1 Corinthians 15:47 (DRB)

Passage

The first man was of the earth, earthly: the second man, from heaven, heavenly.

Nearby Context

1 Corinthians 15:45 The first man Adam was made into a living soul; the last Adam into a quickening spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:46 Yet that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural: afterwards that which is spiritual.

1 Corinthians 15:47 The first man was of the earth, earthly: the second man, from heaven, heavenly.

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

1 Corinthians 15:49 Therefore, as we have borne the image of the earthly, let us bear also the image of the heavenly.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "first", "earth", "earthly", "second", "heaven", and "heavenly". 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 "Yet that was not first which is..." into verse 48's "Such as is the earthly such also...", 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.