[zeek]

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.)

Barnes, in my view, seems to boil this mysterious, apparently inscrutable Pauline phase down to the lowest common denominator, and with so few words! "the other stands (as the head) of all those who shall have a spiritual body in heaven" He is giving us a clear and logical interpretation of "became a life-giving spirit" with as little unnecessary jargon as humanly possible. The more I read it the more I think this guy had it nailed down.

In short - The first Adam was a progenitor of our fleshly and soulish existence, the last Adam, the resurrected and glorified Jesus, was a progenitor of our eternal, spiritual existence (which will include our resurrected, glorified spiritual body).

Barnes has more for us but I'll just let you chew on this for now.

chewing has commenced...nom...nom...nom