I know I am the least qualified for this topic. I don’t have your knowledge and intelligence, brothers, especially those of Aron, Igzy, Ohio, OBW, Terry, and UntoHim. And surely, I don’t have brother Awareness's sharp wit. But let me pop in again. It’s not that I believe I can clarify something, I'd rather hope to support some ideas of other posters.
Yesterday in a book shop, I found this bible called “Orthodox Study Bible.”
http://www.amazon.com/The-Orthodox-S.../dp/0718003594
It didn’t look like a study bible to me because the footnotes (with the Church Fathers’ quotes) are too sparse and brief compared to the Lord’s Recovery Bible with a vast area of WL’s comments. Anyway, I just checked the footnotes of 1 Corinthians 15:45. Luckily, it had a comment but again – it was way too brief. If I am not mistaken, it says only “Our current body is Adam’s. But our resurrection body will be that of Christ’s”.
I’ve checked some other Eastern Orthodox resources in my native language again. They have lots of information on 1 Corinthians, but unfortunately, I could not find English translations. So I tried to translate the comments on 15:45 with Google Translate. But probably, some things might be lost in translation. Anyway, I believe the EO church point of view is similar to brother UntoHim’s words in his posts #33 and #36.
Just to clarify once again: the Church Fathers of East (who knew Greek and read NT in the original, i.e. in the Greek language) never understood “a life-giving spirit” as the Holy Spirit. They understood the Apostle Paul’s words about “a living soul” and “a life-giving spirit”(sometimes also translated “quickening spirit”, i.e. not only living, but making alive) as a comparison or distinction between our current natural or animal-souled body and our future spiritual body.
As for the difference and similarity among “a life-giving spirit”, the Son and the Holy Spirit, maybe we can look at this way: (Though I'm not sure that my conclusions are correct). The Son is not the Holy Spirit. They are distinct, but not separate. They are one in essence or nature. So probably, the nature or essence of “a life-giving spirit” might be similar to the nature or essence of the Son and the Holy Spirit. We are also distinct from the Son and the Holy Spirit. After the Lord’s second coming and the Resurrection of the Dead, the Lord will glorify our current Adam's bodies. But we will neither become the Son, nor the Holy Spirit. I assume that our “a living soul” mortal and corrupted bodies will be transformed and become fully spiritual, obtaining the nature or essence (at least to some degree) of the Son and the Holy Spirit (who share the same nature).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohio
The one question not settled by this verse alone is whether Christ Jesus the life giving Spirit can make us alive in this age, or only at the future resurrection of the dead.
|
I believe we already have the source of this transformation in Our Lord Jesus Christ. When we turn to the Lord, when we live in communion with Him, and when we acquire the Holy Spirit – that is the beginning of our transformation. It's a small but important first step that starts in this age. In this age, I don’t mean physical but mainly mental and spiritual transformation. The Lords starts transforming us, through the grace of the Holy Spirit. The full transformation of our physical and animal-souled body (living soul), will be after the Lord’s second coming. Interestingly enough, it’s has something to do with Theosis that assumes that humans from the beginning are made to share in the Life or Nature of the all-Holy Trinity. It means once we have to become like God to such a degree that we participate in the divine nature. With the Incarnation, God has assumed and glorified our flesh and has consecrated and sanctified our humanity. He has also given us the Holy Spirit. So probably, God's target for us and our target is to become not just Christ-like, but the likeness of Christ.
More about Theosis:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theosis...hodox_theology)
Here is the google translation I mentioned earlier. It’s almost the same what I posted before; maybe with more details.
1) 1 Corinthians 15:45
So it is written, "The first man Adam became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
The apostle confirms the existence of a dual body, giving a link to the Holy Scriptures: "So it is written." The phrase “it is written" applies to the first half of the verse. "Became a living soul" ( Genesis 2:7). The first part says about the creation of man. Man "became" man or an animate being, after God breathed the breath of life into the man’s body, created from the dust of the earth. By these words, the Apostle defines the threshold (limits) that the first man could never cross. The boundary is indicated by the phrase "living soul” (ψυχή ζῶσα). Probably, this is the same definition, applied to man that equates him with animals that were also called "living souls" by Moses. ( Gen. 1 : 20, 24). But in fact, in relation to humans, this term encompasses incomparably larger than in its application to the animals. In the book of Genesis, the primordial man immensely towered over the animals in his mind, free will and heart. It’s also known that primeval man came into direct communion with God, and it refers to the activities of the supreme principle (element) of human beings – his spirit. If Moses didn’t directly attribute the spirit to man, then this shows that the fact that the man became "a living soul" was the purpose of the first creation and this purpose was achieved. Spirit as the guiding principle of human beings had to become active at a later age. According to the Apostle Paul, primordial man took only an initial stage of existence and activity .
"The last Adam" – that’s how the Apostle Paul calls Christ as the head and the Lord of humanity, after whom there will be no other heads and lords. Christ is "a life-giving spirit." This human condition is opposite to another human condition, "living soul." In this context, spirit is called "life-giving" not because it gives man spiritual life (as in John 4 : 14), but because it’s the spirit that animates the body where the spirit dwells. Soul also animates and movies the body. But spirit makes(does) much more – spirit makes the body fully alive, giving it new strength and new youth. Which moment in Christ’s life can be applied to this statement? Probably, Christ was becoming the "life-giving spirit" gradually - from His miraculous birth till His wonderful ascension when his body became completely spiritual. But in the full sense, Christ will manifest His life-giving spiritual activity at the time of resurrection when He glorifies the bodies of believers and make them fully spiritual like His own body (compare to Philippians 3: 21).
Philippians 3: 20-21 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.
2) Another comment by St Theophan the Recluse:
1 Corinthians 15:45
So it is written, "The first man Adam became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
Adam became a living soul, as “it is written” in Genesis 2:7. But there is no verse in the OT that says that the Lord Savior is a life-giving spirit. St. Paul says these words from himself, accompanied by the Scripture, however, without indicating where the Scripture ended and where his own words started. Then it’s all Gods words for us. The Apostle Paul combines the meaning of many Scripture verses about the coming Redeemer who was abundantly anointed by the Spirit.
What did the Apostle Paul want to say by these words? He points out that there are two periods of human existence. The first period is represented by Adam, “a living soul”. The second period – by Christ, the last Adam, “a life-giving spirit.” The first Adam lives in his physical body with soul and mortal and corrupted body. The last Adam lives in the new spiritual body which is of immortal and uncorrupted life-giving spirit. This new spiritual body will be given by Christ to the believers after His second coming. St Chrysostom says: "The Apostle said this so that you know the signs and evidence of the present and future lives: the present life is Adam’s and the future life is of Christ’s. Since he promises the best benefits in the future, it’s already now when he proves that the beginning and the source of the future life have already come. The source and the root have been revealed. If the root and source are obvious, we should not doubt about fruits. That’s why the Apostle Paul says that the last Adam is of life-giving spirit; and also: And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you." (Romans 8 : 11) .
It’s hard to clearly define the real thoughts of the apostle. But it is obvious that for him, in the person of Christ the Savior, mankind starts a new life not only mentally and physically but also spiritually as that was revealed by Christ. When the Lord Jesus Christ came on earth, all the people were like the first Adam, “living souls”. Christ was the first one of the life-giving Spirit. Through His resurrection and ascension, Christ became the head of the new humanity who is born of Him. One of the unique features of this new humanity is spirituality – the new mankind may possess the Spirit of God. This Spirit is the guarantee of the future revival and the transfiguration of the natural body which will become spiritual. Spiritual bodies are being prepared in the field of the first natural Adam’s body; they will be revealed in their spiritual glory later. Our natural body of Adam’s living soul will come to its end. Through Christ and by the grace of the Holy Spirit our natural bodies will be transformed. We will be new mankind – spiritual humanity. But this will happen only after the Lord’s second coming. All in good time.
----
I also found homilies on 1 Corinthians by John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople (c. 347 – 407). That’s what he wrote on 1 Corinthians 15:45:
So also it is written, Genesis 2:7 the first man Adam became a living soul: the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit.
And yet the one indeed is written, but the other not written. How then said he, it is written? He modified the expression according to the issue of events: as he is wont continually to do: and indeed as it is the way of every prophet. For so Jerusalem, the prophet said, should be called a city of righteousness; Isaiah 1:26 yet it was not so called. What then? Did the prophet speak false? By no means. For he is speaking of the issue of events. And that Christ too should be called Immanuel; Isaiah 7:14 yet was he not so called. But the facts utter this voice; so also here, the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit.
And these things he said that you may learn that the signs and pledges both of the present life and of that which is to come have already come upon us; to wit, of the present life, Adam, and of the life to come, Christ. For since he sets down the better things as matters of hope, he signifies that their beginning has already come to pass, and their root and their fountain been brought to light. But if the root and the fountain be evident to all, there is no need to doubt of the fruits. Wherefore he says, The last Adam became a life-giving Spirit. And elsewhere too, He shall quicken your mortal bodies through His Spirit that dwells in you. Romans 7:11 It is the Spirit's work then to quicken.
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/2201.htm
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/220141.htm