Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 15:26

What does 1 Corinthians 15:26 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 15:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 15:26 means

Death, humanity’s fiercest foe, will be the final enemy abolished. Its reign began with Adam’s sin, and it stalks every life. Christ’s resurrection broke its power, but death still operates until the end. Paul promises that death itself will be destroyed—not merely resisted or temporarily reversed. Believers’ resurrection is the concrete means by which death’s dominion ends. This verse comforts those grieving and confronts the fatalism of Corinthian skeptics. The last word belongs not to the grave but to the God who raises the dead. The gospel’s horizon includes the total defeat of death through the risen Christ.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

The last enemy that shall be abolished is death.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

The last enemy that shall be abolished is death.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

The last power to come to an end is death.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

the last enemy is done away--death;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the enemy, death, shall be destroyed last: For he hath put all things under his feet. And whereas he saith:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

[The] last enemy [that] is annulled [is] death.

Context

Following the statement of Christ’s reigning until all enemies are underfoot (v. 25), Paul names death as the final foe to be removed (v. 26). He will next explain the scope of “all things” put under Christ (v. 27) and the Son’s final act of subjection to the Father (v. 28). The flow moves from general reign to specific enemy to theological clarification, shaping a balanced view of Christ’s mediatorial kingship and its glorious conclusion.

v.25For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet.

v.26This passage

v.27For, He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Hosea 13:14

    I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from death: O death, where are thy plagues? O Sheol, where is thy destruction? repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

  • Revelation 21:4

    and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.

  • Isaiah 25:8

    He hath swallowed up death for ever; and the Lord Jehovah will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the reproach of his people will he take away from off all the earth: for Jehovah hath spoken it.

  • Hebrews 2:14

    Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

  • 2 Timothy 1:10

    but hath now been manifested by the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

  • 1 Corinthians 15:55

    O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?

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