The Resurrection Body: Glory Revealed in 1 Corinthians 15:35–50

When the apostle Paul penned his words to the church at Corinth, he addressed one of the deepest questions believers have asked throughout the ages: What will our bodies be like in the resurrection? (1 Cor. 15:35). For Christians—especially within our Southern Baptist tradition, which holds firmly to the authority of Scripture and the hope of the bodily resurrection—the teaching in this passage is central to our understanding of eternal life.

The Question of “How?”

Paul anticipates the skeptic’s question: “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” (v. 35). He responds by pointing to creation itself. Just as a seed must die and be placed in the ground before it springs to life as a new plant, so too our earthly bodies are sown in weakness and raised in power. What is buried is not what will rise. Instead, it is transformed by the hand of God.

From Perishable to Imperishable

Paul draws a sharp contrast between the bodies we now inhabit and the ones we will inherit in Christ’s resurrection. Our present bodies are marked by weakness, decay, and dishonor—the effects of sin and the fall (Gen. 3). But the resurrection body will be imperishable, glorious, and powerful (vv. 42–44). Southern Baptists affirm this hope as part of our confession of faith: we will not simply live forever as disembodied souls, but as whole persons—body and spirit—redeemed by Christ.

Natural vs. Spiritual Bodies

In verse 44, Paul makes a distinction between the “natural body” and the “spiritual body.” This does not mean that our resurrected bodies will be ghostly or non-physical. Rather, the word spiritual describes a body fully submitted to and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Our current bodies are shaped by earthly limitations; our future bodies will be animated by the life of the Spirit, perfectly suited for eternal fellowship with God.

The First Adam and the Last Adam

Paul roots this transformation in the work of Christ Himself. Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, and his sin brought death to all humanity (v. 47). But Jesus, the “last Adam,” is from heaven, and by His resurrection, He has secured life for all who belong to Him (vv. 45–49). Just as we bear the image of the earthly man now—subject to weakness, sickness, and mortality—one day we will bear the image of the heavenly Man. This is the glorious promise for every believer in Christ.

Flesh and Blood Cannot Inherit the Kingdom

Finally, Paul declares, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable” (v. 50). This verse reminds us that our current, sin-affected bodies are not fit for God’s eternal kingdom. Transformation is not optional; it is necessary. Our hope rests in the power of God to raise us in Christ to new, imperishable life.

Why This Matters for Us

For Southern Baptists, the doctrine of the resurrection is not an abstract idea—it is the heartbeat of our hope. Because Jesus rose from the grave, we too shall rise. This changes how we view death, suffering, and even aging. Our present struggles remind us that this world is not our final home, and that something better is coming. We await a day when every tear will be wiped away, when our bodies will be freed from sin and sickness, and when we will live eternally in the presence of our Savior.

Closing Encouragement

Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 15:35–50 calls us to hold fast to the hope of the gospel. The resurrection is not merely about life after death—it is about transformation through Christ. One day, we will be raised, not in weakness, but in glory; not in corruption, but in incorruption. This is the living hope that sustains us, encourages us, and moves us to share the good news of Jesus Christ with a world still enslaved to death.