Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 15:41

What does 1 Corinthians 15:41 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 15:41 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 15:41 means

The sun, moon, and stars differ in brightness, and even one star differs from another. Creation displays layered glory everywhere. Paul’s point is not astronomical detail but theological inference: if God orders such diversity and gradation among heavenly bodies, He can bestow a higher, distinct glory upon resurrected believers. The multiplicity of splendors hints that God’s final work in His people will not be bland uniformity but rich, God-given radiance. The present body’s limitations do not set the standard for what God can do; the Creator’s track record in the skies assures His capacity to raise in surpassing glory.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for the glory of one star is different from that of another.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

one glory of sun, and another glory of moon, and another glory of stars, for star from star doth differ in glory.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

One is the glory of the sun, another the glory of the moon, and another the glory of the stars. For star differeth from star in glory.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

one [the] sun's glory, and another [the] moon's glory, and another [the] stars' glory; for star differs from star in glory.

Context

Having illustrated varieties of glory in nature and the heavens (vv. 39–41), Paul applies the principle directly to resurrection (vv. 42–44). The movement shifts from analogy to doctrinal assertion: what is sown contrasts with what is raised. This prepares for the theological grounding in Adam and Christ (vv. 45–49). The context ensures that readers approach the contrasts with expectation of divine upgrade, not mere continuation.

v.40There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

v.41This passage

v.42So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

Cross references

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

  • Genesis 1:14

    And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years:

  • Isaiah 24:23

    Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for Jehovah of hosts will reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem; and before his elders shall be glory.

  • Job 31:26

    If I have beheld the sun when it shined, Or the moon walking in brightness,

  • Deuteronomy 4:19

    and lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the host of heaven, thou be drawn away and worship them, and serve them, which Jehovah thy God hath allotted unto all the peoples under the whole heaven.

  • Psalms 8:3

    When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

  • Psalms 148:3

    Praise ye him, sun and moon: Praise him, all ye stars of light.

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