1 Corinthians 15: An Easter StudySample

Earthly and Heavenly Bodies

For our 21st-century minds, this discussion about earthly and heavenly bodies, perishable and imperishable, natural or spiritual, is a little odd. Our brothers and sisters from Corinth were puzzled by these questions too.

First of all, can our sinful, earthly bodies have any desirable hope for a glorious existence like the one the gospel promises in eternity? In our western society, guilt is often a bigger issue than shame. For a first-century Corinthian reader, shame would have been at the core of their values making them doubt the Resurrection. They probably thought “our bodies are dishonorable,” not because of how they look, but because of the evil desires they have. In their minds, you could not, or should not, inherit glorification in shameful bodies. Paul challenges their and our understanding of what the resurrected God has accomplished.

Secondly, many in Corinth were unsure if there was a physical reality in eternity. Some sects taught that the afterlife was some kind of out-of-body experience, or only spiritual. Conversely, Paul focuses on how there is a glory that comes from being transformed into an imperishable body. Note the words Paul chooses to contrast their fear: imperishable, filled with honor, powerful, and spiritual (verses 42–44).

There is a splendor of this earthly body and life. So much is the splendor of the earthly body, the Son put it on to live and do ministry during His incarnation. Furthermore, earthly life brings joys the Lord intended for us to experience, which is true even after the fall.

For example, I love being a father. As I am writing this, my wife and I are debating what we should do about our 4-year-old son’s preschool and kindergarten choices for the future. Toby, our son, probably has ADHD. It’s making it hard for him to follow the teacher’s instructions, and he is, at times, disrespectful to them. As much as this is stressful to us, there is not one second when I stop marveling at the gift of fatherhood and being able to do life with my family.

Earthly life has its splendor. Everything God made was made good.

Therefore, there is joy to be found in God’s good creation. Nevertheless, in a world also filled with sin, the power of the Resurrection gives us the longing for when our bodies will one day not experience this decaying life.