1 Corinthians 15:49 kjv
And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
1 Corinthians 15:49 nkjv
And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.
1 Corinthians 15:49 niv
And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.
1 Corinthians 15:49 esv
Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:49 nlt
Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man.
1 Corinthians 15 49 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 15:20 | But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. | New Life, Resurrection Hope |
| 1 Cor 15:22 | For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. | Adam's Sin, Christ's Redemption |
| 1 Cor 15:45 | So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. | Adam vs. Christ, Spiritual Life |
| 1 Cor 15:47 | The first man was of the earth and bore the image of the earthly man; the second man is from heaven. | Earthly Origin, Heavenly Origin |
| 1 Cor 15:50 | I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor can perishable things inherit the imperishable. | Fleshly Limitation, Spiritual Inheritance |
| 1 Cor 15:53 | For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. | Transformation, Immortality |
| Phil 3:21 | who, by the power that enables him to bring everything to himself, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. | Glorification, Christ's Image |
| Rom 8:29 | For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be in him the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. | Predestination, Conformation to Christ |
| Gen 1:26 | Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness..." | Image of God, Humanity's Creation |
| Gen 3:19 | By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food, until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” | Earthly Condition, Mortality |
| John 3:6 | Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. | Spiritual Birth, Contrast |
| John 11:25 | Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; | Jesus as Resurrection, Belief |
| Rom 5:12 | Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— | Sin and Death Entry, Universal Sin |
| Rom 6:4 | We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. | Baptism, New Life |
| 2 Cor 4:16 | Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. | Inner Renewal, Outward Decay |
| Col 3:10 | and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator, | New Self, Creator's Image |
| 1 Pet 1:4 | and into an inheritance that can never fade-away, never be defiled, and never fade-away. | Undefiled Inheritance, Heavenly Hope |
| Rev 21:1-4 | Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth," for the "heavenly and the new earth" had gone away, and there was no more sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne say, "Now the dwelling of God is with mankind, and he will live with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” | New Heaven, New Earth, End of Suffering |
| Isa 65:17 | “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind." | Prophecy of New Creation |
| Heb 12:22-24 | But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the cry of Abel. | Heavenly Jerusalem, Perfection |
1 Corinthians 15 verses
1 Corinthians 15 49 Meaning
As we have borne the image of the earthy man, so shall we also bear the image of the heavenly man. This verse articulates the profound transformation awaiting believers, moving from a mortal, earthly existence patterned after Adam to an immortal, heavenly existence conformed to Christ. It speaks to a future resurrection and glorification where our physical bodies will be changed to reflect the spiritual reality of Christ.
1 Corinthians 15 49 Context
1 Corinthians 15 is a pivotal chapter in the New Testament, focusing entirely on the resurrection of Jesus Christ and its implications for believers. Paul addresses doubts about the resurrection by systematically demonstrating that Christ's resurrection is foundational to Christian faith. He explains that believers are united with Christ in his resurrection, ensuring their future resurrection. The chapter contrasts the earthy nature of humanity, bound by sin and death stemming from Adam, with the transformed, heavenly nature believers will possess through Christ. Verse 49 is situated within the argument concerning the nature of the resurrected body, moving from the earthly Adam to the heavenly Christ as the prototype for redeemed humanity. The immediate context is Paul explaining that our current physical bodies, which are perishable, will be replaced by imperishable, spiritual bodies suited for eternal life with God, reflecting Christ's glorified state.
1 Corinthians 15 49 Word analysis
"eph’h o
moiwmeqen"` (eph' homoiōmēthamen) - "since we have borne" (passive aorist indicative middle of homoiō.`ō - to be like, resemble; *sphragizō` - to seal, impress). It implies we have already, in the past, assumed the characteristics or appearance of."thn e
ikōna`" (tēn eikona) - "the image". Eikōn (εἰκών) signifies likeness, resemblance, portrait, representation. In the Bible, it refers to a reflection or manifestation of a person's true nature or being. The first use relates to the image of the earthly man, Adam, inherited by humanity."tou_ cwoi
kou"` (tou chōïkou) - "of the earthy". Chōïkos (χοϊκός) derives from chous (χοῦς) meaning dust, earth. It signifies pertaining to earth, made of earth, earthly. It points to an origin and constitution linked to the terrestrial, a material, mortal existence."kai`
kaiomoiwmeqa" (kai homoiōmetha) - "and we shall bear" (future indicative passive of homoiō.`ō - to be like, resemble). This anticipates a future state where we will be made like."thn e
ikōna`" (tēn eikona) - "the image". Again, eikōn, referring to the likeness. This time, it refers to the image of the heavenly man, Christ."tou
epouraniou" (tou epouraniou) - "of the heavenly". Epouranios (ἐπουράνιος) means heavenly, pertaining to heaven. It signifies origin, dwelling, or character belonging to the realm of God. It directly contrasts with the "earthly" nature derived from Adam.Group Analysis: "As we have borne the image of the earthy": This phrase signifies humanity's inherent nature derived from Adam, marked by mortality, sin, and imperfection due to the fall. We were born with a disposition and physical form that reflected our earthly origins.
Group Analysis: "so shall we also bear the image of the heavenly": This clause expresses the future hope of believers, rooted in Christ's resurrection. It means our transformed state will reflect the perfect, incorruptible nature of Christ, the heavenly man, conforming us to His glorious image. The contrast between "earthy" and "heavenly" highlights the radical change awaiting us.
1 Corinthians 15 49 Bonus Section
The concept of bearing the image extends beyond the physical to the moral and spiritual. Initially, humanity was created in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27). The fall in Adam distorted this image, introducing sin and death. Christ, as the "last Adam," is the embodiment of God’s true image and offers humanity the possibility of restoration to that image. The future bearing of Christ's image in resurrection implies not just a restored but a glorified image, reflecting Christ’s perfect holiness and power. This transformation is not earned but a gift received through faith in Christ and realized fully at His return.
1 Corinthians 15 49 Commentary
This verse encapsulates the essence of Christian transformation. Just as Adam’s sin affected all humanity, causing a corrupted image, so Christ's redemptive work reverses this. We now carry the fallen image of Adam, subject to decay and death. However, through union with Christ by faith and the power of the Holy Spirit, we are destined for a resurrection where our spiritual selves, and eventually our bodies, will bear the glorious, incorruptible image of Christ, the resurrected Lord. It's a promise of complete restoration and glorification, aligning our entire being with our heavenly Lord.