In the last post, I argued that resurrection in the OT was not anything anyone hoped for for themselves. It was sort of a pipe dream. For Isaiah and Daniel, for Job, for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, death was the end. Death was still an enemy yet to be defeated.
The Death of Death
So, when will death be defeated, or has it already been defeated? The verb katargeitai in 1 Corinthians 15:26, translated as “defeated” is a present active indicative verb. As a present tense verb, one thing we can say is that Death’s defeat has not already happened, which is why your modern translations render this verb something like “to be defeated” or “will be defeated.” But, as a present tense verb, it also means it pertains to contemporary time, hence NOT the future, in which case we could translate 1 Corinthians 15:26 as “death is being defeated.” Both translations, though, imply the same thing. Death is not yet defeated at the time of Paul’s letter. Roman 6:9 affirms that Jesus has conquered death: “death no longer has dominion over him.” Throughout the remainder of 1 Corinthians 15, though, Paul seems pretty clear that the dead in Christ have yet to be raised. While Death suffered a crippling blow with the resurrection of Christ, Death remains the last enemy to be defeated.
Paul confirms this a few paragraphs later, as he concludes his excursus on the resurrection.
While there is much to unpack here, let me just draw your attention to three points. First, Paul clearly thought he was living in the last days and expected the Second Coming of Christ to happen during his lifetime. Second, when the trumpet sounds, Paul’s expectation was not that he would be taken up or raptured away to the heavens, but that his body would be changed from mortal to immortal. Finally, and to the thrust of this blog series, the resurrection of the dead at the Second Coming of Christ will conclusively and completely signal the death of Death.
The Resurrection of the Redeemed is not just a wishful hope to get us through days of uncertainty and insecurity. It is at the very core of the Christian faith. “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” In the Christian world two things said be said for certain: death and the death of Death.
The Death of Death
So, when will death be defeated, or has it already been defeated? The verb katargeitai in 1 Corinthians 15:26, translated as “defeated” is a present active indicative verb. As a present tense verb, one thing we can say is that Death’s defeat has not already happened, which is why your modern translations render this verb something like “to be defeated” or “will be defeated.” But, as a present tense verb, it also means it pertains to contemporary time, hence NOT the future, in which case we could translate 1 Corinthians 15:26 as “death is being defeated.” Both translations, though, imply the same thing. Death is not yet defeated at the time of Paul’s letter. Roman 6:9 affirms that Jesus has conquered death: “death no longer has dominion over him.” Throughout the remainder of 1 Corinthians 15, though, Paul seems pretty clear that the dead in Christ have yet to be raised. While Death suffered a crippling blow with the resurrection of Christ, Death remains the last enemy to be defeated.
Paul confirms this a few paragraphs later, as he concludes his excursus on the resurrection.
What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:50–55 NRSV)
While there is much to unpack here, let me just draw your attention to three points. First, Paul clearly thought he was living in the last days and expected the Second Coming of Christ to happen during his lifetime. Second, when the trumpet sounds, Paul’s expectation was not that he would be taken up or raptured away to the heavens, but that his body would be changed from mortal to immortal. Finally, and to the thrust of this blog series, the resurrection of the dead at the Second Coming of Christ will conclusively and completely signal the death of Death.The Resurrection of the Redeemed is not just a wishful hope to get us through days of uncertainty and insecurity. It is at the very core of the Christian faith. “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” In the Christian world two things said be said for certain: death and the death of Death.
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