Lessons #577 and 578
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+ 1. It is best to use this note after you have listened to the lessons because there are +
+ comments given in the actual delivery not in the note. +
+ 2. The Bible abbreviations are as follows: CEV =Contemporary English version, +
+ CEB = Common English Bible, ESV= English Standard Version, +
+ GW = God’s Word Translation, ISV = International Standard Version, +
+ NAB=New American Bible, NASB= New American Standard Bible, +
+ NEB= New English Bible, NET = New English Translation, +
+ NLT = New Living Translations NJB = New Jerusalem Bible, +
+ NJV = New Jewish Bible, TEV = Today’s English Version. +
+AMP = Amplified Bible, UBS = United Bible Society +
+ 3. Notes have not been edited for grammatical errors. +
+ 4. Text is based on 1984 edition of the NIV +
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Mystery of end revealed (1 Cor 15:51-57)
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”55“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Recall we stated at our introduction of this section that it may be viewed as concerned first with a statement of the mystery in verse 51. This mystery is that the Holy Spirit revealed through Apostle Paul that not everyone will die at the time of the second coming of Christ but that all will be changed or transformed. This is followed by descriptions of the change involved in the mystery in verses 52 to 55. The section ends with thanksgiving to God in verses 56 and 57. Furthermore, we stated that a message we believe the Holy Spirit wants you to hear is that Not everyone will experience physical death, but everyone will undergo a bodily transformation necessary for existence in the eternal state. In our last study we began to consider the descriptions of the change or transformation the apostle gave in connection with the mystery he revealed. We noted that the change or transformation will be sudden and that it would take place following the sounding of the last trumpet. At that time, resurrection will occur so that those who have died prior to the second coming will receive their transformation in the form of the resurrection body. This is then followed by the bodily transformation of those who are alive when Christ returns, given in the last clause of verse 52 and we will be changed since no one will enter the eternal state with the present earthly body. After declaring that those who are alive at the second coming will be transformed, the apostle provided an explanation or a reason for such declaration in verse 53. It is with this explanation or reason that we begin our study this morning.
We maintain that verse 53 provides an explanation or reason of what the apostle stated in the last clause of verse 52 because the verse begins with the word For that is translated from a Greek particle (gar) that has several usages. For example, it can be used as a marker of inference with the meaning “so, then, by all means” or it can be used as a marker of cause or reason for something in which case it may be translated “for, because.” It can be used as a marker of clarification or explanation so that it may be translated “for” or “you see.” It is in the sense of both providing an explanation and reason for declaring that those who are alive would be transformed or changed at the second coming of Christ that the word is used in our passage of 1 Corinthians 15:53. In effect, it is used to clarify the transformation and the reason for it.
The reason or explanation for bodily transformation of those who are alive when Christ returns is introduced in the NIV with the word must so that the first part of verse 53 reads For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable. Literally, the Greek reads For it is necessary (for) this perishable (body) to put on imperishability. This is because the word must of the NIV is translated from a Greek word (dei) that may mean “to be something that should happen because of being fitting” so it is used with the meaning “it is necessary” or “it is a must” in Apostle Paul’s instruction to Titus of ensuring that false teachers, especially Jews, in Crete, should be silenced as we read in Titus 1:11:
They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain.
The word may mean “to be something which should be done as the result of compulsion” so has the sense of “one ought as a matter of necessity” or “should” as it is used in Apostle Paul’s prayer request to the Ephesians regarding his proclaiming the gospel message as he ought or should, as we read in Ephesians 6:20:
for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
The word may mean “ought” as Apostle Paul used it to encourage the Thessalonians to follow his and his apostolic team’s example in working hard as stated in 2 Thessalonians 3:7:
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,
In our passage of 1 Corinthians 15:53, it is used in the sense of “to be necessary,” that is, “to be unavoidably determined by prior circumstances.”
It is necessary for bodily transformation to take place since this earthly body would not be a part of the body in the eternal state. Thus, the apostle wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:53 the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable.
The word “perishable” is translated from a Greek word (phthartos) that pertains to decay or destruction hence means “perishable, mortal, not lasting” as it is used to describe humans in comparison to God in Romans 1:23:
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
It is in the sense of “perishable” that the word is used to describe fate of seed in contrast to the word of God as stated in 1 Peter 1:23:
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
In our passage of 1 Corinthians 15:53, the word means “perishable,” that is, “being subject to breaking down into one’s constituent elements.” The perishable in the context refers to the human body since that is what enables us to make sense of the sentence the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable.
The word “clothe” is translated from a Greek word (enduō) that in active sense means to dress someone or to put clothes on someone. It is used to describe the action of the soldiers in the Praetorium in Jerusalem that mocked Jesus before His crucifixion by dressing Him as a king per the record of Matthew in Matthew 27:28:
They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,
It is in the active sense that the word is used by the compassionate father in ordering his prodigal son to be dressed in the best robe in Luke 15:22:
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
When the Greek verb is used in what is known as middle voice (that is, that quality of a verb which indicates that the subject of the verb is being affected by its own action or is acting upon itself) then it is used both literally and figuratively. Literally, the word is used in the instruction of the Lord Jesus to believers against worrying for anything including how to clothe themselves in Matthew 6:25:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
Figuratively, the verb is used of the taking on of characteristics, virtues, and intentions. This figurative usage is found also in the OT since it is our Greek verb that is used in the Septuagint to describe Job’s claim of acting rightly and justly when he made decisions with respect to the oppressed in that he treated them properly in Job 29:14:
I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban.
To put on righteousness and justice is, as we have indicated, Job’s way of saying that he practiced righteousness and justice. In fact, the translators of the TEV eliminated the figurative use of putting on clothes in that they rendered the verse as I have always acted justly and fairly. Apostle Paul used our Greek verb in the figurative sense in the instruction of Romans 13:14:
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
To clothe self with Christ, which is, to put on Christ is a complex action in that it means not only putting on His character but also depending on Him to be our defense in the spiritual warfare. There is certainly emphasis on taking on Christ’s character in this passage since believers who are in Christ have already been clothed in Him, as the apostle stated in Galatians 3:27:
for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
The point is that the Greek verb we are considering is used for taking on virtues as the apostle used it in encouraging believers to reflect the virtues, he mentioned in Colossians 3:12:
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
In keeping with the fact that the apostle often compares the Christian’s spiritual resources with military weapons, he used the Greek verb we are considering in describing how believers should equip themselves for spiritual warfare by putting on faith, love, and hope in 1 Thessalonians 5:8:
But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
In our passage of 1 Corinthians 15:53, our Greek word is used figuratively in the sense of “to be endowed with a quality or condition.” In effect, the word implies that a transformation will take place that will replace the physical body that is subject to decay with something that is not. The apostle did not mean that there would be continuity between the old body and new body as may be suggested with imagery of putting clothes over a body. No! The apostle meant that there will be no continuity of the old body with the new although there will be continuity of the inner person in the eternal state with the present.
The fact that the Greek word translated “clothe” in the NIV in the verse we are considering is concerned with replacing of the body of decay with something that is not subject to decay is conveyed with the word “imperishable” of the sentence of 1 Corinthians 15:53 the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable. The word “imperishable is translated from a Greek word (aphtharsia) that pertains to the state of not being subject to decay hence the word has the meaning “immortality” as it is used to describe a result of Christ’s death on the cross in 2 Timothy 1:10:
but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
The word has the meaning of “unceasing” or “undying” as it is used to describe the kind of love believers ought to have towards the Lord Jesus as used in Apostle Paul’s final greetings to the Ephesians as recorded in Ephesians 6:24:
Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
The meaning “imperishable” is used for final body after resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:42:
So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;
In our passage of 1 Corinthians 15:53, the Greek word has the sense of “incorruptibility,” that is, the incapability of decay. Thus, the word is a reference to the resurrection body that is incapable of decay or decomposition.
There should be no doubt that when the apostle wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:53 the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable that he intended to convey that the earthly body will be transformed to a body that is not subject to decay or decomposition. So, to ensure that the reader understands what the apostle meant, he proceeded to explain himself using the phrase and the mortal with immortality of 1 Corinthians 15:53. Literally, the Greek reads and this mortal to put on immortality. It is our assertion that the literal translation and this mortal to put on immortality or the phrase and the mortal with immortality of the NIV is intended to be an explanation of what preceded it. This is first because of the word and the apostle used. The word “and” is translated from a Greek particle (kai) that is often translated “and” in our English versions, but it has several other usages. For example, it may be used to introduce a result that comes from what precedes and so may be translated “and then, and so.” It may be used to emphasize a fact as surprising or unexpected or noteworthy with the meaning “and yet” or “and in spite of that” or “nevertheless.” Of course, it could be used simply for emphasis with the meaning “even.” It may be used to mark an explanation so that what follows explains what goes before it, leading to the translation “that is, namely, and so.” It is in the sense of explanation that the word is used in the phrase we are considering. In effect, the literal translation and this mortal to put on immortality may then be rendered that is, this mortal to put on immortality so that it is clearer that the apostle provides explanation of what he meant by the perishable clothing itself with the imperishable. As we indicated, the apostle conveyed that the earthly body would be transformed into a body that is incapable of decay. So, the apostle proceeds to explain further the words he used in the first part of the verse as we will demonstrate.
The apostle used the phrase the perishable and he explained it with the phrase the mortal or literally this mortal. The pronoun “this” is translated from a Greek word (houtos) that may mean “this” that is used in different ways. It could be used to draw attention to something here and now. It may be used to reference something that has immediately preceded and so may be translated “this one.” It may be used to introduce what follows sometimes with emphasis. As an adjective, it may pertain to an entity perceived as present or near in the discourse with the meaning “this.” It is in this sense that the apostle used it in our passage. The apostle intended for the reader to remember that the context of what he has been dealing with is transformation of earthly body so that when he used this Greek pronoun, he expected his reader to remember that he has last referenced the body in 1 Corinthians 15:44:
it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
You see, the Holy Spirit expects us to concentrate during the teaching of the word of God if the believer should remember that the word “body” has been mentioned in verse 44. That aside, we are sure that the apostle intended for the reader to understand that he had in mind the word “body” when he wrote the Greek pronoun we have considered. We say this because of the word that is associated with it in the literal phrase this mortal. The word “mortal” is translated from a Greek word (thnētos) that pertains to being susceptible to death and so means “mortal.” The apostle used the word four other times outside his use of the word in our verse and in verse 54 but each time he used it as an adjective and in connection with the body. When he encouraged the Romans not to live a sinful life, he used our word to qualify the body as we read in Romans 6:12:
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
When he referenced resurrection of believers in his assurance of future resurrection given to the Romans, he used our Greek word to qualify the word “body” in Romans 8:11:
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
When the apostle communicated to the Corinthians of the sufferings he and others underwent, so that the life of Christ would be manifested in him in this life, he used our Greek word to qualify a Greek word (sarx) that although often translated “flesh” also means “body” as it is used in 2 Corinthians 4:11:
For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.
Thus, in the three usages of our Greek word as an adjective, it is used by the apostle to qualify the body, so we are certain that the apostle had in mind the body, when he used the Greek word in our passage of study. By the way, the other usage of our Greek word is similar to that we find in verses 53 and 54 of 1 Corinthians 15 since the other usage is in 2 Corinthians 5:4:
For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
The clause so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life is more literally that the mortal may be swallowed up by the life. Anyway, it is our interpretation that the apostle used the Greek word translated “mortal” to indicate that it is the physical body that he meant that should be transformed.
The transformation of the physical body would result in a body that is incapable of decay so that the word imperishable the apostle used in the first part of 1 Corinthians 15:53 is explained by the phrase with immortality. The word “immortality” is translated from a Greek word (athanasia) that means “immortality,” that is, “a state of not being able to die or degenerate.” The Greek word appears three times in the Greek NT and all by Apostle Paul. It appears in verses 53 and 54 of the section we are considering. The other appearance of the Greek word is used to describe God as stated in 1 Timothy 6:16:
who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
The point is that the word the apostle used in 1 Corinthians 15:53 has the sense of being in a state of not being able to die or degenerate which explains further what the apostle meant by the word “imperishable” he used in the first part of the verse. Hence, we have shown that the apostle explained the first sentence of verse 53 in the last part of the verse so that it is clear that he meant that the physical body will undergo a transformation at the time of the second coming of Christ.
Apostle Paul, having explained the necessity for bodily transformation, proceeded to relate its relevance to the fulfillment of the Scripture. In effect, the apostle indicates that bodily transformation will define the time of the fulfillment of the Scriptures that he cited. The idea of timing of an event is introduced with the first word When of 1 Corinthians 15:54. The word “when” is translated from a Greek word (hotan) that denotes time. If the point of time is roughly to or overlaps with another point of time, it may be translated “when” as it is used to describe what would happen to believers when Christ returns according to Colossians 3:4:
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
When time involved is linked to a specific event, it could mean “as soon as” as in the use of the word by Apostle Paul to describe when Titus should come to him based on the event of the arrival of one of the members of his team as we read in Titus 3:12:
As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there.
The word may mean “whenever” as it is used in James to describe the time believers should rejoice instead of being depressed as we read in James 1:2:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.
The word may mean “while” in the sense of “in spite of the fact that” or “although” as it is used to describe the destruction that will come to people who think they are safe in 1 Thessalonians 5:3:
While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
The word may mean “after” as that is the sense the word is used by Apostle Paul in his instruction to the Colossians regarding the circulation of his epistle to them to the church in Laodicea as stated in Colossians 4:16:
After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
In our passage of 1 Corinthians 15:54, the word is used in the sense of time an event will take place that will be followed by another and so means “when.”
The apostle introduced the event that is associated with the word “when” as that of bodily transformation. So, he repeats what he stated in verse 53 in the clause of verse 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. This clause as we have already studied in verse 53 is concerned with bodily transformation either of those who had died before the second coming of Christ or those who will be physically alive when that happens. Anyhow, the apostle states that the bodily transformation he taught will mark an important event as it pertains to the fulfillment of a specific Scripture. This important event that pertains to the fulfillment of the Scripture is introduced in the next clause of verse 54 with the word then.
The word “then” is translated from a Greek word (tote) that is often translated “then” but it may mean “at that time” as it is used to describe the time following the second coming of Jesus Christ when believers will be evaluated for praise as we read in 1 Corinthians 4:5:
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
The word may mean “finally” as it is used to introduce that which follows in time as it is used to describe when Pilate eventually handed Jesus Christ over to be crucified as we read in John 19:16:
Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.
The Greek word may mean “formerly” as a reference to past time as the word is used by Apostle Paul to describe the state of Galatians prior to their salvation as we read in Galatians 4:8:
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
In our passage of 1 Corinthians 15:54, it has the sense of “then,” that is, “at that time.” Hence, the word is used to introduce something else that will be true when the bodily transformation has taken place as the apostle had revealed.
The thing the apostle was eager to state was the fulfillment of the Scripture as he introduced with the next clause of 1 Corinthians 15:54 then the saying that is written will come true. A literal translation is then will come to pass the word which is written.
The word “saying” of the NIV is translated from a Greek word (logos) that concerns communication of what is in a person’s mind so that it means “word.” However, it has several nuances. The word may mean “word” as a reference to the writings found in our Scripture as the word is used to indicate that Jewish unbelief in time of the earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus conforms to the writings of Prophet Isaiah as recorded in John 12:38:
This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
It is because our word refers to writings found in the Scripture that the Epistle to the Hebrews is described with the phrase “word of exhortation” in Hebrews 13:22:
Brothers, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written you only a short letter.
It is because the word is used for writings of the Scripture that the word is used to describe the writings of the prophets that should be paid attention in 2 Peter 1:19:
And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
This aside, as we have stated, the word has various nuances but let me cite a few. The word may mean “message” as it is used in Peter’s preaching of the gospel to Cornelius and those gathered in his house as we read in Acts 10:36:
You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
The phrase the message is literally the word. The Greek word may mean “statement”, as that is the sense of its usage in Luke’s record of the response of the elders of the Ephesian church to what Apostle Paul said to them as stated in Acts 20:38:
What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
The phrase his statement is literally the word. The Greek word may mean “speech” as it is used in Apostle Paul’s encouraging the Corinthians about being generous as we read in 2 Corinthians 8:7:
But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
The phrase in speech is literally in word. The Greek word may mean “instruction” as it is used in what Apostle Paul said to the Thessalonians regarding his letter to them in 2 Thessalonians 3:14:
If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed.
The phrase our instruction is literally our word. In our passage of 1 Corinthians 15:54, the Greek word is used for the writing of an OT prophet so may mean “word” in the sense of “saying” or “declaration.”
We are certain that the Greek word the apostle used we indicated means “word” as part of the writing of an OT prophet is correct because of the expression of 1 Corinthians 15:54 that is written. The word “written” is translated from a Greek word (graphō) that means “to write.” It is used primarily in reference to what is written in the OT Scripture so that the word is part of a formula it is written used to cite the OT Scripture as, for example, in Jesus’ citation of the OT Scripture during His temptation by Satan as we read in Matthew 4:4:
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
The word could also mean “to record” as it is used by Apostle John in his gospel to put a limitation to his description of Jesus’ miracles as stated in John 20:30:
Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.
In our passage of 1 Corinthians 15:54, the word is used in the sense of “to set down in writing.” Since the apostle used a perfect tense in the Greek, he meant something that has been written down in the past that remains available in his day as well as available for future generations of believers until the second coming of Christ.
That aside, the expression that is written reminds us that the apostle is versed in the OT Scripture and certainly was concerned to support whatever he taught from the OT Scripture when that is warranted. This should remind us that as believers we should endeavor to support, from the Scripture, whatever position or view we take about any matter. You are on much more solid ground, if your position in any subject matter that concerns the spiritual is based on Scripture. The apostle did not immediately state what it is that was written in the past instead he communicated that what he had in mind that he will cite shortly would be fulfilled when bodily transformation takes place at the second coming of Christ, for he wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:54 then the saying that is written will come true or literally then will come to pass the word which is written.
The expression “come true” of the NIV is translated from a Greek word (ginomai) that may mean “to be” although it is different from another Greek word (eimi) that may also mean “to be” in that our Greek word emphasizes that of being what one was not before. That aside, our Greek word has several meanings. For example, it may mean “to come into existence” so may have the sense of “to perform” as it is used for the description of the miracles of the apostles in Acts 5:12:
The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade.
The word may mean “to become something” as Apostle Paul used it in cautioning believers not to become stumbling blocks to others in their use of their freedom in Christ in 1 Corinthians 8:9:
Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
The word may mean “to occur as process or result” hence may mean “to take place, to happen.” It is in this sense of something occurring because of another thing that the word is used by Apostle Paul regarding the commendation the Lord will give in the future as stated in a passage we cited previously, that is, 1 Corinthians 4:5:
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
The sentence each will receive his praise from God is literally praise will come to each one from God. It is with the meaning “to happen” that Apostle Paul used the word to describe his sufferings as stated in 2 Timothy 3:11:
persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
In our passage of 1 Corinthians 15:54, the sense of the word is “to happen” or “to come to pass.” The implication is that what the apostle had in mind will take place so that we can say that the Scripture in the apostle’s mind that he quoted, that we would get to shortly, will be fulfilled.
In any case, the passage of Scripture the apostle had in mind is given in the last sentence of 1 Corinthians 15:54 Death has been swallowed up in victory.
The expression “swallowed up” is translated from a Greek word (katapinō) that may mean “to drink down” in the sense of “to swallow” as the word is used in the Lord Jesus’ denouncing of the teachers of the laws and Pharisees for being hypocritical as narrated in Matthew 23:24:
You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
The word may mean “to destroy completely” so when used with water it has the sense of “to drown” as it is used to describe the fate of the Egyptians that pursued the Israelites into the Red Sea in Hebrews 11:29:
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
Under the sense of “to destroy completely”, the word means “to devour” as what Satan wants to do to a believer as recorded in 1 Peter 5:8:
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
The word may mean “to swallow up” in the sense of “to cause the end of something” as that is the way the word is used to describe what happens to mortal state of the believer in the future in the sense that it is completely consumed or transformed according to the passage we cited previously, that is, 2 Corinthians 5:4:
For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
In our passage of 1 Corinthians 15:54, the word is used in the sense of “to cause the end of something,” that is, “to swallow up,” associated with victory.
The word “victory” in the sentence Death has been swallowed up in victory is translated from a Greek word (nikos) that means “victory,” that is, “a successful ending of struggle.” Thus, when the apostle wrote Death has been swallowed up in victory he meant that death would be caused to come to an end in terms of its power that it has exercised over people that has brought fear on many people. The Scripture is clear that death in the hand of Satan is a tool for terrorizing people with fear although those in Christ who understand the truth about death should not fear it as implied in what the human author of Hebrews wrote in Hebrews 2:14–15:
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
Be that as it may, the apostle quoted from Isaiah 25:8:
he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.
The context of this passage is the feast at the banquet God will give to His people in Zion. This feast is one of the events that will occur when God reigns as a king from Mount Zion. The banquet which is a joyous celebration of God’s rule would be not only for the remnant of Hebrews that are gathered from all over the world, but it includes Gentiles who have certainly believed in the God of Israel. In addition to this banquet, God promised to do three things. The first is to destroy death as in the sentence he will swallow up death forever. The second is to wipe away all tears as in the sentence LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces. The third is to remove disgrace as in the sentence he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The word “disgrace” is translated from a Hebrew word (ḥěrpāh) that means “disgrace, shame” or “taunt of an enemy.” In the context, it probably refers to the disgrace associated with Israel’s exile but in a larger application it refers to the eternal shame associated with being eternally lost as that is implied in what Daniel stated in Daniel 12:2:
Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
This aside, the first two promises of God to Israel are part of the things God indicated would be evidence of eternal state as we read in Revelation 21:4:
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
In any case, Apostle Paul indicates that the prophecy of Isaiah will be fulfilled when the bodily transformation of believers takes place. There is more to the we passage we are studying but we are out of time and so we will continue with it in our next study. However, let me end with a reminder of the message of the section, which is Not everyone will experience physical death, but everyone will undergo a bodily transformation necessary for existence in the eternal state.
12/01/23