1 Corinthians 15:36-38

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 15:35-50

The apostle comes now to answer a plausible and principal objection against the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, concerning which observe the proposal of the objection: Some man will say, How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come? 1 Cor. 15:35. The objection is plainly two-fold. How are they raised up? that is, ?By what means? How can they be raised? What power is equal to this effect?? It was an opinion that prevailed much among the heathens, and the Sadducees seem... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 15:1-58

1 Corinthians 15:1-58 is both one of the greatest and one of the most difficult chapters in the New Testament. Not only is it in itself difficult, but it has also given to the creed a phrase which many people have grave difficulty in affirming, for it is from this chapter that we mainly derive the idea of the resurrection of the body. The chapter will be far less difficult if we study it against its background, and even that troublesome phrase will become quite clear and acceptable when we... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 15:36

Thou fool ,.... Not transgressing the law of Christ, which makes him that calls his brother a fool in danger of hell fire; for the apostle said not this in anger, and from a malevolent disposition, as that rule supposes, but out of zeal for truth, and to reprove the stupidity and folly of such a bold objector; in opposing the veracity and power of God, in setting up his reason above divine revelation, and in not attending even to natural philosophy itself; in which professing to be wise he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 15:37

And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be ,.... The sower, for instance, does not take a stalk of wheat in its blade, and ear, and full corn in the ear, encompassed with the husk, and sow it in the earth, which is the body or form in which it appears when it rises up again, and is come to its full growth: but bare grain (or naked grain) it may chance of wheat, or some other grain ; wheat, or any other grain, is cast into the earth naked, beat out of the husk;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 15:38

But God giveth it a body, as it hath pleased him ,.... It is not the husbandman, nor the sun, nor the rain, that give the grain of wheat, or any other, its verdure and beauty, the form in which it springs up, its stalk, blade, and ear, but God by his own power, and of his sovereign will and pleasure; and he does not create this new form, but gives it; and does not barely give it, but gives the body to it: to the selfsame grain, and not another: so the resurrection of the dead is God's work;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 15:36

Thou fool - Αφρον . If this be addressed, as it probably is, to the false apostle, there is a peculiar propriety in it; as this man seems to have magnified his own wisdom, and set it up against both God and man; and none but a fool could act so. At the same time, it is folly in any to assert the impossibility of a thing because he cannot comprehend it. That which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die - I have shown the propriety of this simile of the apostle in the note on John... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 15:37

Thou sowest not that body that shall be - This is decomposed, and becomes the means of nourishing the whole plant, roots, stalk, leaves, ear, and full corn in the ear. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 15:38

But God giveth it a body - And is there any other way of accounting for it but by the miraculous working of God's power? For out of that one bare grain is produced a system of roots, a tall and vigorous stalk, with all its appendages of leaves, etc., besides the full corn in the ear; the whole making several hundred times the quantum of what was originally deposited. There are no proofs that what some call nature can effect this: it will ever be a philosophical as well as a Scriptural truth,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 15:36

Verse 36 36.Thou fool, that which thou sowest The Apostle might have replied, that the mode, which is to us incomprehensible, is nevertheless easy with God. Hence, we must not here form our judgment according to our own understanding, but must assign to the stupendous and secret power of God the honor of believing, that it will accomplish what we cannot comprehend. He goes to work, however, in another way. For he shows, that the resurrection is so far from being against nature, that we have... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 15:37

Verse 37 37.Thou sowest not that body that will spring up. This comparison consists of two parts — first, that it is not to be wondered that bodies rise from rottenness, inasmuch as the same thing takes place as to seed; and secondly, that it is not at variance with reason, that our bodies should be restored in another condition, since, from bare grain, God brings forth so many ears of corn, clothed with admirable contrivance, and stored with grains of superior quality. As, however, he might... read more

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