Believer's Rewards

Dr. Couch, is 1 Corinthians 15:41 about believers receiving rewards, one having a different reward of glory over another? Some commentators think so. 

 

    I do not believe that is the case. The context is about the fact that there are different bodies for people and animals, all given by God in a sovereign manner. Biological life all has different and unique bodies (v. 39), so do the heavenly planets and stars (vv. 40-41). As the Lord gave us one kind of body for this life, “so in the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor (insignificance), it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised by power; it is sown a natural body, is it raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body” (vv. 42-44). 

    The context is simply telling us we are going to receive a “new deal,” an eternal, imperishable body that will live on and on into the ages! 

    I wrote in The Popular Bible Prophecy Commentary (Harvest):

This heavenly spiritual body will be re-created by the Lord from a heavenly source and not an earthly one. However, it is still a real and tangible body, yet without “dishonor,” “weakness,” and earthly limitations. (p. 414) C. K. Barrett writes in his commentary: “Thus throughout the natural order variety reigns. The resurrection of the body must be understood in the light of this fact.” (pp. 371-72) Charles Hodge adds from his commentary: “As the heavenly bodies differ from the earthly bodies, and as one star differs from another star, so the resurrection body will differ from our present body.” (p. 346) 

    To summarize 1 Corinthians 15:41 is not about levels of rewards; it is addressing the fact that the new resurrected body will be unique from our present condemned and limited body. 

Thanks for asking.

Dr. Mal Couch