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Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

1 Corinthians 15:40

celestial. Greek. epouranios. Occurs twenty times. Translated "heavenly" except in this verse, Ephesians 6:12; Philippians 2:10. See John 3:12.

terrestrial. Greek. epigeios. Occurs seven times. Translated "earthly" except here in this verse and Philippians 2:10. The same contrast is seen in John 3:12; Philippians 2:10.

one... another. Greek. heteros. App-124.

Longer Note on 1 Corinthians 15:40.

1. The subject of 1 Corinthians 15:35 is the manner of the resurrection. And the basis is, as the plant to the seed, so spiritual body to natural body, &c.: "thou sowest not the body that shall be (literally come into existence), but. naked grain, as the case may be, of wheat (John 12:24), or some one of the rest" (1 Corinthians 15:37).

2. But in 1 Corinthians 15:39 is set forth differentiation as to "flesh" of mundane organized beings; and in 1 Corinthians 15:41 differentiation in glory (beauty) of the heavenly luminaries. Between these two is 1 Corinthians 15:40, where the differentiation is commonly regarded as merely between "the resurrection body" and the body that now is. But is the contrast not rather between a. resurrection bodies fitted for life and activities "in the heavenlies", and b. resurrection bodies fitted for life and activities on earth? (e.g. Matthew 19:28. compare Ezekiel 34:23; Ezekiel 37:24, &c.)

3. The contrast (differentiation) in 1 Corinthians 15:39 concerns one thing only, i.e. "flesh". That in 1 Corinthians 15:41 also concerns one thing only. Therefore, it is suggested, the contrast in 1 Corinthians 15:40 is between resurrection bodies only, and not between resurrection (flesh and bones) bodies and natural (flesh and blood) bodies. If the glory (doxa) spoken of here is to be applied to the body that now is, where, alas! is the evidence of it?

4. As the resurrection is still future, the ellipses may be supplied and the verse rendered, thus: "And heavenly bodies (there will be) and earthly bodies; but of one kind indeed (will be) the glory of the heavenly, and another kind that of the earthly".

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See also 1 Corinthians 15:40 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 40. THERE ARE _ALSO CELESTIAL BODIES, AND BODIES_ _terrestrial_] The apostle certainly does not speak of _celestial_ and _terrestrial bodies_ in the sense in which we use those terms: we invari...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THERE ARE ALSO CELESTIAL BODIES - The planets; the stars; the host of heaven; see 1 Corinthians 15:41. AND BODIES TERRESTRIAL - On earth; earthly. He refers here to the bodies of human beings, beasts,...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    III. RESURRECTION AND THE HOPE OF THE CHURCH AND CONCLUSION: Chapter S 15-16 1. Resurrection and the Hope of the Church. CHAPTER 15 _ 1. The Gospel and the Resurrection of Christ. (1 Corinthians 1...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    Paul now meets the objection, How are the dead raised? in what kind of a body do they come back from the tomb? Only a fool (in the Hebrew rather than the Greek sense), he tartly says, would ask such a...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    JESUS' RESURRECTION AND OURS (1 Corinthians 15:1-58) 1 Corinthians 15:1-58 is both one of the greatest and one of the most difficult Chapter s in the New Testament. Not only is it in itself difficult...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    But perhaps someone says, "In what form are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?" That is a foolish question. When you sow a seed, it cannot be made alive, unless it first dies. It is...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial_ The principle is now further extended to the heavenly bodies, and another argument thus drawn from the close analogy which subsists between th...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΚΑῚ ΣΏΜΑΤΑ ἘΠΟΥΡΆΝΙΑ. The principle is now further extended to the heavenly bodies, and another argument thus drawn from the close analogy which subsists between the kingdom of nature and the kingdom...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    1 Corinthians 15:1-58. THE DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION This chapter is one of the deepest and most mysterious in the Bible. It is the one exception to the statement in ch. 3 that St Paul was unable t...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _CHANGES BROUGHT BY THE RESURRECTION 1 CORINTHIANS 15:35-58:_ Some were asking, "How will the dead be raised to life? What kind of bodies will they have?" They were taught that changes would take plac...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΈΠΟΥΡΆΝΟΣ (G2032) небесный; то есть находящийся на небесах или принадлежащий небесам (RWP), не небесное тело человека и не ангелы (Grosheide). ΕΠΊΓΕΙΟΣ (G1919) земной; то есть тела всех, кто живет на...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    BUTLER'S COMMENTS SECTION 3 Its Heavenliness (1 Corinthians 15:35-57) 35 But some one will ask, How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come? 36You foolish man! What you sow does not...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    APPLEBURY'S COMMENTS _Answer to Problems of The Resurrection_ (35-58) _Text_ 1 Corinthians 15:35-58. But some one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what manner of body do they come? 36 Tho...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. Suitability of bodies, however various to their species: th...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    40 There is no direct statement here that our bodies will be changed to celestial bodies, in accord with the later revelation of Ephesians, but such an inference would be in point. Even among the cele...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    _(F) THE FACT AND THE DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD_ Some Corinthians disbelieved in the resurrection of the dead—not, apparently, in Christ's Resurrection, though St. Paul felt this would...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    CELESTIAL BODIES] probably this refers to angels, not to sun and moon, etc. But this leads him in the next v. to speak of degrees of glory. BODIES TERRESTRIAL] i.e. creatures of the earth....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    SERVANTS OF CHRIST 1 CORINTHIANS _HILDA BRIGHT_ CHAPTER 15 *RESURRECTION 15:1-58 The reason that Paul was writing about the *resurrection is in verse 12. Some Christians were saying that there i...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THERE ARE ALSO CELESTIAL BODIES, AND BODIES TERRESTRIAL. — It is held by many that this is a distinct illustration from that which occurs in the next verse, and that the “celestial bodies” here spoken...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 24 THE SPIRITUAL BODY THE proofs of the Resurrection which Paul has adduced are satisfactory. So long as they are clearly before the mind, we find it possible to believe in that great experie...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    The possibility of a future body unimaginably diff [2494] from the present is indicated in the contrast suggested by the diff [2495] _regions_ of the two: “Bodies also heavenly there are, and bodies e...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    1 Corinthians 15:35-42 _a_. § 54. THE MANNER OF THE RESURRECTION. We enter on the second part of the Apostle's argument touching the Resurrection: see the analysis, _Introd_. to Div. V. He has establi...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THIS BODY THE SEED OF A GLORIOUS ONE 1 Corinthians 15:29 The anticipation of the final resurrection enabled the early Christians to endure incredible sufferings. As one rank fell martyred, another wa...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The last fact of the "spiritualities" is the resurrection, and the apostle first gives the proof of the resurrection of Christ. His final proof was his own experience. It is evident that there were so...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    "How Are The Dead Raised Up?" Though they professed belief in God, the Corinthian brethren wanted to know how he would raise the dead. They also wondered what body would exist in the resurrection. The...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    How do the dead rise again? He now answers the objections these new teachers made against the resurrection. St. John Chrysostom reduces them to these two questions: how is it possible for them to rise...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    “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. M...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    II. THE MODE OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY. 1 CORINTHIANS 15:35-58. After demonstrating the essential part played by the resurrection in the Christian salvation, the apostle sets himself to answer t...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (35) But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? (36) Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: (37) And that which thou sowest, thou s...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    As usual, the introductory words (1 Corinthians 1:1-3) of the epistle give us no little intimation of that which is to follow. The apostle speaks of himself as such "called [to be] an apostle of Jesus...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    But other evils had found means to introduce themselves into the midst of the shining gifts which were exercised in the bosom of the flock at Corinth. The resurrection of the dead was denied. Satan is...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THERE ARE ALSO CELESTIAL BODIES,.... Or bodies in the heavens, as the sun, moon, and stars: AND BODIES TERRESTRIAL; or bodies on earth, animate and inanimate, men, beasts, trees, minerals, c. BUT TH...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    _There are_ also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial _is_ one, and the _glory_ of the terrestrial _is_ another. Ver. 40. _There are also celestial_] Stars and spi...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _All flesh_, &c. As if he had said, There is an immense variety in the works of God, even in those which fall under the inspection of our senses, feeble and limited as they are, while we dwell in fles...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    ALL FLESH IS NOT THE SAME FLESH-CELESTIAL BODIES, AND BODIES TERRESTRIAL-ONE GLORY OF THE SUN, AND ANOTHER GLORY OF THE MOON; the apostle introduces another argument, drawn from the variety that exist...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THERE ARE ALSO CELESTIAL BODIES AND BODIES TERRESTRIAL; BUT THE GLORY OF THE CELESTIAL IS ONE, AND THE GLORY OF THE TERRESTRIAL IS ANOTHER....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The nature of the resurrection:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    This chapter itself forms a third division of the book, and deals with another most serious matter in Corinth. Some among them denied the resurrection of the dead. But the resurrection of Christ is th...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    THERE ARE ALSO CELESTIAL BODIES, AND BODIES TERRESTRIAL: BUT THE GLORY OF THE CELESTIAL IS ONE, AND THE GLORY OF THE TERRESTRIAL IS ANOTHER. 'celestial bodies' -2032. epouranios ep-oo-ran'-ee-os; fr...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    35-50 1. How are the dead raised up? that is, by what means? How can they be raised? 2. As to the bodies which shall rise. Will it be with the like shape, and form, and stature, and members, and qual...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THERE ARE ALSO CELESTIAL BODIES; such are the sun, the moon, and the stars. AND BODIES TERRESTRIAL; men, beasts, birds, fishes, the elements, stones, &c. BUT THE GLORY OF THE CELESTIAL IS ONE, AND THE...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another....

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Tertullian On the Resurrection of the Flesh In like manner, those also who after Him are heavenly, are understood to have this celestial quality predicated of them not from their present nature, but...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Corinthians 15:40 also G2532 celestial G2032 bodies G4983 and G2532 terrestrial G1919 bodies G4983 but G235...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    'All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fishes. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    1 Corinthians 15:40. THERE ARE ALSO CELESTIAL BODIES not those of good angels (as Alford, after De Wette and Meyer, unnaturally), but, as the next verse clearly shews, what we call the ‘heavenly bodie...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    _The Mode and Issues of the Resurrection,_ 35-57. The invaluable information on the subject of the resurrection here given is drawn forth in the way of reply to objections, arising from the difficult...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    CELESTIAL (επουρανια). Old word, from επ, upon, ουρανος, heaven, existing in heaven. Paul now rises higher in the range of his argument, above the merelyTERRESTRIAL (επιγεια, upon earth, επι, γε)...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    1 Corinthians 15:39 Pursuing the line of thought indicated in the previous verses with reference to the question "How are the dead raised up?" the Apostle may be supposed to ask, "Is not the question...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    1 Corinthians 15:1. _Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory wh...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    1 Corinthians 15:1. _Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory wh...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The resurrection of Christ and the resurrection of believers resulting from it. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Paul, Cephas, James, Adam. CONCLUSION: The resurrection of Christ, together with His...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Corinthians 15:1. _I declare unto you the gospel by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you._ We have here an epitome of the whole gospel, comprising essentially the d...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    AND THERE ARE. Each of these is also structured to fill its _role_ in the Creation....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _But some man will say, How are the dead raised up?_ and with what body do they come? HOW ARE THE DEAD RAISED UP? I. These words meant, “How can the dead be raised up?” Let us try to find an answer...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die._ THE REPROOF OF SCEPTICISM I. Justly severe. “Thou fool.” Because-- 1. It is opposed to God and Divine truth. 2. Is based in ign...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 CORINTHIANS 15:35 Apparently the Corinthians did not understand how ma­terial bodies, subject to sickness, death, and eventual decay, could live eternally. Paul explains that G...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 CORINTHIANS 15:1 The Futility of Faith If the Dead Are Not Raised. Many people in the ancient Greco-Roman world believed that death ended life completely or led to a permanent but shadowy existence...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 15 SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER He proves the resurrection of the dead against the false teachers who denied it: I. From the fact of Christ's resurrection. Thus (ver. 12) he gives the bearing of...

  • 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

    1 Corinthians 15:40...

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

    Celestial bodies [σ ω μ α τ α ε π ο υ ρ α ν ι α]. Not angels. For the meaning of swmata bodies is not limited to animate beings (see vers. 37, 38), and "the scoffers who refused to believe in the exis...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    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...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    There are also heavenly bodies — As the sun, moon, and stars; and there are earthy — as vegetables and animals. But the brightest lustre which the latter can have is widely different from that of the...

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