1Corinthians 15:39-44 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. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
‘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.’ No two species of animals have the same flesh or flavour. This is also true of vegetables, grain, and other things in nature.
‘Celestial bodies’ [Greek: epouranios]. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies which have different glories even as the sun, moon, and stars differ in glory (15:40-41).
‘Terrestrial’ [Greek: epigeios] that which pertains to the earth.
‘So also is the resurrection of the dead’- All resurrected bodies will be immortal, but they will possess different degrees of glory. Our bodies are sown in corruption (15:21-22); raised in incorruption (15:51-54); sown in dishonor (Gen. 3:19); raised in glory (Php. 3:21; Col. 3:4); sown in weakness (Jas. 1:10-11); raised in power (15:53-56; 2Cor. 5:4); and sown as natural bodies (John 5:28-29; Dan. 12:2); raised as spiritual bodies (15:44; Php. 3:21).
‘Corruption’ [Greek: phthora] moral corruption, decay, ruin, depravity, wickedness (15:42, 50; Rom. 8:21; Gal. 6:8; 2Pet. 1:4; 2:12, 19). Also translated “perish” (Col. 2:22) and “be destroyed” (2Pet. 2:12).
‘Incorruption’ [Greek: aphtharsia] incorruption (referring to resurrected bodies, 1Cor. 15:42, 50, 53, 54); and immortality (referring to the life people get through the gospel, Rom. 2:7; 2Tim. 1:10).
‘Spiritual body’ [Greek: pneumatikos]. By this is meant the body will become of immortal substance. It has no reference to becoming immaterial, intangible, and without flesh and bones, for our resurrected bodies will still be flesh and bone, though not flesh and blood. Spirit bodies are as real as can be, but of a higher substance than natural bodies. God and angels have spirit bodies, and yet they are real tangible and materialized bodies, as proved by hundreds of passages describing them and many personal acts.
‘Natural body’ [Greek: psuchikos] soulish (2:14; 15:44-46; Jas. 3:15; Jude 1:19). This is man living under the control of the fleshly passions, the sensual and depraved part of man in contrast with the rational part (6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21; Rom. 1:29-32; Col. 3:5-10). He is the animal man as opposed to the spiritual man. He has no sense of spiritual values and no relish for them. He counts it the highest wisdom to live for this world and carnal pleasures. Spiritual things are foolishness to him. He cannot see their supreme excellence due to animal appetites and being spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1-9).
Living the Word 