Bible Strands
1 Corinthians 15:46
The spiritual, however, was not first, but the natural, and then the spiritual.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Corinthian congregation while clarifying the resurrection sequence and contrasting the first Adam with the last Adam. He interrupts the creation narrative to correct a chronological misunderstanding about human origins.
The words — The Greek contrast hinges on ψυχικὴν (psuchikē, "natural") and πνευματικὸν (pneumatikon, "spiritual"). Paul structures the statement with οὐ...πρῶτον ("not first") to deny priority to the spiritual state before affirming it.
The thread — The progression from natural to spiritual mirrors the "old self" trajectory found in Romans 6:6, Ephesians 4:22, and Colossians 3:9. These passages collectively map the same movement from earthly corruption to renewed spiritual reality.
Why it lands — The verse states that human existence originates in a natural, earthly condition before advancing to a spiritual one. Readers must accept that spiritual reality is the designed endpoint, not the initial state, of both creation and redemption.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
Cross-references
- Romans 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
- Ephesians 4:22 to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
- Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices,