Quote:
Originally Posted by UntoHim
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Albert Barnes (1798-1870) was an American theologian, born at Rome, New York, on December 1, 1798. He graduated from Hamilton College, Clinton, New York, in 1820, and from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1823
Excerpt #1
http://biblehub.com/commentaries/1_c...ians/15-45.htm
The last Adam - The second Adam, or the "second man," 1 Corinthians 15:47. That Christ is here intended is apparent, and has been usually admitted by commentators. Christ here seems to be called Adam because he stands in contradistinction from the first Adam; or because, as we derive our animal and dying nature from the one, so we derive our immortal and undying bodies from the other. From the one we derive an animal or vital existence; from the other we derive our immortal existence, and resurrection from the grave. The one stands at the head of all those who have an existence represented by the words, "a living soul;" the other of all those who shall have a spiritual body in heaven. He is called "the last Adam;" meaning that there shall be no other after him who shall affect the destiny of man in the same way, or who shall stand at the head of the race in a manner similar to what had been done by him and the first father of the human family. They sustain special relations to the race; and in this respect they were "the first" and "the last" in the special economy. The name "Adam" is not elsewhere given to the Messiah, though a comparison is several times instituted between him and Adam. (See the Supplementary Note on 1 Corinthians 15:22; also Romans 5:12, note.)
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Strictly speaking, in this section in I Cor 15 Paul addresses the Corinthians' questions about resurrection and the spiritual body we will have in the resurrection. In this regard, Christ will not just be the "
Head of those in heaven with a spiritual body," but the progenitor of a new race or species, just as the first man Adam was the progenitor of the race of natural or soulish men.
Adam was made "a living soul" to give life and to multiply an entire race of living souls. Barnes use of the phrase "
our animal and dying nature" negates God's initial creation and original plans, and focuses on the results of the fall. That is, firstly we were made in His image and not merely with an animal nature, and secondly, our dying was the result of the fall.
Just because we will not receive a spiritual body until the resurrection from the dead, does not negate the fact that Jesus, the Last Adam, became a life-giving spirit thru His resurrection in the new creation. Thus Paul is using the truths of the resurrection to contrast the old and new creations, with two unique progenitors, two unique births, two unique natures, two unique sources, and two unique bodies.
This is the very basis for our faith. Without the hope of the resurrection, I too would be of all men most miserable.