1 Corinthians 15:40

“There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial; but the glory of the celestial is different from the glory of the terrestrial.”

In the first words Paul has in view difference of substance. Many, de Wette, Meyer, etc., understand by bodies celestial the bodies of angels; comp. Luke 20:36; Matthew 28:3. For, according to them, the term σῶμα, body, cannot apply to inanimate beings, like stars; unless we ascribe to Paul the ancient superstition which regarded these last as living beings. But we are not obliged so to limit the use of the word σῶμα, body; compare the application made of it to plants in 1 Corinthians 15:37-38. The scoffers who refused to believe in the existence of the future body would hardly have admitted the existence of angelic bodies. To convince them on their own ground, the apostle appeals exclusively to what is seen: the grand spectacle of the starry sky, with the infinitely numerous and varied bodies with which it is studded. It is the counterpart of the not less rich, though less brilliant spectacle which is presented by terrestrial nature. The last words specially bring out this difference of splendour. The word δόξα denotes the brightness raying forth from existing objects. Terrestrial beings have theirs: flowers in the variety of their forms and colours, animals in their agility, grace, or strength, man in the nobility of his bearing, the freshness of his complexion, the light of his eye. But how great is that of the celestial bodies which illumine the earth with their brightness! To be remarked is the use of the adjective ἑτέρα, different, instead of ἄλλη, other. We pointed out, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, that the apostle does not use these terms indifferently. Here his intention is clear. He uses ἑτέρα, different, to denote the general difference between the two great classes of beings, and he applies ἄλλη, other, to the secondary difference distinguishing terrestrial bodies from one another (1 Corinthians 15:39), and celestial bodies from one another (1 Corinthians 15:41).