Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 15:49

What does 1 Corinthians 15:49 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 15:49 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 15:49 means

We have borne the image of the earthy Adam in our frailty and mortality; we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Christ in glory. This is a firm promise, not mere wish. The future likeness to Christ includes transformed bodies suitable for His presence and reign. The verse connects sanctification’s present process with glorification’s final outcome: what God has begun in making us like His Son, He will complete in our resurrection. The guarantee rests on our union with Christ, the last Adam, whose life-giving power will conform His people to His own glorious image forever.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And in the same way as we have taken on us the image of the man from the earth, so we will take on us the image of the one from heaven.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and, according as we did bear the image of the earthy, we shall bear also the image of the heavenly.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Therefore, as we have borne the image of the earthly, let us bear also the image of the heavenly.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And as we have borne the image of the [one] made of dust, we shall bear also the image of the heavenly [one].

Context

This promise (v. 49) concludes the Adam–Christ comparison (vv. 45–49) and paves the way for the next section on the necessity of transformation for inheriting God’s kingdom (vv. 50–53). The flow moves from who we are in Christ to what must happen to enter His kingdom bodily: mortality must be clothed with immortality. The context assures believers that their destiny is Christ-shaped.

v.48As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

v.49This passage

v.50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Cross references

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

  • 2 Corinthians 4:10

    always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.

  • Genesis 5:3

    And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

  • Romans 8:29

    For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren:

  • Matthew 13:43

    Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:18

    But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.

  • 1 John 3:2

    Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is.

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore 1 Corinthians 15

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on 1 Corinthians 15.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to 1 Corinthians 15:49.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary