But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
The verse sets an order for rising from the dead, with Christ himself first and then all who belong to him when he returns. As the firstfruits he is like the first ripe sheaf gathered before the harvest, the beginning sample of the immortal harvest to follow. His rising is the pledge, pattern and guarantee of the rising of all united to him by faith, because by meeting and conquering death he broke its power and took away its sting. Those who are his will be called from their graves to immortal life at his second coming, when the trumpet sounds and death, the last enemy, is destroyed. They will rise with their personal identity preserved so they know one another, but with bodies made glorious and free from deformity and disease.
Order and Firstfruits Meaning
The verse lays down an order of resurrection: Christ first, and afterward those who belong to him at his coming, with the dead believers rising first at the second advent in the first resurrection that accompanies his glorious return as King and deliverer. As firstfruits, like the first ripe grain offered and gathered before the harvest, his resurrection is the beginning sample of the immortal harvest of his people, the pledge and pattern of the future resurrection of the redeemed who receive life at his coming. The resurrection is therefore essential to the hope of the righteous, for if they already entered full glory at death, preaching their future resurrection would be pointless and the doctrine would be neglected.
He is the antitype of the sheaf of the firstfruits, so he is no longer to be mourned as dead but confessed as a living Saviour risen from the dead. Like a corn of wheat that must fall into the ground and die or else abide alone, he had to give up his life to bring forth much fruit and then rise again as the firstfruits. He rises first in order as the second Adam.
The resurrection is literal, but the immortal body need not be made of the same particles of matter as the mortal body, since personal identity rests in organization rather than identical matter. His own resurrection establishes him as the true divine Witness sent from God to reveal the Father, whose testimony is truth to be believed, studied, and revered, and whose raising guarantees the resurrection of everyone who believes in Jesus.
Pledge and Victory Accomplished
Christ's resurrection is the pledge, pattern, sample and guarantee of the future resurrection of all who are united with him by faith. As the firstfruits he came first in order, and those who belong to him will be raised afterward at his coming. His rising therefore secures theirs, so that their resurrection follows his as harvest follows first ripe grain.
He met Satan on Satan's own territory of death and conquered him there, thereby breaking the devil's power of death. By that victory he removed the sting and terror of death for the believer. Risen from the grave, he sits at the right hand of the Father with all power in heaven and earth.
The company of sleeping dead brought up with him at his resurrection is the trophy of that decided victory. They are a fresh sample, earnest and assurance of the final resurrection of the righteous dead. Their raising shows that his triumph over death already bears fruit in others raised to life.
His death and resurrection begin a great harvest, and as Life-giver he will call his people from the graves as ripe grain gathered for the heavenly garner. That harvest extends to all nations, tongues and people who hear salvation's glad tidings. The Greeks who desired to see him were the first-fruits of that abundant Gentile gathering. Their coming showed that once the partition wall between Jew and Gentile was thrown down by his approaching death, the world would become the harvest field.
The gospel of his death and resurrection and of the resurrection of the dead brings life and immortality to light. By it the kingdom of heaven is thrown open to all believers. It is the greatest message ever given to the world, glad tidings on which the hopes of the human family for time and for eternity depend.
Future Resurrection at Coming
The order is fixed: Christ first, and afterward those who belong to him are raised at his coming. The dead who are his rise at the second advent, and that rising is the first resurrection. It accompanies his glorious return as King and deliverer. His own resurrection is the pledge and pattern of that final resurrection.
At his coming God's voice and the trumpet will call the righteous dead from their graves to immortal life. That coming brings the final victory, for death is the last enemy to be destroyed at the resurrection. Then the work of redemption is completed.
Those who sleep in Jesus will rise as a sample of his rising, with individual identity perfectly preserved. As his followers recognized him after he rose, so they will recognize one another and their loved ones. Bodies that were deformed, diseased, or disfigured in mortal life will be glorified.
Christ went to the Father as humanity's representative. God will bring those who reflect Christ's image to behold and share his glory. They will rise from the grave at his return and share in his kingdom.
This assurance gave faithful Christians courage to face death, expecting to rise free from the grave. The faithful may still face death with hope for the same reason. The resurrection is therefore essential to the hope of the righteous, since they receive life at his coming. If they already entered full glory at death, to preach their future resurrection would be pointless and the doctrine would be neglected.
The verse sets an order for rising from the dead, with Christ himself first and then all who belong to him when he returns. As the firstfruits he is like the first ripe sheaf gathered before the harvest, the beginning sample of the immortal harvest to follow. His rising is the pledge, pattern and guarantee of the rising of all united to him by faith, because by meeting and conquering death he broke its power and took away its sting. Those who are his will be called from their graves to immortal life at his second coming, when the trumpet sounds and death, the last enemy, is destroyed. They will rise with their personal identity preserved so they know one another, but with bodies made glorious and free from deformity and disease.
Order and Firstfruits Meaning
The verse lays down an order of resurrection: Christ first, and afterward those who belong to him at his coming, with the dead believers rising first at the second advent in the first resurrection that accompanies his glorious return as King and deliverer. As firstfruits, like the first ripe grain offered and gathered before the harvest, his resurrection is the beginning sample of the immortal harvest of his people, the pledge and pattern of the future resurrection of the redeemed who receive life at his coming. The resurrection is therefore essential to the hope of the righteous, for if they already entered full glory at death, preaching their future resurrection would be pointless and the doctrine would be neglected.
He is the antitype of the sheaf of the firstfruits, so he is no longer to be mourned as dead but confessed as a living Saviour risen from the dead. Like a corn of wheat that must fall into the ground and die or else abide alone, he had to give up his life to bring forth much fruit and then rise again as the firstfruits. He rises first in order as the second Adam.
The resurrection is literal, but the immortal body need not be made of the same particles of matter as the mortal body, since personal identity rests in organization rather than identical matter. His own resurrection establishes him as the true divine Witness sent from God to reveal the Father, whose testimony is truth to be believed, studied, and revered, and whose raising guarantees the resurrection of everyone who believes in Jesus.
Pledge and Victory Accomplished
Christ's resurrection is the pledge, pattern, sample and guarantee of the future resurrection of all who are united with him by faith. As the firstfruits he came first in order, and those who belong to him will be raised afterward at his coming. His rising therefore secures theirs, so that their resurrection follows his as harvest follows first ripe grain.
He met Satan on Satan's own territory of death and conquered him there, thereby breaking the devil's power of death. By that victory he removed the sting and terror of death for the believer. Risen from the grave, he sits at the right hand of the Father with all power in heaven and earth.
The company of sleeping dead brought up with him at his resurrection is the trophy of that decided victory. They are a fresh sample, earnest and assurance of the final resurrection of the righteous dead. Their raising shows that his triumph over death already bears fruit in others raised to life.
His death and resurrection begin a great harvest, and as Life-giver he will call his people from the graves as ripe grain gathered for the heavenly garner. That harvest extends to all nations, tongues and people who hear salvation's glad tidings. The Greeks who desired to see him were the first-fruits of that abundant Gentile gathering. Their coming showed that once the partition wall between Jew and Gentile was thrown down by his approaching death, the world would become the harvest field.
The gospel of his death and resurrection and of the resurrection of the dead brings life and immortality to light. By it the kingdom of heaven is thrown open to all believers. It is the greatest message ever given to the world, glad tidings on which the hopes of the human family for time and for eternity depend.
Future Resurrection at Coming
The order is fixed: Christ first, and afterward those who belong to him are raised at his coming. The dead who are his rise at the second advent, and that rising is the first resurrection. It accompanies his glorious return as King and deliverer. His own resurrection is the pledge and pattern of that final resurrection.
At his coming God's voice and the trumpet will call the righteous dead from their graves to immortal life. That coming brings the final victory, for death is the last enemy to be destroyed at the resurrection. Then the work of redemption is completed.
Those who sleep in Jesus will rise as a sample of his rising, with individual identity perfectly preserved. As his followers recognized him after he rose, so they will recognize one another and their loved ones. Bodies that were deformed, diseased, or disfigured in mortal life will be glorified.
Christ went to the Father as humanity's representative. God will bring those who reflect Christ's image to behold and share his glory. They will rise from the grave at his return and share in his kingdom.
This assurance gave faithful Christians courage to face death, expecting to rise free from the grave. The faithful may still face death with hope for the same reason. The resurrection is therefore essential to the hope of the righteous, since they receive life at his coming. If they already entered full glory at death, to preach their future resurrection would be pointless and the doctrine would be neglected.