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1 Corinthians 15:21

ESV For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
NIV For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
NASB For since by a man death came, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.
CSB For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man.
NLT So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man.
KJV For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
NKJV For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.

What does 1 Corinthians 15:21 mean?

Christ, raised from the dead by God after His crucifixion, was the "firstfruits" of the dead (1 Corinthians 15:20). That is, He was the first, not the last, of all those who have died and will walk alive again in a physical body. But why is this true? Why does Christ's resurrection mean that those who are in Christ will also be resurrected?

Paul begins in this verse to make a connection between Christ and the first man, Adam. He does something similar in Romans 5:12–21, to show how sin passed to all people through the sin of Adam. In this and the following verse, though, Paul uses the example of Adam to show something different. Adam introduced death into the world when he sinned. His death, as the result of his sin, became the pattern for all people. Christ's resurrection, in a similar way, set the pattern for all who are forgiven for their sin through faith in Him. This makes Him the prototype, or the pioneer, of salvation for those who believe (Hebrews 2:10–11).
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