1 Corinthians 15:51

¶ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

Behold {G2400}, I shew {G3004} you {G5213} a mystery {G3466}; We shall {G2837} not {G3756} all {G3956}{G3303} sleep {G2837}, but {G1161} we shall {G236} all {G3956} be changed {G236},

Look, I will tell you a secret — not all of us will die! But we will all be changed!

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed,

Commentary

1 Corinthians 15:51 is a pivotal verse in Paul’s extensive discussion on the resurrection, often called the "resurrection chapter." Here, the Apostle Paul reveals a profound truth concerning the end times and the destiny of believers.

Context

Chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians is dedicated to refuting false teachings in Corinth that denied the resurrection of the dead. Paul first establishes the historical reality of Christ's own resurrection as the foundation of Christian faith. He then moves to explain the nature of the resurrection body, contrasting the earthly, perishable body with the future, spiritual, and imperishable one. Verse 51 introduces a crucial detail about the timing and manner of this transformation for those believers who will be alive when Christ returns.

Key Themes

  • A Revealed Mystery: Paul declares, "Behold, I shew you a mystery." The Greek word for mystery, mystērion, refers not to something incomprehensible, but a truth previously hidden by God and now divinely revealed through Paul. This specific detail about the transformation of living believers was not previously disclosed in Old Testament prophecy.
  • Universal Transformation: The core message is that "we shall all be changed." This transformation applies to all believers, whether they have died and are resurrected, or are still alive at Christ's coming. It signifies a radical, instantaneous metamorphosis from a mortal, corruptible body to an immortal, incorruptible, and glorious one, fit for eternity.
  • No Death for All Believers: The phrase "We shall not all sleep" uses "sleep" (Greek: koimaō) as a common biblical euphemism for death, particularly the death of believers, emphasizing its temporary nature. This reveals that a generation of believers will bypass physical death altogether, experiencing an immediate transformation directly into their glorified bodies. This truth is further elaborated in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, which describes the "rapture" of the church.

Linguistic Insights

The term "mystery" (mystērion) is significant here; it's a divine secret now unveiled. The word "sleep" (koimaō) beautifully conveys the temporary state of death for believers, akin to slumber before waking. Most importantly, "changed" (allassō) emphasizes a complete, fundamental alteration, referring to the instantaneous transformation of our physical bodies into a spiritual body, as described in Philippians 3:21.

Practical Application

This verse offers immense comfort and hope to believers. It assures us that physical death is not the end and that for some, it won't even be a requirement. The promise of a glorified, imperishable body provides a powerful antidote to the fear of death and decay. It encourages us to live with an eternal perspective, knowing that our transient earthly existence will culminate in a miraculous, divine transformation, leading to ultimate victory over death, as Paul declares later in 1 Corinthians 15:54-55.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
The "Resurrection Chapter": An Exposition of 1 Corinthians 15 An Introduction to 1 Corinthians: Problems and Solutions in a Messy Church The Resurrection of Jesus The Resurrection: Its Importance and Evidence The Christian's Hope in Death

Cross-References

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:14

    For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:17

    Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

  • Philippians 3:21

    Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:20

    ¶ But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept.

  • Ephesians 1:9

    Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

  • 1 Corinthians 4:1

    ¶ Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:6

    After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
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