1 Corinthians 15:46

Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

1 Corinthians 15:46, King James Version

1 Corinthians 15:46 in other translations

BSB	The spiritual, however, was not first, but the natural, and then the spiritual.
WEB	However, that which is spiritual isn’t first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual.
ASV	Howbeit that is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; then that which is spiritual.
YLT	but that which is spiritual is not first, but that which was natural, afterwards that which is spiritual.
DARBY	But that which is spiritual was not first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual:
BBE	But that which is natural comes before that which is of the spirit.
Webster	However, that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

What does 1 Corinthians 15:46 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

46. afterward--Adam had a soul not necessarily mortal, as it afterwards became by sin, but "a living soul," and destined to live for ever, if he had eaten of the tree of life (Ge 3:22); still his body was but an animal-souled body, not a spiritual body, such as believers shall have; much less was he a "life-giving spirit," as Christ. His soul had the germ of the Spirit, rather than the fulness of it, such as man shall have when restored "body, soul, and spirit," by the second Adam (1Th 5:23). As the first and lower Adam came before the second and heavenly Adam, so the animal-souled body comes first, and must die before it be changed into the spiritual body (that is, that in which the Spirit predominates over the animal soul).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 46. Howbeit. There is a due order observed, 1Cor 15:23. The decaying, the dying, the weak, the corruptible, in the proper order of events, was first. This order was necessary, and this is observed everywhere. It is seen in the grain that dies in the ground, and in the resurrection of man. The imperfect is succeeded by the perfect; the impure by the pure; the vile and degraded by the precious and the glorious. The idea is, that there is a tendency towards perfection, and that God observes the proper order by which that which is most glorious shall be secured. It was not his plan that all things in the beginning should be perfect; but that perfection should be the work of time, and should be secured in an appropriate order of events. The design of Paul in this verse seems to be to vindicate the statement which he had made, by showing that it was in accordance with what was everywhere observed, that the proper order should be maintained. This idea is carried through the following verses.

(*) "Howbeit" "However" (+) "natural" "Animal"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 46 That was not first which is spiritual - The natural or animal body, described 1Cor 15:44, was the first; it was the body with which Adam was created. The spiritual body is the last, and is that with which the soul is to be clothed in the resurrection.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 15:35-50

1. How are the dead raised up? that is, by what means? How can they be raised? 2. As to the bodies which shall rise. Will it be with the like shape, and form, and stature, and members, and qualities? The former objection is that of those who opposed the doctrine, the latter of curious doubters. To the first the answer is, This was to be brought about by Divine power; that power which all may see does somewhat like…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 15:35-50 →

1 Corinthians 15:46 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἀλλ᾽all᾽HoweverG235

οὐounotG3756

πρῶτονprōtonfirst [was]G4413

τὸtotheG3588

πνευματικὸνpneumatikonspiritualG4152

ἀλλὰallabutG235

τὸtotheG3588

ψυχικόν,psuchikonnatural,G5591

ἔπειταepeitathenG1899

τὸtotheG3588

πνευματικόν.¶pneumatikonspiritual.G4152

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 15:46

Romans 6:6
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Colossians 3:9-10
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Ephesians 4:22-24
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

that which is natural.
Ro 6:6; Eph 4:22-24; Col 3:9,10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

1 Corinthians 15:45
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:46
Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1 Corinthians 15:47
The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 15

1 Corinthians 15:46 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Mas lo espiritual no es primero, sino lo animal; luego lo espiritual.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Mais ce qui est spirituel n’est pas le premier, mais ce qui est animal; ensuite ce qui est spirituel.
German Elberfelder 1871	Aber das Geistige war nicht zuerst, sondern das Natürliche, danach das Geistige.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Sed non prius quod spiritale est, sed quod animale: deinde quod spiritale.