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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
celestial. Greek. epouranios. Occurs twenty times. Translated "heavenly" except in this verse, Eph_6:12, Php_2:10. See Joh_3:12.
terrestrial. Greek. epigeios. Occurs seven times. Translated "earthly" except here in this verse and Php_2:10. The same contrast is seen in Joh_3:12, Php_2:10.
one . . . another. Greek. heteros. App-124.
Longer Note on 1Co_15:40.
1. The subject of 1Co_15:35-54 is the manner of the resurrection. And the basis is, as the plant to the seed, so spiritual body to natural body, &c. : "thou sowest not the body that shall be (literally come into existence), but a naked grain, as the case may be, of wheat (Joh_12:24), or some one of the rest" (1Co_15:37).
2. But in 1Co_15:39 is set forth differentiation as to "flesh" of mundane organized beings; and in 1Co_15:41 differentiation in glory (beauty) of the heavenly luminaries. Between these two is 1Co_15:40, where the differentiation is commonly regarded as merely between "the resurrection body" and the body that now is. But is the contrast not rather between a. resurrection bodies fitted for life and activities "in the heavenlies", and b. resurrection bodies fitted for life and activities on earth? (e.g. Mat_19:28; compare Eze_34:23; Eze_37:24, &c.)
3. The contrast (differentiation) in 1Co_15:39 concerns one thing only, i.e. "flesh". That in 1Co_15:41 also concerns one thing only. Therefore, it is suggested, the contrast in 1Co_15:40 is between resurrection bodies only, and not between resurrection (flesh and bones) bodies and natural (flesh and blood) bodies. If the glory (doxa) spoken of here is to be applied to the body that now is, where, alas! is the evidence of it?
4. As the resurrection is still future, the ellipses may be supplied and the verse rendered, thus: "And heavenly bodies (there will be) and earthly bodies; but of one kind indeed (will be) the glory of the heavenly, and another kind that of the earthly".