God’s Word Translation
1 Corinthians 15:51
51I’m telling you a mystery. Not all of us will die, but we will all be changed.
1 Corinthians 15:51 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
- New International Version (NIV)Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—
- English Standard Version (ESV)Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—
Context of 1 Corinthians 15:51
49As we have worn the likeness of the man who was made from the dust of the earth, we will also wear the likeness of the man who came from heaven. 50Brothers and sisters, this is what I mean: Flesh and blood cannot inherit God’s kingdom. What decays cannot inherit what doesn’t decay. I’m telling you a mystery. Not all of us will die, but we will all be changed. 52It will happen in an instant, in a split second at the sound of the last trumpet. Indeed, that trumpet will sound, and then the dead will come back to life. They will be changed so that they can live forever. 53This body that decays must be changed into a body that cannot decay. This mortal body must be changed into a body that will live forever.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 151 Corinthians 15:51 word by word
ἰδοὺ μυστήριον ὑμῖν λέγω· πάντες οὐ κοιμηθησόμεθα, πάντες δὲ ἀλλαγησόμεθαRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 15:51
- 1 Corinthians 2:7We speak about the mystery of God’s wisdom. It is a wisdom that has been hidden, which God had planned for our glory before the world began.
- 1 Corinthians 4:1People should think of us as servants of Christ and managers who are entrusted with God’s mysteries.
- 1 Corinthians 13:2I may have the gift to speak what God has revealed, and I may understand all mysteries and have all knowledge. I may even have enough faith to move mountains. But if I don’t have love, I am nothing.
- Ephesians 1:9when he revealed the mystery of his plan to us. He had decided to do this through Christ.
- Ephesians 3:3You have heard that he let me know this mystery through a revelation. I’ve already written to you about this briefly.
- Ephesians 5:32This is a great mystery. (I’m talking about Christ’s relationship to the church.)
- 1 Corinthians 15:6Then he appeared to more than 500 believers at one time. (Most of these people are still living, but some have died.)
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14We believe that Jesus died and came back to life. We also believe that, through Jesus, God will bring back those who have died. They will come back with Jesus.
- Philippians 3:21Through his power to bring everything under his authority, he will change our humble bodies and make them like his glorified body.
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 15:51
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 51I show you a mystery - That is, a thing which you have never known before. But what is this mystery? Why, that we shall not all sleep; we shall not all die; but we shall all be changed: of this the Jews had not distinct notions. For, as flesh and blood cannot inherit glory, and all shall not be found dead at the day of judgment, then all must be changed - undergo such a change that their bodies may become spiritual, like the bodies of those who shall be…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 51Behold I show you - This commences the third subject of inquiry in the chapter, the question, what will become of those who are alive when the Lord Jesus shall return to raise the dead? This was an obvious inquiry, and the answer was, perhaps, supposed to be difficult. Paul answers it directly, and says that they will undergo an instantaneous change, which will make them like the dead that shall be raised. A mystery - On the meaning of this word, see the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 51-58Verses 51-58 All the saints should not die, but all would be changed. In the gospel, many truths, before hidden in mystery, are made known. Death never shall appear in the regions to which our Lord will bear his risen saints. Therefore let us seek the full assurance of faith and hope, that in the midst of pain, and in the prospect of death, we may think calmly on the horrors of the tomb; assured that our bodies will there sleep, and in the mean time our…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 51The good news about Jesus reveals the once unknown secret of resurrection. We will not all sleep: Paul might have expected the future resurrection during his own lifetime (compare 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:15, 17).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5151. Behold--Calling attention to the "mystery" heretofore hidden in God's purposes, but now revealed. you--emphatical in the Greek; I show (Greek, "tell," namely, by the word of the Lord, 1Th 4:15) YOU, who think you have so much knowledge, "a mystery" (compare Ro 11:25) which your reason could never have discovered. Many of the old manuscripts and Fathers read, "We shall all sleep, but we shall not all be changed"; but this is plainly a corrupt reading…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 15:51
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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