1 Corinthians 15:38

But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

But {G1161} God {G2316} giveth {G1325} it {G846} a body {G4983} as {G2531} it hath pleased him {G2309}, and {G2532} to every {G1538} seed {G4690} his own {G2398} body {G4983}.

but God gives it the body he intended for it; and to each kind of seed he gives its own body.

But God gives it a body as He has designed, and to each kind of seed He gives its own body.

but God giveth it a body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own.

Commentary

Context

First Corinthians chapter 15 is a foundational passage on the doctrine of the resurrection, a central tenet of Christian faith. Paul addresses doubts and misunderstandings prevalent among some believers in Corinth concerning the resurrection of the dead. Having established the historical reality of Christ's resurrection as the cornerstone (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), he then tackles the practical questions posed by the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 15:35: "How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?" Verse 38 directly answers the latter part of this inquiry, using the analogy of a seed.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty in Creation: The verse powerfully asserts God's ultimate authority and wisdom in creating and transforming bodies. It is not according to human expectation or logic, but "as it hath pleased him." This highlights God's absolute control over life, death, and resurrection.
  • The Seed Analogy: Paul uses the common agricultural example of a seed to illustrate the nature of the resurrection body. A seed (like a kernel of wheat) is buried, seemingly perishing, but then sprouts into a new, distinct, and glorious plant. Similarly, the earthly body "dies" and is "sown," but God provides a new, transformed, and suitable body for the resurrected individual.
  • Continuity and Distinction: While there is a clear connection between the seed and the plant, they are not identical. The plant is far more complex and different from the simple seed. This signifies that the resurrected body, though uniquely tied to the individual, will be fundamentally transformed and superior to the earthly body, as further elaborated in 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 (sown in corruption, raised in incorruption).
  • Diversity of Form: "And to every seed his own body" emphasizes that just as different seeds produce different kinds of plants (wheat produces wheat, not barley), God provides a body appropriate to the individual, yet distinct from other resurrected bodies in its unique form and glory as He wills.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "as it hath pleased him" (Greek: kathos ethelesen) underscores the divine will and sovereign pleasure of God. It's not a haphazard process but a deliberate act of creation by God. The analogy of "every seed his own body" (Greek: hekasto ton sporon idion soma) reinforces the idea of specific, divinely appointed forms for each kind of seed, drawing a parallel to the unique and fitting body God provides for each resurrected person.

Practical Application

This verse offers immense comfort and hope, particularly for those grappling with questions about death and the afterlife. It assures believers that God, who intricately designs every seed to produce its unique plant, is fully capable of providing a suitable and glorious body for the resurrected. We are not to imagine a mere resuscitation of a decaying body, but a divine transformation. This truth encourages us to trust in God's wisdom and power, knowing that our future in Him will be one of perfect design and purpose. It redirects our focus from the perishable nature of our current bodies to the incredible, imperishable future God has prepared for those who believe in Christ, as Paul describes the future body in Philippians 3:21.

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Cross-References

  • 1 Corinthians 3:7 (4 votes)

    So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

  • Mark 4:26 (3 votes)

    And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

  • Mark 4:29 (3 votes)

    But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

  • Isaiah 61:11 (3 votes)

    For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

  • Psalms 104:14 (2 votes)

    He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;

  • Genesis 1:11 (2 votes)

    And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, [and] the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed [is] in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

  • Genesis 1:12 (2 votes)

    And the earth brought forth grass, [and] herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed [was] in itself, after his kind: and God saw that [it was] good.