What does this scripture mean? (Christians, LDS, JW's, ect) Bible KJV?

Question

1 Corinthians 15:40 "There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another" I don't care what faith you are, I want anyones thoughts.

Answer 1

The verse speaks of the two of the three degrees of glory, commonly referred to as heaven. The Celestial glory is the highest Kingdom of God where the Father and the Son reside.

The Terrestrial Kingdom is a lesser level made fit for those qualified. Later in the verses is mentioned "glory as numerous as the stars in the firmament" which describes the Telestial Kingdom that much of mankind will inherit after the resurrection and judgment by Christ.

Answer 2

That verse is part of the build-up for 15.42. The heavenly bodies are those lights and moving bodies in the heaven (planets, stars, clouds), which the ancients believed to have been higher and more luminous than those bodies on earth (mountains, waters, etc.). The heavenly bodies were mysterious and ethereal, while they had direct experience with the earthly.

Using this difference, which was understood at the time, he is asserting that our actual bodies will be better after the resurrection. Corruption will put on incorruption. The mortal will become immortal. This dishonorable fallen body will become more honorable. (all in 15.42-45). It's most telling verses are 15.54-55, a veritable taunt to the powers of death :).

Answer 3

To understand some of this it takes going to the Greek.

glory - , excellence, dignity, grace, magnificence, preeminence

Now placing this in context with what Paul was teaching is the next part.

Since God created both - they have their own beauty. (He said it was good!)

God's spirit gives life to the natural body. The terrestrial body returns to the earth and the spirit (the celestial body) returns to God. (see Ecclesiastes)

Each have their own beauty.

He was teaching against the people that did not believe in resurrection or an afterlife - your friends should know which group did not believe in an afterlife.

Note: in verse thirty nine he is teaching against "evolution".

Yes, evolution.
The idea that all "flesh" came from a common source was even around then!!!

This is quite deep on different levels. I hope you gain some understanding and insight.

Answer 4

celestial in the greek is defined as: epouranios = above the sky, heavenly, high.

bodies = bodily, slave (Bodies of the heavens and bodies of the earth.)

terrestrial = epigeios = earthly, worldly

So to me it would mean the glory of the heavenly bodies and the glory of the worlds bodies.

Glory = doxah = dignity, glorious, honour, praise, worship


I see a connection that the first person is born physically & is flesh and the second person is born of His Spirit & is spiritual.

Answer 5

The New English Bible translates the verse as heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. The passage as a whole is discussing the resurrection body, and is contrasting corruptible with incorruptible. The thrust of the teaching seems to be that the resurrection body is not the same body we have on earth.

Answer 6

It is talking about ressurection to life in heaven. Spiritual bodies are different entirely from physical bodies. Physical bodies cannot exist in heaven. As verse 45 goes on to say, Adam became a living soul and the last Adam (Jesus) became a living spirit.

This also shows the error in the belief of physical bodies in heaven, or "condos in heaven" as one religion was selling. I always asked where the sewers were when the belief came up.

Answer 7

In order to help clarify scripture, it is often helpful to look at the passage in more then one translation...here is 1 Corr 15:40 in the Amplified.

15:40 -
There are heavenly bodies (sun, moon, and stars) and there are earthly bodies (men, animals, and plants), but the beauty and glory of the heavenly bodies is of one kind, while the beauty and glory of earthly bodies is a different kind.

I hope this answers your question.

1Corr is talking about the fact that there are different bodies or structures in the universe (sun . . . moon . . . stars), and each is created with its own glory, and is suited to its own particular environment and needs. While our present bodies are adapted for the environment of time and earth, our resurrection bodies will be adapted for the environment of eternity and heaven.

Answer 8

The whole chapter the Paul is teaching is that we have two bodies.

celestial bodies or spiritual body
terrestrial or Fleshly body

1Cr 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

natural body is a Fleshly body
spiritual body is raised up when your flesh dies.

1Cr 15:47 The first man is]of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

first man is of the earth, Flesh
the second is of the Lord, meaning spiritual

If you back up to these vs, you will see an analogy, "the flesh' is like a grain of Corn.

1Cr 15:35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

1Cr 15:36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:

Meaning the flesh has to die first.

1Cr 15:37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:

Like when you plant a grain of corn, the outside of it dies, then a beautiful new plant sprouts out of it. Thats how it is with your flesh body. It dies and your spiritual body then returns to GOD who gave it.

1Cr 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Our Fleshly body looks just like our spiritual body.

1Cr 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of GOD. Why?

Because its in a differernt dimention.

Neither doth corruption(flesh body) inherit incorruption(spiritual body).

1Cr 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

sleep is to die a flesh death

1Cr 15:52 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.

last trump is the seventh trump, we are all changed from a fleshly body to a spiritual body.

1Cr 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

This corruptible(flesh body) must put on incorruption (spiritually body).

Answer 9

The original version might be more helpful, it was NOT talking about beings from other Planets, here is the Catholic (Original) version:

""""{15:40} Also, there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. But while the one, certainly, has the glory of heaven, the other has the glory of earth.""""

It means that while we are on earth we have the Glory of earth and when we get to heaven we will have Glory in heaven.

Peace!

Answer 10

Paul is explaining that God will decide what sort of body you will be given in the resurrection in verse 38. He explains that just as there are different species of living creatures on earth, that there is a difference between the earthly bodies and the heavenly bodies of spirit creatures. He explains that before he came to earth, Christ had a spiritual body in heaven, then he returned to his spiritual body when he was resurrected by his Almighty God after 3 days of death.