1 Corinthians 15:27
What does 1 Corinthians 15:27 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 15:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 15:27 means
Paul cites Scripture: God put all things in subjection under Christ’s feet. Yet common sense clarifies that “all things” excludes God Himself, who did the subjecting. The point is to avoid confusion about the Son’s relationship to the Father while affirming the vast scope of Christ’s dominion. Everything creaturely, every power, and every enemy lies beneath the risen Lord. But the Son remains distinct from the Father in His mediatorial role. This verse safeguards both the majesty of Christ’s rule and the order within the Godhead, refuting any notion that the Father is absorbed into the Son or vice versa.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For, 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For, 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For, as it says, He has put all things under his feet. But when he says, All things are put under him, it is clear that it is not said about him who put all things under him.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for all things He did put under his feet, and, when one may say that all things have been subjected, <FI>it is<Fi> evident that He is excepted who did subject the all things to him,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752All things are put under him; undoubtedly, he is excepted, who put all things under him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For he has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he says that all things are put in subjection, [it is] evident that [it is] except him who put all things in subjection to him.
Context
Having affirmed death’s coming destruction (v. 26), Paul explains the meaning of “all things” being subjected (v. 27). He balances breadth with careful theology, preparing for v. 28 where the Son’s final subjection to the Father is described as the capstone of the mediatorial kingdom. The context ensures that the triumph of Christ does not blur Trinitarian distinctions, even as it includes everything else under His feet.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 11:27
All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knoweth the Son, save the Father; neither doth any know the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal him.
- Philippians 2:9
Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name;
- Hebrews 2:8
Thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he subjected all things unto him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we see not yet all things subjected to him.
- Hebrews 1:13
But of which of the angels hath he said at any time, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet?
- 1 Peter 3:22
who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
- John 13:3
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came forth from God, and goeth unto God,
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