“This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.”
1 Corinthians 2:13
Paul begins 1 Corinthians 15 with a passionate but reasoned argument for the fact of the resurrection. Before long, the mystery of it moves him into poetry. His words take on a rhythmic glory as he considers the turn in our story from Adam to Christ: “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (v. 22). You hear the wonder as he rolls out the contrasts between what we are and what we shall become: “The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power” (vv. 42-43).
For centuries the poetic force of these verses has lifted believers out of our lethargy into the strength of our hope. I can remember driving with Charles through the desert of Arizona listening to “The Messiah” and being enraptured by the repetition of four simple words taken from this chapter: “We shall be changed.” The deep bass voices sang them over and over, like a fathomless truth, and then ended with one final triumphant reprise: “We shall be changed!”
For centuries the poetic force of these verses has lifted believers out of our lethargy into the strength of our hope. I can remember driving with Charles through the desert of Arizona listening to “The Messiah” and being enraptured by the repetition of four simple words taken from this chapter: “We shall be changed.” The deep bass voices sang them over and over, like a fathomless truth, and then ended with one final triumphant reprise: “We shall be changed!”
Scripture Focus
1 Corinthians 15
Insight
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55)
Bible In A Year
- Ezekiel 31-32
- Psalm 146
- 1 Timothy 1-2
