Edenic Covenant
Show the next 6 titles
- Eve: The Mother of All Living
- The Hebrew Feasts
- Firstfruits
- The Great White Throne
- Hebel: the word the Berean text renders futility
- Hell and the Final State of the Lost
Show the next 6 titles
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 16 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrose of Milan, On the Death of Satyrus 2.55; Charles Spurgeon, The New Park Street Pulpit, Sermon No. 306: “Resurgam” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Cosmas Indicopleustes, The Christian Topography, Book 7; Cosmas Indicopleustes, The Christian Topography, Book 12; Frederic Godet, Commentary on First Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 41; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Tertullian, Against Marcion Book V; Tertullian, On the Resurrection of the Flesh; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.