1 Corinthians 15:53 Meaning and Explanation
“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
What Does 1 Corinthians 15:53 Mean?
Paul explains the necessity of the change with the image of clothing. This perishable body must 'put on' incorruption, and this mortal body must put on immortality. Like a garment, the imperishable will be wrapped around the very body we now have.
The word 'must' shows this is no optional extra but the essential work of God for eternal life. The same body that decays will be clothed, not discarded, with an unfading life. For the reader, the image is comforting and concrete. We do not lose ourselves; we are clothed upon. The mortal becomes immortal, dressed at last in the deathless life of the resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:53 in the Original Language
athanasia (ἀθανασία), 'immortality' -- deathlessness, life no longer subject to dying.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 15:53
What does 1 Corinthians 15:53 mean?
The perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.