What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 15:21? For since Paul opens with a causal phrase, “For since,” drawing a straight line from what happened in the past to what God has now accomplished. The logic is clear and sequential, just like Romans 5:12–19, where one historic event (Adam’s sin) leads to a universal consequence (death). By starting this way, the Spirit reminds us that redemption is not a random afterthought but a purposeful response to a real-world problem. Death came through a man • Paul is referring to Adam, the first human. Genesis 2:17 records God’s warning, and Genesis 3:6–7 describes Adam’s deliberate disobedience. • Because Adam was the representative head of humanity, his fall brought physical death and spiritual separation to every person (Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:22 “in Adam all die”). • Death is therefore not a metaphor or merely spiritual; it is literal, universal, and observable, validating the truthfulness of Genesis and the need for a Savior. The resurrection of the dead comes • “Resurrection” answers death directly; it is the bodily raising of those who have died (John 5:28–29). • This is not resuscitation or reincarnation but a once-for-all transformation (Philippians 3:20–21). • By using the present tense “comes,” Paul stresses that the provision is already secured and in motion since Christ’s own resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20). Also through a man • The contrast is deliberate: one man brought death, another Man brings life. That Man is Jesus Christ, fully God yet fully human (John 1:14; Hebrews 2:14–15). • Because He took on genuine humanity, He could die in our place (Isaiah 53:5) and rise as “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). • Acts 17:31 affirms that God “has provided proof to everyone by raising Him from the dead,” underscoring the historical, literal nature of Christ’s resurrection. summary Adam’s single act opened the floodgates of death for every person, making the grave an unavoidable reality. God’s answer is just as concrete: Jesus, the second Man, conquered the grave and guarantees bodily resurrection to all who belong to Him. The verse sets a simple but profound equation—one man caused death; one Man secures life—highlighting both humanity’s need and God’s gracious provision. |
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