1 Corinthians 15:24 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.

NIV: Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.

NASB: then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to our God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.

CSB: Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power.

NLT: After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power.

KJV: Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

NKJV: Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

This passage briefly puts the timing of the resurrection of all believers in Jesus into the context of the end times. He has written that at Christ's coming or return to earth, all who belong to Christ will be physically resurrected from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:22).

Scripture adds that after this event, sometimes described as the "resurrection of the church," comes "the end." Christ will take possession of and hand over the Kingdom of God to the Father, but only after destroying—or "dethroning"—every ruler, authority, and power. This may describe either earthly rulers or spiritual powers or both. Whatever has authority in the heavens or on earth will be displaced by Christ as He takes authority over all things. Paul does not go any deeper into the details of the end times, but what he suggests is a battle or war for control over the earth that Christ will ultimately win for the sake of God the Father.

All of this will take place after His followers have been resurrected from the dead, as Christ was.

First Corinthians 15:12–34 describes all the implications for Christians if there is no resurrection, at all. Most importantly, that would mean that Christ was not raised from the dead. If Christ was not raised, then Paul's preaching of the gospel was false, and the faith of those who believed it was worthless. All remain in their sins. Christ, though, was raised from the dead, and when He returns for those who are His, all who have died in Christ will be resurrected to new life, as He was after the crucifixion. Finally, Christ will reign on earth before delivering the kingdom to the Father.

Paul provides thorough teaching about the resurrection of Christians from the dead. This is a direct counter to some group of Corinthians who did not believe in such a resurrection. He shows that natural death is not the end of life for Christians; it is the last step before receiving a glorified, resurrected body like that of the risen Christ. That ''spiritual'' body will be as different from our current bodies as a star is from a fish. In that moment, for all who have believed in Christ, living and dead, death will be defeated for good.

In chapters 12, 13, and 14, Scripture focused on the concept of spiritual gifts and how best to use them. This follows several other ideas where Paul corrected errors in the Corinthians' thinking. Chapter 15 contains extensive teaching on one last issue about which some Corinthians were confused or misled. Apparently, they harbored some doubts about the physical resurrection of Christians from the dead. After clearing up these confusions, Paul will address various other items, of a less doctrinal nature, and close out his letter.

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.

Accessed 11/21/2024 8:22:52 AM