1 Corinthians 15:50-58

Can I understand the Bible if I don’t know Greek? 

You can read the Introduction here
You can read Romans 6 here

Today we will look at the second of three suggested passages, 1 Corinthians 15:5-58, using only my English Bible (KJV). There is one place where a reader might need a spot of help. I have provided that help, marking it in orange.

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  
Once again we see the principle of context. This whole passage is part of Paul’s teaching on the resurrection of the body. In verses 1-49 he has made it very clear, there is to be a resurrection of the dead; a literal, physical, bodily resurrection of believers, just like there was a literal, physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

According to verses 42-44 our bodies will be raised, but there will be a change. Here he states it again: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom; that is, corruption cannot inherit incorruption.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  
In the Bible a mystery is something that is now revealed that was not previously known. Saints in the Old Testament knew about the resurrection of the body, but not this.

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed – Resurrection is for people who have died and been buried. Sleep describes the death of believers because it is only temporary. Here is the mystery, not every one will die. There will be a generation of believers who will be alive when Jesus comes. They won’t die, but they will be changed! This change is the new, incorruptible, spiritual body, the glorified body. Hallelujah! We shall all be changed, but we shall not all sleep.

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  
Just talking about it, first the dead raised, then the living caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air, sounds like this is going to take some time. I mean, there are a lot of saints to be raised. The resurrection includes Old Testament saints as well as New Testament saints. And then all those who are alive when he comes. That’s a lot of people! This has gotta take some time. Nope.

In a moment – not a day, not an hour, not even a minute. In a moment.

In the twinkling of an eye – Just thinking about this takes my breath away! How long will this take? The blink of an eye! All the righteous dead since creation, raised in the blink of an eye! All the living saints changed, in the blink of an eye! I don’t think about this often enough!!

At the last trump – he told us how long it will take, in the twinkling of an eye; now he tells us when it will happen, at the last trump. This will be the last trumpet call of this age, in fact the last event of this age. The Lord Jesus will descend from heaven with a shout, the archangel will cry out, the trumpet will sound, the dead will rise, and we will be changed. Glory to God! Come, Lord Jesus!

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  
This is the change.

Corruptible and mortal – This body has limited life, it gets old and dies. Not only that, it doesn’t operate at 100% and is susceptible to disease, infirmity, failure. Just consider my body. I was born with a bad eye; I have fallen arches, high blood pressure, my hair is falling out, my knees, my back, and other issues I won’t even mention. Oy vey!

Incorruption and immortality – I’m getting a new body!! One that will never die, or fall apart, or get sick, or work at anything less than 100% ! Bury me with my glasses because I want to grind them into the ground on that day!

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 
This is not a new hope. He is quoting from the Old Testament [Isaiah 25:8]. I love this, Death is swallowed up in victory. It is not close, it is not overtime, it is not a made basket with the buzzer sounding, it is not just barely. No. Death is swallowed up in victory. There is so much victory it simply swallows death!

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  
This is another quote from the Old Testament [Hosea 13:14]. This quote is mocking death. We have to face reality, death is painful. Such loss. We lay loved ones in the grave and it sure feels like death and the grave have won. But in that day we will mock them: O grave, where is your victory now? O death, where is your sting?

56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  
Sin and death. They work hand in glove to keep us in bondage. How in the world can we ever hope to mock death?

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  
Our Lord Jesus Christ! He was crucified. He rose. He paid our sin debt. He defeated death. Jesus is victor! And he gives that victory to us. What a glorious gospel! What a gracious Savior!

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Don’t quit, don’t slack off, be steadfast because living for the Lord, working for the Lord, suffering for the Lord, none of it is in vain. He is coming. We will be raised. We will be rewarded. Glory to God!


This is really cool. Knowing Greek can help, using my Greek New Testament can help. But all I used was my English Bible and it was clear, powerful, exciting, glorious! Can you understand the Bible if you don’t know Greek? You sure can!!

Tomorrow: John 3:1-15