1 Corinthians 15:47 (ASV)

Passage

The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is of heaven.

Nearby Context

1 Corinthians 15:45 So also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam [became] a life-giving spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:46 Howbeit that is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; then that which is spiritual.

1 Corinthians 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is of heaven.

1 Corinthians 15:48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

1 Corinthians 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "first", "earth", "earthy", "second", and "heaven". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "first" and "earth", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 46's "Howbeit that is not first which is..." into verse 48's "As is the earthy such are they...", so "first" and "earth" belong inside that flow. In 1 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "first" and "earth" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.