The Resurrection of the Body

For Meditation

As we move toward the end of the Creed, the perspective shifts to the future. The Creed begins with the very start of the history of the world, and now it moves toward history's conclusion. The world will end, the Creed affirms, not with destruction, not with an apocalypse, but with “the resurrection of the body.” What does that really mean?

In his book Surprised by Hope, NT Wright points out that for many modern Christians, “resurrection of the body” means “heaven” or “immortality.” It is very common to hear Christians talk about “going to heaven when you die.” But when you read the Bible carefully, it’s clear that “heaven” is not the ultimate Christian hope. The true Christian hope is what happens at the end of history, when Jesus returns and resurrects the dead. The historic, biblical belief about the future is that we go to be with Jesus when we die (Phil 1:23), and there with Jesus we will wait with all the other saints for the day of resurrection. When Jesus returns and unites heaven and earth, he will restore creation and resurrect all the dead, and “we shall all be changed” (1 Cor 15:52).

In 1 Cor 15:42-58, Paul is using an agricultural metaphor. He invites us to imagine a tiny seed that is put into the ground and one day becomes a beautiful flower or tree. The same DNA that is in the seed is in the full grown plant, even though their physical appearance is completely different. In the same way, Paul says, at the resurrection from the dead, God will raise us and give us a new body that is like a flower of the seed of your present body. You will still be you, but you will also be transformed, perfect and whole. 

The hope of resurrection, Paul says, is not only our future hope, but must also shape the way we live now. "Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Cor 15:58). Because we know that Jesus will transform our bodies and the earth itself, our work in this present world is never wasted, but will be redeemed by Jesus. This gives us hope and confidence to work for justice, to care for the earth, and to persevere under trial. The resurrection changes everything.

1 Corinthians 15:42–58

42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;
44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.

50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Play along from home this week!

We’ve created parts for band and orchestral instruments, so you can play along to some of our worship songs this week! Find the parts here.