As we have studied I Thessalonians 4 and 5 over the last few weeks, we recognize that there are several aspects of the harpazo that we should consider. Three distinct sounds; the dead rising, the living seized, everyone meeting the Lord and being perfected together. This was common knowledge among the churches that Paul was establishing. Paul adds a few details regarding the Lord’s parousia for the Corinthians. Whoever divided Paul’s thoughts into chapters and verses did a good job with chapter 15 of I Corinthians, as compared to I Thessalonians 4 and 5, because they kept Paul’s words and thoughts together in one complete chapter. If we remember our studies on Paul’s proofs, that if anyone believes themselves to be a prophet or spiritual they must acknowledge the things that Paul writes as the precepts and instructions of the Lord. Three sentences later, after explaining Paul’s proofs for who is a prophet and who is spiritual, Paul starts explaining the gospel of the resurrection.
In I Corinthians 15 Paul starts out explaining the good news of Christ being risen from the dead on the third day and that Christ appeared to many people who were still alive at the time of Paul’s writing. Paul then recounts that Christ also appeared to him. Then Paul asks, ‘how is it that Christ appeared to so many after his death if the dead don’t rise?’ Paul is telling the Corinthians that if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. Clearly there is a different misunderstanding in Corinth as compared to Thessalonica.
Paul goes on to explain that if Christ didn’t rise up, and if that is their belief/faith, pistis, then their faith is empty or frivolous, and they are still in their own sins. If this is the case, then those who died are destroyed. Then there is no hope for anyone. But if Christ has been raised up, as seen and attested to by many people, he then is the first fruit or the first sacrifice from the dead. The others who are dead in Christ will rise up also when the time is ripe. They will arise at Christ’s arrival, parousia, I Corinthians 15:23. Then at the end of the millennial age when Christ delivers up the kingdom to the Almighty, Most High, Eternal Father there will be another rising when death, the last enemy, is destroyed.
Paul then points out that if there is no hope of the resurrection at the parousia then there is no point to him dying daily, or being exposed to danger from people wanting to kill Christians. Paul even fought wild beasts in the amphitheater at Ephesus. Paul is asking the question as to why he and the other apostles should put their lives on the line if there is no resurrection from the dead, why not just party?
Paul then explains that there are different kinds of flesh and different kinds of bodies. And even though the resurrection of the dead is like scattering corrupted and decaying seeds in the ground, it is egeirō, roused, aroused, awakened, or raised up as incorruptible, and indestructible seeds with an unending existence. Paul says that we come out from dust like the adam. But Jesus, although he wore an image of dust, was from out of heaven. The dust goes back to the dust, but for those who believe that Jesus died and rose up, they too will rise up as heavenly, just as Jesus did. Paul then declares that flesh and blood do not inherit the kingdom of God. Something has to change because we cannot enter the kingdom with a dusty, fleshy, and bloody, body. The corrupted will have to change. Do they change one at a time upon death? No, they all change from corruptible to incorruptible at the same time, all the dead will be perfected together. Now Paul is going to tell them/us a mystery.
1 Corinthians 15:51 (KJV)
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Corinthians 15:51 G2400 Behold, G3466 [2a mystery G1473 3to you G3004 1I speak]; G3956 [4all G3303 3indeed G3756 2not G2837 1we shall] sleep, G3956 but all G1161 G236 shall be changed,
3466 LSJ Gloss:μυστήριον a mystery
Dodson:μυστήριον anything hidden, a mystery a mystery, secret, of which initiation is necessary; in the NT: the counsels of God, once hidden but now revealed in the Gospel or some fact thereof; the Christian revelation generally; particular truths or details of the Christian revelation.
Thayer:
1) hidden thing, secret, mystery
1a) generally mysteries, religious secrets, confided only to the initiated and not to ordinary mortals
1b) a hidden or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding
1c) a hidden purpose or counsel
1c1) secret will
1c1a) of men
1c1b) of God: the secret counsels which govern God in dealing with the righteous, which are hidden from ungodly and wicked men but plain to the godly
2) in rabbinic writings, it denotes the mystic or hidden sense
2a) of an OT saying
2b) of an image or form seen in a vision
2c) of a dream
μυστήριον
mustērion moos-tay'-ree-on From a derivative of μύω muō (to shut the mouth); a secret or “mystery” (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites) KJV Usage: mystery.
236 LSJ Gloss:ἀλλάσσω to make other than it is, to change, alter
Dodson:ἀλλάσσω I change, alter I change, alter, exchange, transform.
TBESG:ἀλλάσσω to change
G:V
ἀλλάσσω
(< ἄλλος), [in LXX chiefly for חָלַף, מוּר hi., etc. ;]
__1. to change:
Refs
Act.6:14, Gal.4:20.
__2. to transform:
Refs
1Co.15:51-52, Heb.1:12.
__3. to exchange: with accusative, before ἐν (= בְּ, Psa.106:20) instead of simple genitive (Bl., § 36, 8), Rom.1:23
(cf. ἀπ-, δι-, κατ-, ἀπο-κατ-, μετ-, συν-αλλάσσω; see MM, VGT, see word).† (AS)
Thayer:
1) to change, to exchange one thing for another, to transform
ἀλλάσσω
allassō al-las'-so From G243; to make different KJV Usage: change.
This is a hidden secret. This mystery that Paul is going to write about is something that he just explained earlier in the chapter. He is going to let us know about our transformation. We will be transformed. This has been a hidden secret until it was revealed to Paul and Paul started telling the churches that he was planting. If this had not been a secret kept from the devil, the satan, the wicked fallen angels, and demons, the devil would not have crucified the Lord Jesus. As it was, immediately when Jesus died, the graves opened and the dead came out, witnessing and testifying in Jerusalem. That was a resurrection from hades to Paradise for those who believed and expected the Messiah.
1 Corinthians 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.
1 Corinthians 15:52 G1722 in G823 an instant, G1722 in G4493 the blink G3788 of an eye, G1722 at G3588 the G2078 last G4536 trumpet.
823 LSJ Gloss:ἄτομος uncut, unmown
Dodson:ἄτομος an indivisible part of time, a moment
(lit: that cannot be cut), an indivisible part of time, a moment.
TBESG:ἄτομος instant
G:A
ἄ-τομος, -ον
(< τέμνω), [in Sm.: Isa.54:8 (MM, see word) * ;]
indivisible; of time, ἄτομον, a moment: ἐν ἄ., 1Co.15:52.†
(AS)
Thayer:
1) that cannot be cut in two, or divided, indivisible
1a) of a moment of time
ἄτομος
atomos at'-om-os From G1 (as a negative particle) and the base of G5114; uncut, that is, (by implication) indivisible (an “atom” of time) KJV Usage: moment.
4493 LSJ Gloss:ῥιπή the swing
Dodson:ῤιπή a glance, twinkle (of the eye) a glance, twinkle or flash of the eye; a rush of wind or flame; any rapid movement.
TBESG:ῥιπή twinkling
G:N-F
ῥιπή, ῆς, ἡ
(< ῥίπτω), poët. in cl., any rapid movement such as the throw or flight of a javelin, the rush of wind or flame, the flapping of wings, the twinkling of lights; ῥ. ὀφθαλμοῦ, the twinkling of an eye: 1Co.15:52 (L, mg., ῥοπή, which see).†
(AS)
Thayer:
1) a throw, stroke, beat
2) a moment of time
ῥιπή
rhipē hree-pay' From G4496; a jerk (of the eye, that is, (by analogy) an instant) KJV Usage: twinkling.
4536 LSJ Gloss:σάλπιγξ a war-trumpet, trump
Dodson:σάλπιγξ a trumpet a trumpet, the sound of a trumpet.
TBESG:σάλπιγξ trumpet
G:N-F
σάλπιγξ, -ιγγος, ἡ
[in LXX chiefly for שׁוֹפָר, חֲצֹצְרָה ;]
a trumpet, used in war and in religious ceremonies:
Refs
1Co.14:8, Heb.12:19, Rev.1:10 4:1 8:2, 6 8:11 9:14
By meton., a trumpet blast: μετὰ σ. μεγάλης, Mat.24:31; ἐν σ. θεοῦ, 1Th.4:16; ἐν τ. ἐσχάτῃ σ., 1Co.15:52.†
(AS)
Thayer:
1) a trumpet
σάλπιγξ
salpigx sal'-pinx Perhaps from G4535 (through the idea of quavering or reverberation); a trumpet KJV Usage: trump (-et).
In an “atom of time”, in the “blink of an eye”, tells us that this will be a very quick and instantaneous occurrence. This is a measure of time that cannot be measured. It will occur instantaneously, like a twinkle of light or the rapid movement of an eye. There will be no time to think about it, no time to process it, there will be no time to analyze it. The instantaneous occurrence will catch away everyone that is redeemed, but the unredeemed will have no time to confess Jesus as Lord. Those who are waiting for the actual harpazo before they confess Jesus as the Christ will not be able to be harpazo’d. They will be like the five virgins who left to buy oil and then knocked on the door wanting to come in to the wedding banquet, but were told by the bridegroom he did not know them. Jesus concludes this parable with the warning to watch or stay awake because you do not know the day or hour when the Son of Man comes.
When will it happen? At the last war trumpet, or during the sound of the last war trumpet blast. Remember what we saw a few weeks ago regarding the sounds that will be heard? Paul told us in I Thessalonians 4 that there will be a summons or shout of command, the tone or words of an archangel, and the sound of a war trumpet. Here, in I Corinthians, he defines the time of the harpazo to a split second during the last sound of the war trumpet. Why a war trumpet? Because whether we understand it or not we are at war and Jesus is calling his army.
1 Corinthians 15:52 … G4537 For it shall trump, G1063 G2532 and G3588 the G3498 dead G1453 shall be raised G862 incorruptible, G2532 and G1473 we G236 shall be changed.
4537 LSJ Gloss:σαλπίζω to sound the trumpet, give signal by trumpet
Dodson:σαλπίζω I sound a trumpet.
TBESG:σαλπίζω to sound a trumpet
G:V
σαλπίζω
[in LXX chiefly for תָּקַע ;]
to sound a trumpet:
Refs
Rev.8:6 ff. Rev.9:1, 13 10:7 11:15; metaph., Mat.6:2. Impers., the trumpet sounds: 1Co.15:52.†
(AS)
Thayer:
1) to sound a trumpet
σαλπίζω
salpizō sal-pid'-zo From G4536; to trumpet, that is, sound a blast (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: (which are yet to) sound (a trumpet).
1453 LSJ Gloss:ἐγείρω to awaken, wake up, rouse
Dodson:ἐγείρω I wake, arouse, raise up (a) I wake, arouse, (b) I raise up.
Thayer:
1) to arouse, cause to rise
1a) to arouse from sleep, to awake
1b) to arouse from the sleep of death, to recall the dead to life
1c) to cause to rise from a seat or bed etc.
1d) to raise up, produce, cause to appear
1d1) to cause to appear, bring before the public
1d2) to raise up, stir up, against one
1d3) to raise up i.e. cause to be born
1d4) of buildings, to raise up, construct, erect
ἐγείρω
egeirō eg-i'-ro Probably akin to the base of G58 (through the idea of collecting one’s faculties); to waken (transitively or intransitively), that is, rouse (literally from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively from obscurity, inactivity, ruins, nonexistence) KJV Usage: awake, lift (up), raise (again, up), rear up, (a-) rise (again, up), stand, take up.
862 LSJ Gloss:ἄφθαρτος uncorrupted, incorruptible
Dodson:ἄφθαρτος imperishable, incorruptible indestructible, imperishable, incorruptible; hence: immortal.
Thayer:
1) uncorrupted, not liable to corruption or decay, imperishable
1a) of things
2) immortal
2a) of the risen dead
ἄφθαρτος
aphthartos af'-thar-tos From G1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of G5351; undecaying (in essence or continuance) KJV Usage: not (in-, un-) corruptible, immortal.
There will be the sound of a trumpet, then the dead shall be raised up. They will not rise up corrupted, like a zombie movie, they will rise up and change, becoming un-decayed. They will now be imperishable. Perfected as they rise. Changed in an instant as they are called to assemble as the army, while meeting the commander and chief in the air.
Let’s look at this word egeirō, to “wake or rise”. Jesus said that when he egeirō’s, he will go to Galilee.
Matthew 26:32 (KJV)
32 But after I am risen again {1453}, I will go before you into Galilee.
Upon Jesus’ death the dead awakened and went into paradise.
Matthew 27:52-53 (KJV)
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose {1453},
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection {1454}, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
The Spirit raised up Jesus and the Spirit will make us alive because the Holy Spirit lives in us.
Romans 8:11 (KJV)
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up {1453} Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up {1453} Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Our time to see the dead arise and the living seized is nearer now than when we first had faith.
Romans 13:11 (KJV)
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake {1453} out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Because the Almighty raised up Jesus, we will also rise up.
1 Corinthians 6:14 (KJV)
14 And God hath both raised up {1453} the Lord, and will also raise up {1453} us by his own power.
We had a death sentence pronounced over us, but because we have faith that the Most High raises the dead, we are now delivered from that death sentence.
2 Corinthians 1:9-10 (KJV)
9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth {1453} the dead:
10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
Since Jesus was raised up, we will be raised up and Jesus shall stand together with us.
2 Corinthians 4:14-15 (KJV)
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up {1453} us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
2 Corinthians 4:14 G1492 Knowing G3754 that G3588 the one G1453 having raised G3588 the G2962 Lord G* Jesus, G2532 also G1473 [2us G1223 3through G* 4Jesus G1453 1shall raise], G2532 and G3936 he shall stand beside G4862 with G1473 you.
3936 LSJ Gloss:παρίστημι to make to stand
Dodson:παρίστημι I bring, present, come up to and stand by I bring, present, prove, come up to and stand by, am present.
Thayer:
1) to place beside or near
1a) to set at hand
1a1) to present
1a2) to proffer
1a3) to provide
1a4) to place a person or thing at one's disposal
1a5) to present a person for another to see and question
1a6) to present or show
1a7) to bring to, bring near
1a8) metaph. i.e to bring into one's fellowship or intimacy
1b) to present (show) by argument, to prove
2) to stand beside, stand by or near, to be at hand, be present
2a) to stand by
2a1) to stand beside one, a bystander
2b) to appear
2c) to be at hand, stand ready
2d) to stand by to help, to succour
2e) to be present
2e1) to have come
2e2) of time
παρίστημι, παριστάνω
paristēmi paristanō par-is'-tay-mee, par-is-tan'-o From G3488 and G2476; to stand beside, that is, (transitively) to exhibit, proffer, (specifically) recommend, (figuratively) substantiate; or (intransitively) to be at hand (or ready), aid KJV Usage: assist, bring before, command, commend, give presently, present, prove, provide, shew, stand (before, by, here, up, with), yield.
The words “stand beside”, paristēmi paristanō, mean “to present, to come up and stand by, to exhibit, or proffer”. The understanding of this word means that Jesus is presenting and recommending, or standing beside, those raised up for acceptance. This is a telling idea. The people who were raised up will be presented for the Father’s acceptance at the same time. We can see how this fits in with the ideas that we learned last week regarding being perfected together at the same time and the above assembly we see in Revelation 5.
In an instant, at the sounding of the last war trumpet, the dead will rise, the living will be seized. The dead will put on incorruption and the living will put on immortality. Everyone will be presented together.
1 Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Corinthians 15:53 G1163 For it is necessary G1063 G3588 G5349 this corruption G3778 G1746 to put on G861 incorruptibility, G2532 and G3588 G2349 this mortal G3778 G1746 to put on G110 immortality.
5349 LSJ Gloss:φθαρτός perishable
Dodson:φθαρτός corruptible, perishable.
Thayer:
1) corruptible, perishing
φθαρτός
phthartos fthar-tos' From G5351; decayed, that is, (by implication) perishable KJV Usage: corruptible.
1746 LSJ Gloss:ἐνδύω to go into
Dodson:ἐνδύω I put on, clothe I put on, clothe (another).
Thayer:
1) to sink into (clothing), put on, clothe one's self
ἐνδύω
enduō en-doo'-o From G1722 and G1416 (in the senese of sinking into a garment); to invest with clothing (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: array, clothe (with), endue, have (put) on.
861 LSJ Gloss:ἀφθαρσία incorruption
Dodson:ἀφθαρσία indestructibility, incorruptibility, immortality indestructibility, incorruptibility; hence: immortality.
Thayer:
1) incorruption, perpetuity
2) purity, sincerity, incorrupt
ἀφθαρσία
aphtharsia af-thar-see'-ah From G862; incorruptibility; generally unending existence; (figuratively) genuineness KJV Usage: immortality, incorruption, sincerity.
2349 LSJ Gloss:θνητός liable to death, mortal
Dodson:θνητός mortal mortal, subject to death.
Thayer:
1) liable to death, mortal
θνητός
thnētos thnay-tos' From G2348; liable to die KJV Usage: mortal (-ity).
110 LSJ Gloss:ἀθανασία immortality
Dodson:ἀθανασία immortality immortality, imperishability, freedom from death.
Thayer:
1) undying, immortality, everlasting
ἀθανασία
athanasia ath-an-as-ee'-ah From a compound of G1 (as a negative particle) and G2288; deathlessness KJV Usage: immortality.
It is binding and necessary for the decaying to be clothed with indestructibility and unending existence. It is also binding and necessary for those liable to death, or mortals, to be clothed in imperishability and deathlessness. The binding and knitting of incorruption and immortality is required for both the dead who rise up and the living who are seized. Both are perfected at the same time. Then we can be presented for acceptance.
1 Corinthians 15:54 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.
1 Corinthians 15:54 G3752 But whenever G1161 G3588 G5349 this corruptible G3778 G1746 should have put on G861 incorruptibility, G2532 and G3588 G2349 this mortal G3778 G1746 should have put on G110 immortality, G5119 then G1096 shall come to pass G3588 the G3056 word G3588 G1125 having been written, G2666 [2was swallowed down G3588 G2288 1Death] G1519 in G3534 victory.
3056
λόγος
logos log'-os From G3004; something said (including the thought); by implication a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension a computation; specifically (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (that is, Christ)
2666 LSJ Gloss:καταπίνωto gulp
Dodson:καταπίνω I swallow, devour, destroyI drink down, swallow, devour, destroy, consume.
Thayer:
1) to drink down, swallow down
2) to devour
3) to swallow up, destroy
καταπίνω
katapinō kat-ap-ee'-no From G2596 and G4095; to drink down, that is, gulp entire (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: devour, drown, swallow (up).
2288
θάνατος
thanatos than'-at-os From G2348; (properly an adjective used as a noun) death (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: X deadly, (be . . .) death.
3534 Dodson:νῖκος victory.
Thayer:
1) victory
2) to utterly vanquish
νῖκος
nikos nee'-kos From G3529; a conquest (concretely), that is, (by implication) triumph KJV Usage: victory.
A new word will be written, which is that death will be swallowed or devoured in victory. The old written word is that death prevailed and swallowed men up, but once the corrupted are clothed in incorruption and the mortals are clothed in immortality a new word will be written that death has been devoured in triumph. The old word was written in Isaiah.
Esaias 25:8 Death has prevailed and swallowed men up; but again the Lord God has taken away every tear from every face. He has taken away the reproach of his people from all the earth: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it. http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Esaias/index.htm
Isaiah tells us that death prevailed, and although the predominant knowledge was that there would be a resurrection at the end of the age, he doesn’t mention a Messiah who would overtake death before the end of the age. Why? Because this was a mystery. Isaiah did know that one day every tear would be wiped away, but he did not announce the mystery. Jesus overcame death when hell could not hold him and he took back the keys to death and hades. The first thing that Jesus did was immediately loose the captives in Abraham’s bay. Then he reorganized death and hades and took the keys with him when he ascended. Once the harpazo occurs, a new logos will be written that death was destroyed in conquest.
1 Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1 Corinthians 15:55 G4226 Where G1473 is your G2288 [2O death G3588 G2759 1sting]? G4226 Where G1473 is your G86 [2O Hades G3588 G3534 1victory]?
2759 LSJ Gloss:κέντρον any sharp point
Dodson:κέντρον a sting, goad a sting, goad; met: of death.
Thayer:
1) a sting, as that of bees, scorpions, locusts. Since animals wound by their sting and even cause death, Paul attributes death, personified as a sting, i.e. a deadly weapon
2) an iron goad, for urging on oxen, horses and other beasts of burden
2a) hence the proverb, "to kick against the goad", i.e. to offer vain and perilous or ruinous resistance
κέντρον
kentron ken'-tron From κεντέω kenteō (to prick); a point (“centre”), that is, a sting (figuratively poison) or goad (figuratively divine impulse) KJV Usage: prick, sting.
86 Dodson:Ἇ Hades Hades, the unseen world.
Thayer:
1) name Hades or Pluto, the god of the lower regions
2) Orcus, the nether world, the realm of the dead
3) later use of this word: the grave, death, hellIn Biblical Greek it is associated with Orcus, the infernal regions, a dark and dismal place in the very depths of the earth, the common receptacle of disembodied spirits. Usually Hades is just the abode of the wicked, Lu. 16:23, Rev. 20:13,14; a very uncomfortable place. TDNT.
ᾅδης
hadēs hah'-dace From G1 (as a negative particle) and G1492; properly unseen, that is, “Hades” or the place (state) of departed souls KJV Usage: grave, hell.
Paul asks death, ‘where is its’ sting?’ He asks hades, ‘where is its’ victory?’ There is no longer a sting to death and there is no longer a victory for hades. Why? Because people can now be redeemed from death and hades without having to go there.
Osee 13:14 I will deliver them out of the power of Hades, and will redeem them from death: where is thy penalty, O death? O Hades, where is thy sting? comfort is hidden from mine eyes. http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Osee/index.htm
Hosea’s prophecy is Yahweh Elohim speaking. People knew a Messiah would come and redeem them, they just didn’t know the timing, it was a mystery. Jesus ransomed the dead who believed in the coming of the Christ out of hades, the compartment of Abraham’s bay, and brought them to Paradise (Luke 16:23) two thousand years ago. But there are still people in hades who did not believe on Jesus. At Jesus’ parousia he will then raise the dead in Christ who are in Paradise, first, and seize the living in Christ. Jesus took back the keys to hades and death, Revelation 1:18. Later, as the pale horse named Death goes out onto the earth along with hades, death and hades will have authority over one fourth of the earth, killing by sword, hunger, plague, and wild beasts. Then at the end of the tribulation, death and hades give up their dead and all people will be judged. Then death and hades will be thrown into the lake of fire.
1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
266 LSJ Gloss:ἁμαρτία a failure, fault, sin
Dodson:ἁμαρτία a sin prop: missing the mark; hence: (a) guilt, sin, (b) a fault, failure (in an ethical sense), sinful deed.
Thayer:
1) equivalent to
264 1a) to be without a share in
1b) to miss the mark
1c) to err, be mistaken
1d) to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong
1e) to wander from the law of God, violate God's law, sin
2) that which is done wrong, sin, an offence, a violation of the divine law in thought or in act
3) collectively, the complex or aggregate of sins committed either by a single person or by many
ἁμαρτία
hamartia ham-ar-tee'-ah From G264; sin (properly abstract) KJV Usage: offence, sin (-ful).
The sting of death is sin or offence. Why does death sting due to sin? Paul Explains this to the Romans.
Romans 5:12 (KJV)
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Because of Adam, death due to sin entered into the world. Death is upon all men because all have sinned. Sin brings death. This is the sting of death. Jesus rescues those who believe that he died and rose up from death and hades. There is no sting in death for the believer. Paul says something else that is interesting.
1411 LSJ Gloss:δύναμις power, might, strength
Dodson:δύναμις might, power, marvelous works (a) physical power, force, might, ability, efficacy, energy, meaning (b) plur: powerful deeds, deeds showing (physical) power, marvelous works.
Thayer:
1) strength power, ability
1a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
1b) power for performing miracles
1c) moral power and excellence of soul
1d) the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
1e) power and resources arising from numbers
1f) power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts
For Synonyms see entry G5820
δύναμις
dunamis doo'-nam-is From G1410; force (literally or figuratively); specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself)
KJV Usage: ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.
3551 LSJ Gloss:νόμος anything assigned, a usage, custom, law, ordinance
Dodson:νόμος a law, the Mosaic Law
usage, custom, law; in NT: of law in general, plur: of divine laws; of a force or influence impelling to action; of the Mosaic law; meton: of the books which contain the law, the Pentateuch, the Old Testament scriptures in general.
Thayer:
1) anything established, anything received by usage, a custom, a law, a command
1a) of any law whatsoever
1a1) a law or rule producing a state approved of God
1a1a) by the observance of which is approved of God
1a2) a precept or injunction
1a3) the rule of action prescribed by reason
1b) of the Mosaic law, and referring, acc. to the context. either to the volume of the law or to its contents
1c) the Christian religion: the law demanding faith, the moral instruction given by Christ, esp. the precept concerning love
1d) the name of the more important part (the Pentateuch), is put for the entire collection of the sacred books of the OT
νόμος
nomos nom'-os From a primary word νέμω nemō (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), generally (regulation), specifically (of Moses [including the volume]; also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle) KJV Usage: law.
The strength of sin is the law. Sin is strong because of the law. Why? Wasn’t the law supposed to keep people from sin? Yes, but not many followed the law. This is why we need a redeemer. Paul also tells the Romans that the law entered so that sin would abound.
Romans 5:20-21 (KJV)
20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:20 G3551 But law G1161 G3922 entered privately, G2443 that G4121 [2should be superabundant G3588 G3900 1transgression]. G3739 But where G1161 G4121 [2was superabundant G3588 G266 1sin], G5248 [2superabounded G3588 G5484 1favor];
The law came to people in secret, meaning the devil and his army did not know that there would be a Mosaic Law until it was given to Moses. The law came in secret and increased transgressions. It is easy for the devil to pervert the law and pervert the thinking of men. However, where there is abounding sin there is overflowing favor.
Romans 5:21 G2443 that G5618 as G936 [2reigned G3588 G266 1sin] G1722 in G3588 G2288 death, G3779 so G2532 also G3588 the G5484 favor G936 should reign G1223 through G1343 righteousness G1519 to G2222 life G166 eternal G1223 through G* Jesus G5547 Christ G3588 G2962 our Lord. G1473
As sin ruled in death, favor ruled eternal life because of righteousness through Jesus Christ’s death. The favor of the Most High God is upon all those who believe that Jesus died and rose up. Instead of sin leading us to death, favor leads us to eternal life. Let’s look at what Ezekiel says.
Jezekiel 20:23 I lifted up my hand against them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the Gentiles, and disperse them in the countries; 24 because they kept not mine ordinances, and rejected my commandments, and profaned my sabbaths, and their eyes went after the imaginations of their fathers.
25 So I gave them commandments that were not good, and ordinances in which they should not live. http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Jezekiel/index.htm
They were not keeping the ordinances in the wilderness. They rejected the few commands that they had. Yahweh determined to scatter them among the nations. Therefore Yahweh gave them more commands through Moses that they could not/would not keep. Sin kept ruling and abounding bringing death. This is why we have a need for Jesus’ sacrifice that brings righteousness and justification for us. The more death, the more favor through Jesus’ blood. Now for the believer in Christ there is no death, there is no sting upon death. There is Paradise and then eternal life.
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:57 G3588 G1161 But G2316 to God G5484 be favor, G3588 to the one G1325 giving G1473 to us G3588 the G3534 victory G1223 through G3588 G2962 our Lord G1473 G* Jesus G5547 Christ.
5484 Dodson:χάριν on account of for the sake of, by reason of, on account of.
Thayer:
1) in favour of, for the pleasure of
2) for, for the sake of
3) on this account, for this cause
χάριν
charin khar'-in Accusative case of G5485 as preposition; through favor of, that is, on account of KJV Usage: be- (for) cause of, for sake of, + . . . fore, X reproachfully.
It is the pleasure or favor of God to give us the victory through Jesus Christ. Have you ever thanked someone and their response was “my pleasure”. We understand that this phrase shows kindness and servitude. The person being thanked is happy to serve. The Almighty, Most High, Eternal, Heavenly Father is pleased to give us the victory over the devil because of Jesus. The Father is pleased with us and we are well pleasing because we follow His son.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58 G5620 So that, G80 [3brethren G1473 1my G27 2beloved], G1476 [2settled G1096 1be], G277 immovable, G4052 abounding G1722 in G3588 the G2041 work G3588 of the G2962 Lord G3842 at all times! G1492 knowing G3754 that G3588 G2873 your toil G1473 G3756 is not G1510.2.3 G2756 in vain G1722 in G2962 the Lord.
We come back to the reason that Paul puts his life on the line everyday. We see his point as to fighting wild beasts in Ephesus. No matter what we face or endure, we simply need to be steady and immovable when it comes to our faith. We do need to abound in the work of the Lord because no matter the hardships there is no sting of death for us. We have victory over death, over death’s sting, over hades, and we will be made incorruptible and immortal when we meet our Lord Jesus in the air.
What happens after we are either raised up or harpazo’d? Where do we go? What do we do? We will explore this next week.
I will leave this link to a past blog regarding the philosophies of death from those in the first century as Josephus records.
