1 Cor. 15:45 - what does it really mean?

10-22-2012, 04:53 PM

On different threads some have posted concerning whether Witness Lee was a false teacher/prophet or not. Examples given are the ground of locality and the minister of the age doctrines.

I think another possibility is the way Lee interpreted 1 Cor. 15:45. He quoted this verse constantly (usually only the second half). Many times he was teaching on some other Bible portion and then he would insert this verse. This was one of his unique revelations, that Christ became the life-giving Spirit in resurrection. And poor poor Christianity doesn't see this, etc.

But reading the actual chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians, verse 45 just doesn't seem to be saying this. It's a chapter about what bodily form we will have in resurrection, and in that context, Christ became a life-giving spirit. We will be like Him. It's obviously important that the actual text (or at least the translations I've seen) say "a" not "the," and that usually "spirit" is not capitalized.

What do other posters and lurkers think of this? Having been out of the local church for many years, I actually think that the critics are right to consider Lee a type of modalist. Where in Christianity (or in Christian history) is it taught that the second of the trinity became the third of the trinity in resurrection?

But I admit I don't really understand this verse. Could others tell me what they think? Was this a verse that Lee used improperly, to build himself up? Or is it possible that he had real insight into the proper meaning? Thanks.

10-22-2012, 04:53 PM	#1
curious Guest Posts: n/a	1 Cor. 15:45 - what does it really mean? On different threads some have posted concerning whether Witness Lee was a false teacher/prophet or not. Examples given are the ground of locality and the minister of the age doctrines. I think another possibility is the way Lee interpreted 1 Cor. 15:45. He quoted this verse constantly (usually only the second half). Many times he was teaching on some other Bible portion and then he would insert this verse. This was one of his unique revelations, that Christ became the life-giving Spirit in resurrection. And poor poor Christianity doesn't see this, etc. But reading the actual chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians, verse 45 just doesn't seem to be saying this. It's a chapter about what bodily form we will have in resurrection, and in that context, Christ became a life-giving spirit. We will be like Him. It's obviously important that the actual text (or at least the translations I've seen) say "a" not "the," and that usually "spirit" is not capitalized. What do other posters and lurkers think of this? Having been out of the local church for many years, I actually think that the critics are right to consider Lee a type of modalist. Where in Christianity (or in Christian history) is it taught that the second of the trinity became the third of the trinity in resurrection? But I admit I don't really understand this verse. Could others tell me what they think? Was this a verse that Lee used improperly, to build himself up? Or is it possible that he had real insight into the proper meaning? Thanks.