1 Corinthians 15:38 kjv
But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
1 Corinthians 15:38 nkjv
But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.
1 Corinthians 15:38 niv
But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body.
1 Corinthians 15:38 esv
But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body.
1 Corinthians 15:38 nlt
Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. A different plant grows from each kind of seed.
1 Corinthians 15 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 15:39 | "All flesh is not the same flesh; there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish." | Continues the argument about bodily diversity. |
| Gen 1:11-12 | "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees of every kind that bear fruit with seed in it." | God creates different kinds of life. |
| Gen 1:24-25 | "And God said, 'Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creeping things, and wild animals according to their kinds.'" | God distinguishes different categories of living beings. |
| Psa 104:24-25 | "How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and wide, teeming with creatures beyond number— living things both large and small." | Praises God’s creative wisdom in diverse life. |
| Psa 139:13-16 | "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb... your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." | God's intricate and purposeful design of individuals. |
| Jer 27:5 | "'I have made the earth, the men and all the animals that are on the face of the earth by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and I give it to whoever seems right to me.'" | God's sovereign power over all creation. |
| Acts 17:25 | "And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else." | God is the source of all life and provision. |
| Rom 8:19-22 | "For the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it in hope. For the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God." | The entire creation is groaning and awaiting redemption. |
| 1 Cor 15:40 | "There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly bodies is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly bodies is of another." | Further elaborates on diverse glories and forms. |
| 1 Cor 15:42 | "So it is with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;" | Contrasts the perishable with the imperishable in resurrection. |
| 1 Cor 15:43 | "it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power." | Highlights the transformation in resurrection. |
| 1 Cor 15:44 | "It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body." | Introduces the distinction between natural and spiritual bodies. |
| 1 Cor 15:45 | "Thus it is written, 'The first man Adam became a living being'; the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit." | Connects Adam and Christ in relation to life and spiritual bodies. |
| 1 Cor 15:47 | "The first man was of the earth, a man of dust; the second man is of heaven." | Contrasts earthly origin with heavenly origin. |
| Phil 3:21 | "who, by the power that enables him to bring everything to subjection, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." | The glorious body will be transformed to be like Christ's. |
| Matt 13:43 | "Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father." | Describes the splendor of the righteous in the future kingdom. |
| John 3:31 | "He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all." | Distinction between earthly and heavenly origin and speech. |
| Gen 2:7 | "then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature." | God forms Adam and gives him life. |
| Eph 1:4 | "For he chose us in him before the foundation of the world..." | God's predestination before creation. |
| Rom 11:36 | "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever! Amen." | All things originate from and belong to God. |
1 Corinthians 15 verses
1 Corinthians 15 38 Meaning
God establishes the fundamental order of creation and resurrection by giving each living thing its specific, distinct body. This is not a random bestowal but a purposeful act of divine ordination, indicating that our current existence and our future resurrected state have divinely appointed forms. The resurrection body is distinct from the earthly body, yet it is also divinely provided.
1 Corinthians 15 38 Context
1 Corinthians 15 addresses the resurrection of the dead, refuting a prevalent skepticism within the Corinthian church. Paul systematically demonstrates that Christ's resurrection is the basis for the resurrection of believers. He elaborates on the nature of the resurrected body, contrasting the perishable, earthly body with the imperishable, spiritual, resurrected body. This specific verse, verse 38, serves to highlight God's sovereign power and wisdom in establishing the diversity of created forms, setting the stage for his argument about the different glories and natures of bodies, particularly the transition from an earthly to a heavenly resurrection body. The overall context emphasizes that God is the author of life, not only in the initial creation but also in the future resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15 38 Word Analysis
- δὲ (de): But/And. A conjunction, indicating a logical connection or contrast to the preceding statement.
- δίδωσιν (didōsin): Gives. Third person singular present active indicative of δίδωμι (didōmi). Refers to the action of granting or bestowing.
- ἕκαστον (hekaston): Each one/Each. Accusative masculine/neuter singular of ἕκαστος (hekastos). Denotes every individual thing.
- τῶν (tōn): Of the. Genitive plural definite article. Refers back to the things already mentioned, implying specific categories.
- ζῴων (zōiōn): Living things/Creatures. Genitive plural of ζῷον (zōion), a living being. Encompasses all forms of animated life.
- κατὰ (kata): According to/According to its. Preposition governing the accusative, indicating manner or class.
- τὴν (tēn): The. Accusative feminine singular definite article.
- ἰδίαν (idian): Own/Proper. Accusative feminine singular of ἴδιος (idios), one's own. Signifies distinct or peculiar to itself.
- φύσιν (phusin): Nature/Kind. Accusative feminine singular of φύσις (physis), nature, sort, kind. Denotes the inherent characteristics and classification.
Group Analysis:
- "δὲ δίδωσιν ἕκαστον τῶν ζῴων κατὰ τὴν ἰδίαν φύσιν" (de didōsin hekaston tōn zōiōn kata tēn idian phusin): "But [God] gives to each of the living things according to its own nature." This clause emphasizes God's direct action in assigning distinct forms or essences to every category of living creature. The emphasis is on God as the deliberate provider of each unique characteristic.
1 Corinthians 15 38 Bonus Section
The concept of "nature" (φύσις - physis) here can be understood not just as a biological classification but as an essential quality or inherent characteristic divinely ordained. This reflects an ancient understanding of order and purpose in the cosmos. The verse can be paralleled with the Old Testament emphasis on God's sovereignty over creation, where each element and living being exists and functions according to His decree and order (Gen 1). The deliberate provision of distinct natures prepares the reader for understanding the resurrected body not as an exact replica of the earthly body, but as a transformed entity, yet undeniably related, possessing a distinct, divinely given quality suitable for eternity, analogous to the distinction between an earthly body and a heavenly one (1 Cor 15:40-41).
1 Corinthians 15 38 Commentary
This verse underscores God’s purposeful design in creation. The diversity we see in animal life is not accidental; it is a direct result of God’s will and action. He assigns specific characteristics to each kind. This principle is vital because Paul uses it to build his argument for the resurrection body. Just as God established distinct natures for earthly creatures, He will establish a distinct nature for resurrected bodies, making them fit for a new reality while still being connected to our present existence, as seen in His wisdom with different glorious bodies, earthly and heavenly (1 Cor 15:40). The diversity in creation reflects divine wisdom, and the transformation in resurrection will further display His glory and power.