By Daniel Brown
The Resurrection of Christ
A Letter Defending the Bodily Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:28
Part Three
G. Question #3: (1 Corinthians 15:35-57) - Please concentrate on verses 40-45.
Before I answer this request I would kindly ask you to take your own advice, and read the entire chapter. It has been often apparent to me that your organization abuses God’s Word, because you do not read the Bible in its entirety. I have gladly read, not only 1 Corinthians 15, but the entire book of of 1 Corinthians. I would only recommend that you do the same.
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 differeth 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. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:40-45
My understanding is that you believe a “spiritual body” cannot be physical. Do you understand the difference between “spirit” and “spiritual”, or do you not make this distinction?
In the greek language, the word “Spirit”, in the sense of an invisible essence, entity or being, (regardless of whether it is written in reference to God’s Spirit or man’s spirit) is translated Pneuma.
However, the word “Spiritual” is not translated Pneuma, but Pneumatika. It actually refers to lordship, or being under the leadership of something or someone. That which is “spiritual”, in this passage, is someone under the control of a “Spirit” (The Spirit of God), yet not actually a spirit himself.
Paul wrote about this in 1 Corinthians 2:12-16, when he described the difference between the spiritual and natural man. Please read this passage through.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Butthe natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:12-16
• What meaning does the word “spiritual” have in this passage?• Does it refer to someone who is not in a physical body?
Christians should be controlled by God’s Spirit, yet they are not spirits. They are spiritual.
1 Corinthians 15:40-45 also explains that whatever is “sown” will be “resurrected”. This means that whatever goes into the earth will come back out. This is fundamental to the teaching of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15.
We must answer another question when we claim that Jesus Christ did not physically rise from the dead:
• If Jesus did not rise physically from the dead, where is his body?
It would probably be good for you to read the history of the Watchtower Organization on this subject. It seems as if there are differing answers from the Watchtower concerning this question. Perhaps the variation in responses is due to the absence of an actual settled answer. Perhaps the Watchtower organization is unable to give a settled explanation to the location of Jesus’ body, because the Bible actually teaches a physical resurrection from the dead.
The Bible explains that Jesus Christ was physically or bodily resurrected from the grave.
Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him (David) , that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the
resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
Acts 2:31
Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body.
John 2:19-21
And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.
Luke 24:36-43
Jesus said very clearly that he was not a spirit. However, you contradict him and say that he was a spirit. Who is correct? You? The Watchtower? Religion? or Jesus Christ? I choose to believe what Jesus said.
We must have a good contextually scriptural reason for contradicting (or “re- explaining”) the words of Jesus Christ in order to strengthen our doctrine. We have no need to seek a extra-biblical explanation for what happened to Jesus’ body, because the Bible has already declared that Jesus Christ was resurrected and that he ascended into Heaven.
You wrote once to me, “the Bible is enough for me.” If this is true, what is the biblical explanation for the disappearance of Jesus’ body, if he was indeed not physically resurrected?
G. Question #3: (1 Corinthians 15:35-57) - Please concentrate on verse 50... (CONTINUED)
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
1 Corinthians 15:50
Context is king! How can I understand this verse in comparison with the abundance of scripture that explain a physical resurrection? I only have to read the context. My friend, reading the scripture contextually seems to be the problem with your misunderstanding of scripture. You make many claims about the Bible, yet when we look at the context, your claims are contradicted.
What type of “flesh and blood” is being referred to in this passage? God makes the distinction in the previous verses
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.
1 Corinthians 15:39
We see that there are differing types of “flesh”: men, beasts, fish and birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial:
1 Corinthians 15:40a
• What is the flesh of celestial body? (Read verse 42)
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
1 Corinthians 15:42
We have before us the great distinction between that which is heavenly (celestial) and that which is earthly (terrestrial).
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1 Corinthians 15:50-54
The question is then, “How can corrupt flesh inherit the kingdom of God?” Paul gives us the answer:
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed(v.51)...we shall be changed. (v.52) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (v.53)
Because you have a better handle of the German language, maybe you could explain the word “anziehen” (put on) better to me. When something is “put on” or put over something, does it mean that that which is underneath ceases to exist, or disappears?
Paul explains further in 2 Corinthians 5:1-5
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
It appears to me that the “corruptible” will not disappear, but will be changed into something incorruptible. Think of the words, “changed”, “put on”, “clothed”, “not be found naked”, “unclothed” and “clothed upon.”
The hope of the Christian is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We receive hope from realizing that Jesus Christ is risen, and from his promise, “that where I am, there ye may be also”. We know that those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ will be with him in Heaven. Without the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have no hope.
I can say with Job,
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
Flesh and blood will indeed enter heaven, but not corruptible flesh. God will glorify the corruptible. The Daniel that will one day be buried in the earth, will surely be brought back out again, and will spend eternity with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Missed Part 2? Find it here: http://baptistwriters.com/blog/2019/3/22/the-resurrection-of-christ-part-2