1 Corinthians 15:35
But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
1 Corinthians 15:35
**VERSE REFERENCE**
1 Corinthians 15:35: "But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?"
**Meaning & Context** (200 words)
This verse sits within Paul’s lengthy argument in 1 Corinthians 15 about the resurrection. The Corinthians are wrestling with the reality of life after death and, in particular, the transformation of the body. Some skeptical voices in the church mock the notion of a literal resurrection, asking, in effect, “If the dead rise, what will their bodies be like? Won’t they be unrecognizable or leave us with something weak and strange?” Paul does not rebuke skepticism merely to silence it; he uses the question as a doorway to articulate the underlying truth: the resurrection isn’t about resurrecting the exact deceased flesh in every minor detail, but about God giving life to what has been sown—an entirely new, empowered form of life. The cultural backdrop includes Greek beliefs about the body as inherently corruptible and a disdain for material existence, making a bodily resurrection seem dubious. Paul’s approach is pastoral and apologetic: acknowledge the question, then guide readers toward a biblical anthropology where the body is valued and transformed by God’s power.
**Theological Significance** (150 words)
This verse foregrounds a central Christian conviction: belief in a real, bodily resurrection. It challenges dualistic tendencies that separate body from spirit as if only one is genuinely valuable. Paul’s question invites believers to trust God’s creative power—that He will raise the dead not in a merely spiritual sense, but with bodies re-embodied and transformed. The dignity of the human body is affirmed; the body is not disposable but destined for renewal. The resurrection of the body also points to the coming eschatological reality where God’s kingdom fully inaugurates life as it was intended—integrated, whole, and everlasting. This counters despair about decay, offering hope grounded in God’s sustaining, re-creative power.
**Modern Application** (150 words)
Today, skepticism about life beyond death can tempt believers to compartmentalize faith or fear the loss of identity. This verse invites practical hope: God cares about the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. In practical terms, treat the body with dignity (healthy living, care for the vulnerable, ethical decisions about medical technologies) while holding loosely to the notion of “my body, my portfolio.” If you’ve experienced grief, allow the promise of resurrection to shape your sorrow—trust that God will redeem what was marred by death and decay. For Christians wrestling with changes in health or aging, this verse can inspire perseverance: the same God who fashions seeds into plants will fashion our bodies anew. It also encourages a future-focused faith that values tangible, physical reality in creation, work, and relationships, all transformed by God’s renewing power.
**Cross-References**: Romans 8:11; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; Job 19:25-27