1 Corinthians 15:50 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Now this I say - I concede this much to your objections against the earthly bodies rising again (see notes, 1 Corinthians 15:37; 1 Corinthians 15:39).

Flesh and blood - of the same mortal, corruptible, sin-tainted nature as our (1 Corinthians 15:39, note, 1 Corinthians 15:44) animal-souled bodies.

Cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Therefore the believer acquiesces gladly in the sentence which appoints the death of the present body as the preliminary to the resurrection-body of glory. Hence, he "dies daily" to the flesh, as preliminary to his regeneration here and hereafter (John 3:6; Galatians 2:20). As being born of the flesh constitutes a child of Adam, so being born of the Spirit, a child of God.

Cannot - not merely is the change of body possible, but necessary. The resurrection-body will be still a body, though spiritual, substantially retaining personal identity (note, 1 Corinthians 15:39), even as the glorified soul hereafter will be identical with the regenerated soul here.

The kingdom of God - which is not animal, but spiritual. Corruption doth not inherit, though it is the way to incorruption (1 Corinthians 15:36; 1 Corinthians 15:52-53).

1 Corinthians 15:50

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