Craig A. Brittingham, Pastor
Hillside Baptist Church
June 21, 2026
“How Can It Be?” – 1 Corinthians 15:35-49
– As we have learned, some in the church at Corinth were saying that there is no resurrection of the dead (1 Cor. 15:12).
– The two questions (vs. 35) with which Paul began this passage of Scripture (1 Cor. 15:35-49) may have been posed by one of them, or perhaps, Paul anticipated these questions.
1A. How are the dead raised up?
1b. This question indicates a lack of belief in the resurrection of the dead – the sense of the question is, “How is it possible that the dead are raised up?”
2b. As God raises a live plant from a dead seed buried in the ground, He is able to raise a dead body to life.
2A. With what body are the dead raised?
1b. We will not be raised with the same body, but with a changed body. (vv. 37-38)
2b. As not all flesh is the same, and as there are heavenly and earthly bodies that differ in glory so also is the resurrection from the dead (vv. 39-44a)
3b. There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body (vv. 44b-49)
1c. The natural body is associated with the first man, Adam and the spiritual body is associated with the second Man, Christ.
2c. As we have borne the image of the man of dust, Adam, at the resurrection we will bear the image of Christ, the heavenly Man.
Questions…
1. What is the sense of the question, “How are the dead raised up?”
2. How did Paul answer the question?
3. Is the spiritual body made of spirit? Will we be spirits at the resurrection? How do we know?
4. Why did Paul refer to Jesus as a life-giving “spirit” in verse 45?
5. If the resurrection body is made of flesh and bones, why is it called a spiritual body?
6. If it is made of flesh, does it mean that even at the resurrection we cannot inherit the kingdom of God? See verse 50.
7. Is the resurrection body totally different from our bodies at death? Is it the same body? Please explain.
8. What is the purpose of verses 39-44b?