A Study of 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

by Garry D. Pifer

The nine verses we are going to look at contain a wealth of understanding of God’s wonderful plan of salvation.  We have read over it so many times without grasping what it really is telling us.  Let us read the passage.

1 Corinthians 15:20-28   ¶ But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept.   For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead.   For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.   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.    For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.   The last enemy [that] shall be destroyed [is] death.    For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under [him, it is] manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.    And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 

Let us go back through these verses and notice a few things.  My notes are in italics within brackets.

1 Corinthians 15:20 ¶ But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits (probably best rendered in the singular “firstfruit”) of them that slept. (the dead)

1 Corinthians 15:21  For since by man (referring to Adam) [came] death,  by man (referring to Jesus Christ) [came] also ( Strong’s #2532, kai in the Greek, can be rendered as  also, even, likewise)  the resurrection of the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:22  For as in Adam all  (ALL, every individual that has lived) die,  even (same #2532, kai, also, even, likewise.) so in Christ shall all (ALL, every individual that has lived.)  be made alive. 

1 Corinthians 15:23  But every man (every man, all men, ALL individuals, without exceptions) in his own order: (not all at one time but over a period of time) Christ the firstfruits; (He is first in the order of those made alive.) afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (Those that are made alive at Jesus Christ’s coming are the second in order.  What about the rest of the “every man?”  Keep reading!)

1 Corinthians 15:24  Then [cometh] the end, (What does he mean, the end.  The Greek is “telos,” #5056 in Strong’s.  Notice the definition from the Lexicon.  “1A) termination, the limit at which a thing ceases to be (always of the end of some act or state, but not of the end of a period of time).”  In other words at the end of the work Jesus commences at His return.)  when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; (The rest of the dead will be made alive before this occurs.) when he shall have put down (put down is #2673, katargeo, meaning per the lexicon, to render idle, unemployed, inactivate, inoperative.) all rule and all authority and power. (All opposing His Kingdom.)

1 Corinthians 15:25  For he must reign, till (Strong’s #891, achri, means until.  Jesus Christ doesn’t reign forever, His rule comes to an end.  When does it end?  Read on.) he hath put all (ALL, every one.)  enemies under his feet. 

1 Corinthians 15:26  The last enemy [that] shall be destroyed [is] death. (How is death destroyed?  All will be made alive, verse 22.  The word ‘destroyed’ is #2673, katargeo, that was translated ‘put down’ in verse 24 above.  The meaning again is ‘to render idle, unemployed, inactivate, inoperative.’  There will be no more death.) 

1 Corinthians 15:27  For he (God the Father) hath put(see note below.) all things (ALL things is not talking about trees and rocks but ALL people.) under(see note below.) his (Jesus’) feet. But when he (God the Father) saith all things (ALL people) are put under (see note below.) [him, (Jesus Christ) it is] manifest that he (God the Father) is excepted, which did put (see note below.) all things (Again, ALL people, all that have ever lived.)  under (see note below.)  him. (Jesus Christ)  (NOTE:  The words “put,” “under,” and “put under” used in this verse are  from the Greek hupotasso, #5293 in Strong’s.  The lexicon states that “In a non-military use, it was ‘a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden.”) 

1 Corinthians 15:28  And when all things (There it is again, ALL individuals.) shall be subdued (This is #5293 again that was translated ‘put,’ ‘put under,’ and ‘under’ in the previous verse.) unto him, (Jesus Christ) then shall the Son also himself be subject (This also is #5293, a voluntary act.)unto him (God the Father) that put (#5293 again.) all things (Once more we see ALL things, ALL people, ALL individuals.)  under (Under is from #5293 again.) him, (Jesus Christ)  that God may be all in all. (Can we grasp this?  God will be ALL in ALL.  Ultimate salvation for ALL.) 

Perhaps it will help to try and paraphrase these verses The following is the “Pifer Paraphrase” of 1 Corinthians 15:20-28.

Verse 20  But now Christ is risen, resurrected, from the dead, and has become the very firstfruit of all that are dead. 

Verse 21  For it was by a man, Adam, that death came and likewise by a man, Jesus Christ, that the resurrection of the dead has come.

Verse 22  For just as through Adam ALL people that have ever lived die, likewise through Jesus Christ ALL that have ever lived will be made alive, will be resurrected.

Verse 23  But every man, woman and child shall be made alive in his own order, beginning with Jesus Christ the firstfruit.  Then,  those that are Christ’s chosen ones, the rest of the firstfruits, will be made alive at His coming.

Verse 24  Looking forward to the completion of all His work of restoration, it will be then that Jesus will deliver the Government of God to His Father.  This follows His having rendered inactive and inoperative all opposing rule, authority and power. (And, the rest of the dead will have been made alive in their own order.)

Verse 25   Jesus must reign over the Kingdom of God until such time absolutely all of His enemies have been overcome.

Verse 26   The last enemy to be rendered inactive and inoperative is death.  (That is accomplished by making ALL alive.)

Verse 27   God the Father will have accomplished His will and desire by successfully bringing ALL people to the point of voluntarily cooperating and accepting His Son Jesus.  But when The Father says ALL are willfully submitting to Jesus, it is obvious that He is Himself excepted.  For it is understood that it was He that brought ALL to that point of willful submission and acceptance of His Son.

Verse 28   And when ALL people, ALL individuals, have come to voluntarily accept Jesus and receive His gift of salvation then Jesus, the Son of God, will Himself willingly and voluntarily come under the authority of The Father.  For it was He, The Father, who brought ALL people to accept Jesus and receive salvation.  His plan, His will and His desire, will then be accomplished.  ALL will have been brought to salvation.   God will be totally and completely in all, He will be all in all.