THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THE RESURRECTION

Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

Key verse: 20

NIV

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,(A) the firstfruits(B) of those who have fallen asleep.(C) 21 For since death came through a man,(D) the resurrection of the dead(E) comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.(F) 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits;(G) then, when he comes,(H) those who belong to him.(I) 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom(J) to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.(K) 25 For he must reign(L) until he has put all his enemies under his feet.(M) 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.(N) 27 For he “has put everything under his feet.”[a](O) Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.(P) 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him,(Q) so that God may be all in all.(R)

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 15:27 Psalm 8:6
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

20 But in fact (A)Christ has been raised from the dead, (B)the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as (C)by a man came death, (D)by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For (E)as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then (F)at his coming (G)those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers (H)the kingdom to God the Father after destroying (I)every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign (J)until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be (K)destroyed is death. 27 For (L)“God[a] has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When (M)all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that (N)God may be all in all.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 15:27 Greek he
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. A sample of what is to come (2 -22) At the time of harvest, the priests in the Old Testament took a sample of grains and presented them before the LORD for his blessing. The sample was a sign of the larger harvest to come and a preview of its quality. In the same way, the resurrected Christ is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep and a preview of what our resurrected bodies will be like. But how is this possible? We understand all too well how sin entered the world through one man. But the good news is that the resurrection comes through one man as well. We are made alive in Christ. 2. The sequence of events (23-28) Paul goes on to share the order of the resurrection. Knowing how it will happen strengthens our faith and heightens our anticipation. Christ was the first to be raised from the dead. When Christ comes again, all of those who belong to him will be raised from the dead and he will reign on earth until all his enemies are destroyed, including death. The end will come when he hands over the kingdom to the Father and our salvation will be complete. We will not be resurrected to a world and life as we know it now. We will be resurrected to a new creation that is filled with the righteousness and holiness of God.

Prayer: Father, thank you for Christ, the firstfruits of the resurrection. We long for the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting with Christ.

One Word: Jesus is the first of many!