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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" (I Cor. 15: 46, 47).
(3)
THE RELATION OF CHRIST TO MANKIND, AND TO DEATH AND
RESURRECTION IS AMPLIFIED.--"The last Adam is a life-giving Spirit . . . . .
the second man is the Lord from heaven . . . . . we shall also bear the image of the
heavenly" (I Cor. 15: 45-49).
(4)
THE FACT OF THE DESTRUCTION OF DEATH AND ITS MEANING ARE
AMPLIFIED.--"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this
mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that
is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave,
where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, that giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ"
(I Cor. 15: 54-57).
(5)
THE TIME PERIODS RECEIVE AMPLIFICATION.--"When . . . . . then shall
be brought to pass . . . . ." (I Cor. 15: 54).
This reference is found in Isa. 25: 6-8, and is Millennial in character.
The events described take place before the Great White Throne is set up.
If the parallels set out above have any true significance, it is clear that the
"destruction" of death in verse 24 is equivalent to the "swallowing up" of death in victory
at the blessed resurrection of the saints. Christ Himself was the "firstfruits" of them that
sleep. He has "abolished" death so far as He Himself is concerned by His resurrection on
the third day, and He has rendered it inoperative now, by extracting its sting, and robbing
sin of its strength. When in that future day the believer awakes in resurrection glory, the
abolition of death will be complete.
The finest commentator on the Apostle's writings is usually the Apostle himself, and
we have sought as far as possible to let him speak for himself. Applying this principle to
the verse under consideration, we note that there are two words translated "immortality"
in the A.V. The first of these, used in II Tim. 1: 10, is aphtharsia, "incorruption". This
occurs 8 times, all the references being in Paul's epistles. Aphthartos, the adjective,
occurs 7 times, 4 of the occurrences being found in Paul's epistles and 3 in I Peter.
The second word for "immortality" is athanasia, which occurs 3 times, all the
references being in Paul's epistles. The word athanasia is made up of a, the negative,
and thanatos, "death", so indicating a state exempt from death. The three references are
given below:
"This mortal must put on immortality" (I Cor. 15: 53).
"This mortal shall have put on immortality" (I Cor. 15: 54).
"Who only hath immortality" (I Tim. 6: 16).
The eight occurrences of aphtharsia, "incorruption", are given, below. The word is
made up of a, the negative, and phtharsis from phtheiro "to corrupt".
"Seek for glory and honour and incorruption, eternal life" (Rom. 2: 7).
"It is raised in incorruption" (I Cor. 15: 42).
"Neither doth corruption inherit incorruption" (I Cor. 15: 50).
"This corruptible must put on incorruption" (I Cor. 15: 53).
"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption" (I Cor. 15: 54).