SIH’s Think On These Things: 1 Cor 15:40-41

1Cor 15:40-41  There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.  (41)  There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 

Paul continues describing our resurrection body using common comparisons from nature. In this case, he is using two different examples of the heavenly and earthly bodies…

1. In his first example, Paul reminds us that the spiritual bodies of the angels “bodies celestial” differ from the fleshly bodies of humans “bodies terrestrial”.   This comparison helps us to understand that the glory of our resurrection bodies will be far greater than the glory associated with our human, sinful bodies that are broken and tarnished by sin.   Like sinless angels bodies, our resurrected bodies will be bodies of perfection not touched by sin, death nor the ravages of sickness and aging.


2. In his second example, Paul shows us the basic principle of differing levels of glorification. This is illustrated by the differing levels of light given off by the sun, stars and the reflected light of the moon.  All three heavenly bodies shine forth light in the midst of a blackened outer space.  From the sun pours forth the greatest amount of light, while stars give forth a lesser amount.  The moon, although it does not give off light of itself still reflects light into our world.  In each case we have a differing amount of “glory” given off and yet none of them fail to be glorifying to God.  So too, the bodies of angels, glorified bodies of humans and fleshly bodies of humans.

We need to remember, just as our resurrected bodies will glorify Him someday, we should be striving to glorify and honor God in our fleshly bodies by living our lives for Him.

May the Lord bless each one of us as we “Think On These Things”.