1 Corinthians 15:49 (DRB)

Passage

Therefore, as we have borne the image of the earthly, let us bear also the image of the heavenly.

Nearby Context

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.

1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot possess the kingdom of God: neither shall corruption possess incorruption.

1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall all indeed rise again: but we shall not all be changed.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "therefore", "borne", "image", "earthly", "bear", and "heavenly". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "therefore" and "borne", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 48's "Such as is the earthly such also..." into verse 50's "Now this I say brethren that flesh...", so "therefore" and "borne" 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 "therefore" and "borne" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.