Sown in dishonor, raised in glory.

Sown in dishonor, raised in glory

1Co 15:35-44

He anticipates two objections that these skeptics will raise.

1. How are the dead raised?
2. With what kind of body do they come?

Paul makes two appeals to nature in verses 36-41 in order to draw out analogies to the resurrection body.

The first analogy is to the sowing of a seed.

In Jesus’s day, the farmer did not understand how it happened. It was mysterious. Mark 4:26-28

“The molecular and biochemical mechanisms of seed germination are not fully understood.”

He will build it for the human spirit.
Just like the body we have now was built for the human soul.

The second illustration from nature has to do with earthly and heavenly bodies.

Bird bodies are fitted for the air.

Fish bodies are fitted for the water.

Beast bodies are fitted for the land.

God designs bodies that fit the function for that kind of creation.

The body we were born with was fitted for an earthly existence.

The resurrection body will be fitted for a heavenly existence.

If God can be infinitely creative in nature…

How much more will He give new glorious bodies to the saints who will be transformed into the image and likeness of His Son!

The resurrection body will still be a human body.

But it will be fit for heaven rather than for earth.

In verses 42-49, Paul will use his analogies from nature to shed light on the resurrection body.

He moves from what can be observed – nature - to what cannot be observed – our resurrection bodies.

Seed to plant
( verses 42-44)

Earthly and heavenly bodies (verses 45-49)

Sown -> raised

Perishable (mortal) body -> imperishable (immortal) body

1Co 15:53-54

Dishonor -> glory

Philippians 3:20-21

Weakness -> power

2Co 13:4

Natural -> spiritual

When it was sown, it embodied the soul.

When it is raised, it will embody the spirit.