1 Corinthians ~ Part 30

Note: To examine the graphics in this series, click on them for a pop-up version.

As I emphasized in my previous post, we are delving into the profound significance of Sha’ul’s Letters to the Corinthians, a crucial cornerstone of our faith.

Regarding the Resurrection ~ Part 4

Resurrection and Glorification

We pick up where we left off in our last post.

Having proved the necessity of resurrection, Sha’ul can discuss his readers’ concerns about the practical details.

⁵¹ Look, I will tell you a secret—not all of us will die! But we will all be changed!

A secret, Greek mustêrion, “a previously concealed truth now revealed.”). Compare 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 with vv. 51–57. (Click here for that post.) Not all of us will die.! But we will all be changed. For a Believer, death is no terror but is “gain” because one goes to be with the Messiah (Pp 1:21, 23). Nevertheless, Believers who are alive when Yeshua returns will not experience dying at all.

⁵² It will take but a moment, the blink of an eye, at the final shofar. For the shofar will sound, and the dead will be raised to live forever, and we, too, will be changed.

The shofar, Hebrew for “ram’s horn,” is sounded one hundred times on Rosh-HaShanah, the Jewish New Year. Within Judaism, the shofar has multiple symbolism, including God’s creation and Kingship, His revelation at Sinai, prophetic warning, repentance, alertness, battle, Avraham’s offering of Yitz’chak (and its connection with God’s mercy), the ingathering of God’s people in exile, final judgment and resurrection.

⁵³ For this material which can decay must be clothed with imperishability; this which is mortal must be clothed with immortality.

The body that bears the image of the man of dust (the first Adam) must inevitably be changed into the imperishability and immortality of the body that bears the image of the man from heaven (the second Adam: Yeshua).

Confidence in Death

 ⁵⁴ When what decays puts on imperishability and what is mortal puts on immortality, then this passage in the Tanakh will be fulfilled:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.

 ⁵⁵ “Death, where is your victory?

Death, where is your sting?”

Sha’ul commingles Isaiah 25:8 and Hosea 13:14 in this citation. The exchange of corruptible for incorruptibility comes only when death and corruption are swallowed up by Yeshua. This passage does not teach the doctrine of “soul sleep”—a suspended state for Believers between physical death and the change into glorified bodies. Believers are with the Lord immediately after death (e.g., Luke 23:43; Acts 7:55–59; 2 Corinthians 5:1–8).

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and sin draws its power from the Torah;

This verse summarizes what is taught at length in the Letter to the Romans, especially in Romans 3:19–31, 5:12–21, and 7:1–25.

⁵⁷ but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah!

⁵⁸ So, my dear brothers, stand firm and immovable, always doing the Lord’s work as vigorously as you can, knowing that united with the Lord, your efforts are not in vain. ^[1]

Yeshua brings not only victory over death in the resurrection but also victory over sin that leads to death. Most anything we do in this life is vanity (Ecclesiastes 1:2–3), but united with the Lord has eternal value.

In our next post, we will eagerly explore the conclusion of Sha’ul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, starting with 1 Corinthians 16:1 and delving deeper into our topic of Closing Personal Thoughts. Stay tuned for more insights and revelations.

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^[1] 1 Corinthians 15:51–58.