1 Corinthians 15:41 kjv
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.
1 Corinthians 15:41 nkjv
There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
1 Corinthians 15:41 niv
The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.
1 Corinthians 15:41 esv
There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.
1 Corinthians 15:41 nlt
The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory.
1 Corinthians 15 41 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Corinthians 15:40 | "There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another." | Sets up the comparison |
| Genesis 1:14-18 | "And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years. And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon the earth: and it was so...And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also." | Creation of celestial bodies |
| Psalm 8:3 | "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;" | Heavens and stars proclaim God's glory |
| Psalm 19:1 | "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." | Heavens declare God's glory |
| Psalm 136:7-9 | "To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever: The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever:" | God as creator of great lights |
| Daniel 12:3 | "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." | Connection of righteousness to shining |
| Matthew 13:43 | "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." | Future glory of the righteous |
| Revelation 21:10-11 | "And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;" | Heavenly city with God's glory |
| Revelation 21:23 | "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." | Lamb as light, superseding sun/moon |
| Philippians 3:21 | "Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." | Transformation to Christ's glorious body |
| Colossians 1:15-16 | "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:" | Christ as creator of all realms |
| Romans 8:18 | "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." | Future glory surpassing present suffering |
| John 1:4 | "In him was life; and the life was the light of men." | Christ as the light |
| 1 Peter 5:1, 4 | "The elders which are among you I exhort, who am I also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and be also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed...And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." | Shepherds partaking in glory |
| 2 Corinthians 3:18 | "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." | Transformed by beholding God's glory |
| 1 Corinthians 15:42 | "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:" | Contrasts earthly with resurrected bodies |
| Acts 7:42-43 | "Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon." | Warning against worshipping heavenly bodies |
| Isaiah 40:26 | "Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth." | God as the Creator and Caller of stars |
| Psalm 73:7 | "Their inward thought is, that their house shall continue for ever: and their dwelling places to all generations: they call their lands after their own names." | Human attempts to immortalize earthly glories |
| Romans 1:23 | "And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things." | Contrast of corruptible images with God's glory |
1 Corinthians 15 verses
1 Corinthians 15 41 Meaning
The glory of the celestial bodies differs from the glory of the terrestrial, and the glory of the celestial differs from the glory of the terrestrial. This highlights a distinct gradation of glory, with celestial bodies possessing a splendor that surpasses that of earthly bodies.
1 Corinthians 15 41 Context
In 1 Corinthians chapter 15, Paul is addressing a dispute among believers in Corinth regarding the resurrection of the dead. Some members of the church were denying that there would be a bodily resurrection, likely influenced by Greek philosophical ideas that held the body in contempt. Paul counters these ideas by emphasizing that the resurrection body will be spiritual and glorified, a transformation that reflects God's power and glory.
This verse, 1 Corinthians 15:41, fits into Paul's analogy comparing different types of bodies and their inherent glories. He contrasts the earthly bodies of believers with celestial bodies (like the sun, moon, and stars) to illustrate that there are different degrees of splendor. This serves as a foundation for his argument about the resurrected body being superior to the current physical body, possessing a "celestial" glory rather than an "earthly" one.
Historically, the ancient world held various beliefs about celestial bodies. While many recognized them as God's creation, others, particularly within pagan religions, revered them as deities or mediums for divination. Paul's assertion of distinct glories for celestial bodies, while also positioning them as creations serving God's purpose, indirectly addresses any lingering tendencies towards the veneration of stars or other heavenly bodies, redirecting all glory back to the Creator.
1 Corinthians 15 41 Word Analysis
- ἔστιν (estin): "is". This verb signifies existence or essence, stating a factual reality about the glory attributed to different bodies.
- δόξα (doxa): "glory," "splendor," "radiance," "honor." In this context, it refers to inherent magnificence, brilliance, and the divine quality or appearance of celestial bodies. It speaks to their distinct characteristic splendor.
- ἀστέρων (asterōn): "of stars." Genitive plural of astēr, referring to stars as individual points of light in the night sky, a primary example of celestial glory.
- καί (kai): "and." Connects the clauses, linking the distinct glories.
- ἄλλη (allē): "another." Emphasizes that the glory of the terrestrial is not the same as the glory of the celestial; it is a different kind of glory.
- διαφέρει (diapherei): "differs," "is different from," "surpasses." This verb indicates a distinction, a difference in kind or degree. It highlights that the celestial glory is distinct and perhaps superior in kind or level of radiance to earthly glory.
Words-Group By Words-Group Analysis
- "ἡ δόξα τῶν οὐρανίων" (hē doxa tōn ouraniōn): "the glory of the celestial." This phrase points to the inherent splendor of heavenly or sky bodies, which in context refers to the sun, moon, and stars, but by extension, the glorified resurrected body.
- "ἡ δόξα τῶν ἐπιγείων" (hē doxa tōn epigeiōn): "the glory of the terrestrial." This phrase refers to the glory of earthly or mundane bodies, including the current physical bodies of believers, which are "earthly" in their origin and nature.
- " différente est... et différente est...": The repetition of the concept of "different" reinforces that each category (celestial, terrestrial) possesses a unique and distinct type of glory. This isn't just a matter of intensity, but of fundamental difference in essence.
1 Corinthians 15 41 Bonus Section
This verse contributes to a broader biblical theme that contrasts the temporal and physical with the eternal and spiritual. The celestial bodies are part of God's ordered creation, reflecting His power. However, the "celestial" glory Paul speaks of in relation to the resurrection transcends even the physical glory of stars, pointing to a spiritual, incorruptible state. This echoes the transformative work of God in creation and redemption, culminating in a transformed humanity bearing Christ's likeness. The Greek term ouraniōn (celestial) used here is also used by Paul to describe "heavenly places" or "heaven" where believers are seated with Christ (Ephesians 1:3, 20; 2:6), reinforcing the idea of a heavenly or spiritual quality associated with the resurrected state. This understanding combats any philosophy that denigrated the body, by showing that even the physical realm has its glories, and the renewed spiritual body will have a far greater glory.
1 Corinthians 15 41 Commentary
Paul here establishes a hierarchy of glory, beginning with the observable difference in radiance between heavenly and earthly things. The sun, moon, and stars possess a visible, physical splendor that surpasses anything found on earth. This serves as an analogy: just as these celestial bodies are distinguished by their glory, so too will resurrected bodies, being "celestial," have a glory distinct from our current "earthly" bodies. It implies a transformed state of being that reflects God's glory more perfectly. The verse underscores that God bestows different kinds of glory appropriate to different created or redeemed entities. For believers, the resurrected state is the ultimate expression of this, bearing the glory of Christ himself.
- Consider how the sun's radiance is immense compared to the light of a candle. This visible difference illustrates Paul's point about varying glories.
- Just as a king’s crown has a different kind of glory than a peasant’s garment, the celestial body's glory is of a different order than the earthly body’s.