1 Corinthians 15:39

All flesh [is] not the same flesh: but [there is] one [kind of] flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, [and] another of birds.

All {G3956} flesh {G4561} is not {G3756} the same {G846} flesh {G4561}: but {G235}{G3303} there is one {G243} kind of flesh {G4561} of men {G444},{G1161} another {G243} flesh {G4561} of beasts {G2934},{G1161} another {G243} of fishes {G2486}, and {G1161} another {G243} of birds {G4421}.

Not all living matter is the same living matter; on the contrary, there is one kind for human beings, another kind of living matter for animals, another for birds and another for fish.

Not all flesh is the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another, and fish another.

All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fishes.

Commentary

1 Corinthians 15:39 is a verse within Paul's comprehensive argument for the resurrection of the dead, offering an analogy from the natural world to explain the concept of different types of bodies.

Context of 1 Corinthians 15:39

This verse is found in one of the most significant chapters on the resurrection in the New Testament. The Corinthian church had some members who denied the future resurrection of the dead (see 1 Corinthians 15:12). Paul meticulously addresses their doubts by first establishing the historical reality of Christ's resurrection, which is foundational to Christian faith. He then moves to explain the nature of the resurrected body, using illustrations from creation to show that diversity exists even within physical forms.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Diversity in Creation: The primary message of this verse is that God's creation exhibits immense variety. Paul points out that while all are "flesh," the physical composition and characteristics of humans, animals, fish, and birds are distinct. This establishes a foundational principle of diversity that he will then apply to the concept of the resurrected body.
  • Preparation for Deeper Truths: Paul uses this simple observation about different kinds of flesh as a stepping stone. He is preparing his readers to understand that just as there are different kinds of earthly bodies, there will be different kinds of celestial bodies, and ultimately, the resurrected body will be different from the earthly, perishable one. This sets the stage for his discussion of the transition from a corruptible to an incorruptible body.
  • God's Creative Power: Implicit in this verse is a testament to God's boundless creativity and wisdom, capable of designing a vast array of life forms, each suited to its environment and purpose, from the creatures of the sea to the birds of the air.

Linguistic Insights

The key Greek word here is sarx (σάρξ), often translated as "flesh." While it can sometimes refer to the sinful nature, in this context, sarx simply denotes the physical, material substance of living beings. Paul's point is that even within this physical "flesh," there are distinct categories and forms, each with its own glory or nature. This emphasis on different kinds of physical bodies helps transition to the idea of a spiritual body (soma pneumatikon) being distinct from a natural body (soma psychikon) later in the chapter (1 Corinthians 15:44).

Practical Application

For believers today, 1 Corinthians 15:39 reinforces the idea that God is not limited by our current understanding of physical existence. Just as He designed incredible diversity in the natural world, He is fully capable of creating a transformed, glorious body for the resurrection. This verse encourages us to trust in God's power and wisdom, even when the specifics of future realities are beyond our full comprehension. It builds confidence in the Christian hope of resurrection, reminding us that God's plan for eternity includes a perfected, immortal existence.

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Cross-References

  • Genesis 1:20

    ΒΆ And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl [that] may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

  • Genesis 1:26

    ΒΆ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
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