50Now this I say, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does decay inherit immortality. [15:51] Behold, a mystery I tell you: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — [15:52] in an atom of time, in a wink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we ourselves will be changed. [15:53] For this perishable must put on imperishability, and this mortal must put on immortality. [15:54] And when this perishable puts on the imperishable and this mortal puts on immortality, then the written word will come to pass: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.' [15:55] 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' [15:56] And the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. [15:57] But thanks to God, the one giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [15:58] Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
1CO 15:50-58
Where, O Death, Is Your Victory?
In the world it was spoken into
In the Greco-Roman world, death was often viewed as an inevitable and final end, a source of fear and despair. The concept of resurrection was foreign to many, particularly in Hellenistic thought, which often saw the body as a prison to be escaped. For Jews, resurrection was a debated topic, with Pharisees affirming it and Sadducees denying it. Paul’s declaration that 'flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God' would have challenged both Jewish and Gentile listeners, emphasizing the transformation of the mortal body into an imperishable one. The term (mystery) signaled a divine revelation, something previously hidden but now disclosed. The imagery of the 'last trumpet' evoked Jewish apocalyptic expectations, where the trumpet signaled God’s decisive intervention. Paul’s assertion that death’s (sting) is removed would have been striking, as implied pain and control, suggesting death’s power was nullified.
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How other translations render this
1CO 15:50
- KJV
- Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
- BSB
- Now I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
- Koinōnos
- Now this I say, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does decay inherit immortality.
1CO 15:51
- KJV
- Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
- BSB
- Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—
- Koinōnos
- Behold, a mystery I tell you: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed —
1CO 15:52
- KJV
- In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
- BSB
- in an instant, 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.
- Koinōnos
- in an atom of time, in a wink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we ourselves will be changed.
1CO 15:53
- KJV
- For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
- BSB
- For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
- Koinōnos
- For this perishable must put on imperishability, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1CO 15:54
- KJV
- So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
- BSB
- When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
- Koinōnos
- And when this perishable puts on the imperishable and this mortal puts on immortality, then the written word will come to pass: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.
1CO 15:55
- KJV
- O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
- BSB
- “Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?”
- Koinōnos
- Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?
1CO 15:56
- KJV
- The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
- BSB
- The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
- Koinōnos
- And the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
1CO 15:57
- KJV
- But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
- BSB
- But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
- Koinōnos
- But thanks to God, the one giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1CO 15:58
- KJV
- Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
- BSB
- Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
- Koinōnos
- Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
1CO 15:50
- flesh:The word translated 'flesh' here refers to the physical, mortal body, often in contrast to the spiritual or eternal. It emphasizes the perishable nature of human existence.
1CO 15:51
- a mystery:The term 'mystery' in this context refers to a divine truth previously hidden but now revealed, not something unknowable or perplexing.
1CO 15:55
- sting:The word translated 'sting' literally refers to a sharp point, like a goad used to drive animals, or the sting of an insect, implying a piercing, painful, and often fatal wound.
1CO 15:58
- toil:The word translated 'toil' implies strenuous, exhausting labor that often results in weariness and hardship, not just general work.