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Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

1 Corinthians 15:46

'Howbeit that is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; then that which is spiritual.'

But there is an order to things. First comes what is of nature (natural, soulish), where life is imparted to the flesh by God, and then that which is spiritual, with full spiritual life being received from Him Who is Spirit and Who is the life-giver. The one was always to precede the other. Had Adam not sinned he would have progressed from soulish man to spiritual man. But when he sinned the seed died within him. Thus another, a second representative Man, had to come, who could provide that heavenly life which was lost in Adam.

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See also 1 Corinthians 15:46 in other biblical comments:

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  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

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  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

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  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

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  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

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  • John Darby's Synopsis

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  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

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  • Sermon Bible Commentary

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  • Sermon Bible Commentary

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  • Summarized Bible Commentary

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  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

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  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

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  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ 1 Corinthians 15:35.— (1) Emphasis on “_the dead_,—the DEAD!—the DEAD!” (2) “_With what_ (kind of) _body?_” See Homiletic Analysis. 1 Corinthians 15:36.—Emphasis on “_thou_” (so R...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1 _The doctrine of the resurrection. _This chapter, and the thirteenth, on Christian love, stand out, even among the writings of St. Paul, as pre-eminently beautiful and i...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Let's turn to I Corinthians, chapter 15. The Corinthian church was a real mess. A lot of carnality that led to divisions, a lot of party spirit, a real misunderstanding of the spiritual gifts, a lot o...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Colossians 3:10; Colossians 3:9; Ephesians 4:22; Romans 6:6...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Not first - spiritual - natural. A general principle, illustrated everywhere in human history, that the lower life precedes the higher....

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    HOW ARE THE DEAD RAISED UP? 1 Corinthians 15:29 INTRODUCTORY WORDS There are two rather startling questions asked and answered in the opening verses; that is, from 1 Corinthians 15:29 1. The first...

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