1 Corinthians 15:50 kjv
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
1 Corinthians 15:50 nkjv
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
1 Corinthians 15:50 niv
I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
1 Corinthians 15:50 esv
I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
1 Corinthians 15:50 nlt
What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.
1 Corinthians 15 50 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 15:51 | I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed | Transformation for believers |
| Phil 3:21 | who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our humble bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. | The nature of the transformed body |
| Rom 8:23 | not only so, but we ourselves who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. | Hope for bodily redemption |
| John 3:3 | "Very truly I tell you," he answered, "unless someone is born again, they cannot see the kingdom of God." | Necessity of spiritual renewal |
| Matt 19:23 | Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of the heavens." | Difficulty of entry through worldly means |
| Mark 10:25 | It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” | Analogy of the difficulty of entry |
| 1 Cor 6:10 | nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. | Sinful lifestyles exclude from kingdom |
| Gal 5:21 | envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. | Deeds of the flesh disqualify |
| Eph 5:5 | For of this you can be sure: No sexually immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. | Moral requirements for inheritance |
| Rev 21:27 | Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. | Purity required for the new Jerusalem |
| Heb 12:14 | Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. | Holiness as a prerequisite |
| Matt 22:12 | “Friend,” he said, “how did you get in here without a wedding robe?” The man was speechless. | Importance of appropriate attire |
| 1 Cor 6:13 | Food for the stomach and the stomach for food”—but God will destroy them both. The body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. | Distinction between natural and spiritual body |
| 1 Cor 6:9-10 | Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. | Listing of those who will not inherit |
| Ps 49:10 | For he sees that even the wise die, the fool and the brute perish, and leave their wealth to others. | The ultimate end of mortal wealth |
| Eccl 3:19 | For what happens to the sons of men and what happens to animals—the same thing happens to them. One dies the same way as another; all have the same breath; and man has no advantage over the animals, for everything is futile. | The futility of the flesh apart from God |
| 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.” | The curse of mortality |
| John 6:63 | The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are spirit and they are life. | The superiority of the spiritual |
| Col 1:13-14 | For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. | Entering the Kingdom through redemption |
| Acts 2:27 | for you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. | Prophecy of Christ's resurrection |
1 Corinthians 15 verses
1 Corinthians 15 50 Meaning
This verse states that flesh and blood, referring to our mortal bodies, cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. This signifies that the resurrection body will not be a continuation of our present, decaying earthly existence. Instead, a transformation must occur. The Kingdom of God is a spiritual reality that requires a nature fitting for it, which our current physical composition is not.
1 Corinthians 15 50 Context
This verse is part of Paul's extensive discourse on the resurrection of the dead in 1 Corinthians chapter 15. The Apostle addresses a prevailing doubt among the Corinthian believers regarding the resurrection of believers who have already died, and by extension, the nature of the resurrection body for all believers. Paul establishes that just as Christ was raised from the dead, so too will believers be raised. He elaborates on the difference between the current, perishable body and the resurrected, imperishable body. In this particular verse, Paul addresses the crucial point that our present physical form, which is subject to decay and corruption, is fundamentally incapable of entering the spiritual and eternal realm of God's Kingdom. This contrasts the physical limitations of our earthly existence with the requirements for participation in the divine, eternal reign. The immediate context is leading into his explanation of the transformation that will occur at the resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15 50 Word Analysis
- Όμως (hōmos): "However" or "But." This conjunction signals a contrast with the preceding thoughts, likely Paul’s earlier assertions about the resurrection.
- λέγω (legō): "I say." A simple, declarative verb indicating Paul's authoritative statement.
- ὑμῖν (hymin): "to you" (plural). Directly addressing the Corinthian church.
- σάρξ (sarx): "flesh." Refers to the material, physical body, with its limitations and corruptibility. In broader biblical context, "flesh" can also denote human nature with its inherent sinfulness (e.g., Galatians 5:19-21).
- καὶ (kai): "and." Connects "flesh" and "blood."
- αἷμα (haima): "blood." In conjunction with "flesh," it represents the totality of the physical human constitution, the essential elements of our present mortal life and lineage. It also signifies life itself as shed in death (see Luke 9:24).
- βασιλείαν (basileian): "kingdom." Refers to the reign or dominion. In this context, it signifies the Kingdom of God, the realm of God's rule and presence, both now and in its future, perfected state.
- τοῦ θεοῦ (tou Theou): "of God." Indicates the source and owner of this kingdom.
- κληρονομεῖν (klēronomein): "to inherit." To receive possession by right or by succession, implying an inheritance that is given, not earned by merit alone, but by God's decree and grace. This implies that inheritance is not a right of nature.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Flesh and blood" (σάρξ καὶ αἷμα - sarx kai haima): This common Hebraic idiom (found in Matthew 16:17, Galatians 1:16, Ephesians 6:12, Hebrews 2:14) encompasses the entirety of our present human, mortal, and material existence. It highlights the limitations of our current nature. The focus is on the physical limitations. It signifies weakness and mortality, contrasted with the divine and immortal nature of the resurrected life. The combination stresses the totality of our present, corruptible state.
1 Corinthians 15 50 Bonus Section
The idiom "flesh and blood" emphasizes the earthly, material limitations. It points to what cannot partake in God’s eternal kingdom without being fundamentally altered. This is why Paul goes on to discuss the resurrection body. Scholars and commentaries often highlight that "blood" in this context, combined with "flesh," symbolizes the entirety of our inherited human constitution, subject to mortality and corruption stemming from the fall. This concept finds resonance in the Old Testament where blood was vital to life (Leviticus 17:11) and its loss signified death. Therefore, the "flesh and blood" is inextricably linked to the cycle of life and death in this present world, a cycle that must be broken for eternal inheritance. The statement reinforces the Christian doctrine of a glorified, spiritual body being necessary for the resurrection life, not just a resuscitated earthly body. This concept was debated in ancient Greek philosophies (like Plato's dualism which saw the body as a prison) but Paul’s teaching here is distinctly biblical: the body is essential, but the current one needs transformation by God's power, not abandonment.
1 Corinthians 15 50 Commentary
This verse directly states that our current physical existence, our "flesh and blood" bodies, are inadequate for eternal life in God's presence. This isn't a condemnation of the body itself, but an assertion of its fallen state, unable to meet the pure and holy requirements of the divine Kingdom. This impossibility underscores the necessity of resurrection and transformation. Our present form is temporary and tied to this earth's decay. To enter God's eternal, spiritual Kingdom, a fundamental change is required. This foreshadows the glorious resurrection body described in subsequent verses, which will be transformed from perishable to imperishable, from mortal to immortal. It is a reminder that salvation involves not just spiritual renewal but ultimately a physical transformation to perfectly align with God's eternal plan.