'And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul

(psuche, see psuchikos); the last Adam was made a quickening (life-

giving) Spirit' (pneuma, see pneumatikos) (15:45).

Here it is clear that the two bodies, the natural flesh and blood body

(with its corruption, dishonour and weakness), and the spiritual body (with

its incorruption, glory and power), are directly associated with Adam and

Christ.  Adam was made a living soul.  Many theologians have sought to show

from Genesis 2:7 that, by this statement, man is differentiated from all else

in creation, and is possessed of an immortal soul, which is often confounded

with the spiritual part of man.  When we know that the word translated 'soul'

comes in Genesis as follows, 'Let the waters bring forth abundantly the

moving creature that hath soul' (1:20), and 'creature' (1:21,24); and 'life'

(1:30), we see that the word 'soul' does not confer upon man any special

dignity.  Leviticus 17:11 says, 'The life (soul) of the flesh is in the

blood'.  Here we have the three words of 1  Corinthians 15:45-50 together.

If this Scriptural fact does not seem sufficient, we shall find further

teaching in the nature of Adam by reading verses 46 and 47:

'Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is

natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.  The first man is of

the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven'.

Adam, therefore, when created was not 'spiritual'; he was a natural man

quite apart from sin.  Christ is the spiritual Head of mankind, not Adam.

Adam's nature is closely connected with his relation to the race:

'As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy ... we have borne

the image of the earthy' (15:48,49).

This is not fully revealed in the chapter, but only so far as the

subject necessitates.  The revelation is, however, wonderful and basic.  It

has already been put in those pregnant words, 'For as in Adam all die, even

so in Christ shall all be made alive'.  Here these words are rounded out a

little more.  Christ is a life-giving Spirit in contrast with Adam who was of

the earth, earthy.  Then as to His relationship, Christ is the last Adam, and

the second Man.  Here are two great heads of mankind.  The earthy passes on

the earthy image; the heavenly the heavenly image.  This image refers to the

body; the earthy image belongs to the natural body, the heavenly image

belongs to the spiritual body.

All this necessitates the statement 'flesh and blood cannot inherit the

kingdom of God'.  If we collect together all that is said of Adam and Christ

in 1 Corinthians 15 and Romans 5, we shall realize somewhat the fulness of

this theme.

If verse 26 stood alone it would not be easy to decide whether

resurrection was intended or whether the casting of death into the lake of

fire was in view.  We are left without doubt by verses 54-57: