1 Corinthians 15:42
in 1 Corinthians 15So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
KJV
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
⋯
This verse in 1 Corinthians 15
Commentary
17 notes on this verseIn the same manner, therefore, as Christ did rise in the substance of flesh, and pointed out to His disciples the mark of the nails and the opening in His side (now these are the tokens of that flesh which rose from the dead), so "shall He also," it is said, "raise us up by His own power." And again to the Romans he says, "But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies." What, then, are mortal bodies?
This site's exposition
So also is the resurrection of the dead
on 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: four contrasts across three verses apply the seed's death and growth directly to the body laid in a grave, corruption against incorruption, dishonour against glory, weakness against power, natural against spiritual, each pair naming what the grave receives and what the resurrection returns. Sown, speiretai, is Paul's own word for burial throughout the passage, keeping the agricultural figure alive at every step rather than switching images midstream. Verse 44 names the final contrast, a natural body, psychikon, and a spiritual body, pneumatikon, not two substances at war but one body transformed by the same power that raised Christ from the dead.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
In due time I yielded to better and more enlightened minds, or rather, to truth itself, as I heard in the words of the apostle the groaning of the saints in their battle against carnal concupiscence. Although the saints are spiritually minded, they are still carnal in the corruptible body which remains a weight upon the soul. They will, however, be spiritual also in body when the body sown animal will rise spiritual. They are still prisoners under the wall of sin, in as much as they are subject to stimulation by desires to which they do not consent. Thus I came to understand this matter as did Hilary, Gregory, Ambrose, and other holy and renowned teachers of the church, who saw that the apostle, by his own words, fought strenuously the same battle against carnal concupiscences he did not wish to have yet in fact did have.
Indeed, since he proposes as his examples "wheat grain, or some other grain, to which God giveth a body, such as it hath pleased Him; " since also he says, that "to every seed is its own body; " that, consequently, "there is one kind of flesh of men, whilst there is another of beasts, and (another) of birds; that there are also celestial bodies and bodies terrestrial; and that there is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars" -does he not therefore intimate that there is to be a resurrection of the flesh or body, which he illustrates by fleshly and corporeal samples? Does he not also guarantee that the resurrection shall be accomplished by that God from whom proceed all the (creatures which have served him for) examples? "So also," says he, "is the resurrection of the dead." How? Just as the grain, which is sown a body, springs up a body.
This sowing of the body he called the dissolving thereof in the ground, "because it is sown in corruption," (but "is raised) to honour and power." Now, just as in the case of the grain, so here: to Him will belong the work in the revival of the body, who ordered the process in the dissolution thereof.
Else let them show that the soul was sown after death; in a word, that it underwent death,-that is, was demolished, dismembered, dissolved in the ground, nothing of which was ever decreed against it by God: let them display to our view its corruptibility and dishonour (as well as) its weakness, that it may also accrue to it to rise again in incorruption, and in glory, and in power. Now in the ease of Lazarus, (which we may take as) the palmary instance of a resurrection, the flesh lay prostrate in weakness, the flesh was almost putrid in the dishonour of its decay, the flesh stank in corruption, and yet it was as flesh that Lazarus rose again-with his soul, no doubt.
A commentator
Methodius of OlympusMethodius From the Discourse on the Resurrection · Written before 311.
proposed
Therefore, since the flesh is the boundary between corruption and incorruption, not being either corruption or incorruption, it was vanquished by corruption on account of pleasure, although it was the work and the possession of incorruption. Therefore it became subject to corruption. When, then, it had been overcome by corruption, and was given over to death for chastisement, He did not leave it to be vanquished and given over as an inheritance to corruption; but again conquering death by the resurrection, He restored it to incorruption, that corruption might not inherit incorruption, but incorruption that which is corruptible. And therefore the apostle answers, "This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal immortality." But the corruptible and mortal putting on incorruption and immortality, what else is this, but that which is sown in corruption rising in incorruption? For, "as we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly."
10 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers3 voices
A commentator
Didymus the BlindPAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH · Written before 398.
proposed
Just as the rational soul is not good or bad in itself but is capable of becoming either of these, so our body is neither perishable nor imperishable by nature but acquires these immanent, essential qualities in due course.
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption; it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power, and so forth. Then again he says: …
"So also is the resurrection of the dead." "So," How? with considerable difference. Then leaving this doctrine as sufficiently proved, he again comes to the proof itself of the resurrection and the manner of it, saying, "It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption." And observe his consideration. As in the case of seeds, he used the term proper to bodies, saying, "it is not quickened, except it die:" so in the case of bodies, the expression belonging to seeds, saying, "it is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption." He said not, "is produced," that thou mightest not think it a work of the earth, but is "raised." And by sowing here, he means not our generation in the womb, but the burial in the earth of our dead bodies, their dissolution, their ashes. Wherefore having said, "it is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption," he adds, "It is sown in dishonor." For what is more unsightly than a corpse in dissolution? "It is raised in glory." "It is sown in weakness." For before thirty days the whole is gone, and the flesh cannot keep itself together nor hold out for one day. "It is raised in power." For there shall nothing prevail against it for all the future. Here is why he stood in need of those former analogies, lest many on hearing of these things, that they are "raised in incorruption and glory and power," might suppose that there is no difference among those who rise again. For all indeed rise again, both in power and in incorruption; and in this glory of their incorruption yet are not all in the same state of honor and safety.
The Medieval Church2 voices
How so? With much distinction, as is evident also from the examples cited above. Above, when speaking of seeds, he used words proper to bodies, as when, for example, he said: "it is not quickened, except it die" (1 Cor. 15:36). Now, when speaking of …
979. – Then when he says, So it is with the resurrection of the dead, he adapts the above examples to the resurrection of the dead. It should not be supposed as to the literal explanation that the Apostles is saying this to indicate a …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
So also is the resurrection of the dead - So great is the difference between the body which fell, and that which rises. It is sown - A beautiful word; committed, as seed, to the ground.
So also is the resurrection of the dead,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
sown--Following up the image of seed. A delightful word instead of burial. in corruption--liable to corruption: corruptible: not merely a prey when dead to corruption; as the contrast shows, "raised in incorruption," that is, not liable to corruption: incorruptible.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
So also is the resurrection of the dead - That is, the bodies of the dead, though all immortal, shall possess different degrees of splendor and glory, according to the state of holiness in which their respective souls were found. The rabbins have some crude notions concerning different degrees of glory, which the righteous shall possess in the kingdom of heaven.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
So also is the resurrection - In a manner similar to the grain that is sown, and to the different degrees of splendor and magnificence in the bodies in the sky and on the earth. The dead shall be raised in a manner analogous to the springing up of grain; and there shall be a difference between the body here and the body in the resurrection. It is sown - In death. As we sow or plant the kernel in the earth. In corruption - In the grave; in a place where it shall be corrupt; in a form tending to putrefaction, disorganization, and dust. It is raised in incorruption - It will be so raised. In the previous verses 1Co 15:36-41 he had reasoned from analogy, and had demonstrated that it was possible that the dead should rise, or that there was no greater difficulty attending it than actually occurred in the events which were in fact constantly taking place. He here states positively what would be, and affirms that it was not only possible, but that such a resurrection would actually occur. They body would be raised “in incorruption,” “uncorruptible” 1Co 15:52; that is, no more liable to decay, sickness, disorganization, and putrefaction. This is one characteristic of the body that shall be raised, that it shall be no more liable, as here, to wasting sickness, to disease, and to the loathsome corruption of the grave. That God can form a body of that kind, no one can doubt; that he actually will, the apostle positively affirms. That such will be the bodies of the saints is one of the most cheering prospects that can be presented to those who are here wasted away by sickness, and who look with dread and horror on the loathsome putrefaction of the tomb.
The words behind it
12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Οὕτως | houtos | So | G3779 → | 208 times |
| καὶ | kai | also [is] | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀνάστασις | anastasis | resurrection | G386 → | 42 times |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| νεκρῶν. | nekron | dead. | G3498 → | 128 times |
| σπείρεται | speiretai | It is sown | G4687 → | 52 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| φθορᾷ, | phthora | decay, | G5356 → | |
| ἐγείρεται | egeiretai | it is raised | G1453 → | 142 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἀφθαρσίᾳ· | aphtharsia | immortality; | G861 → | 8 times |
ΟὕτωςSo
houtosG3779 →208 times
καὶalso [is]
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
ἀνάστασιςresurrection
anastasisG386 →42 times
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
νεκρῶν.dead.
nekronG3498 →128 times
σπείρεταιIt is sown
speiretaiG4687 →52 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
φθορᾷ,decay,
phthoraG5356 →
ἐγείρεταιit is raised
egeiretaiG1453 →142 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἀφθαρσίᾳ·immortality;
aphtharsiaG861 →8 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
Daniel 12:3Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.
it leads to
- Matthew 13:43
Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
- Proverbs 4:18
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
- James 5:19–20
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back,
- Daniel 11:33
Those with insight will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by sword or flame, or be captured or plundered.
- Daniel 11:35
Some of the wise will fall, so that they may be refined, purified, and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.
- Matthew 13:43
Through
Matthew 13:43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
it leads to
- Daniel 12:3
Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.
- Daniel 12:3
Through
1 Peter 1:4and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,
it leads to
- Revelation 21:27
But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
- Hebrews 9:15
Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under…
- Revelation 21:27
Where this verse is studied
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 17 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); Augustine of Hippo, AGAINST JULIAN 70; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Cosmas Indicopleustes, The Christian Topography, Book 7; Didymus the Blind, PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH; Irenaeus, Against Heresies Book V; 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; Methodius of Olympus, Methodius From the Discourse on the Resurrection; 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.