1 Corinthians 15:21
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:21
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. Paul contrasts two Adams: the human life entering through Adam and the redemptive life through Christ. The cause of death is Adam’s sin; the remedy is Christ’s resurrection. This is a compact statement of salvation history: humanity’s fall brings death; the Messiah’s cross and empty tomb brings life. The phrase “by man” reflects ancient Near Eastern and Jewish understandings of male leadership and transference of federal headship. Paul’s argument places Jesus within a universal frame of salvation.
Core themes include federal headship, creation-fall-redemption, and cosmic scope of salvation. The verse anchors the hope of resurrection as God’s answered plan to undo death itself, culminating in new life for all who belong to Christ.
This invites us to trust Jesus as the true and rightful representative for humanity. It encourages identity in Christ: we participate in His resurrection power, enabling perseverance, character growth, and hopeful living. It also calls for evangelism: the message of life through Christ is the antidote to death’s fear.
Cross-References: Romans 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44; Colossians 3:4; Ephesians 1:19-23