Les Feldick Bible Study

Does 'every man in his own order' in 1 Corinthians 15:23 mean every person or every believer?

In 1 Corinthians 15:23, 'every man in his own order' means every believer, since Paul is addressing the believing element and those who are Christ's at His coming. Yet all human beings will be resurrected, each within his own ordered company or group, not all at the same moment.

Les explains that in 1 Corinthians 15:22 Paul primarily directs attention to the believer, while also noting that God's power will resurrect the lost at a future time. In verse 23, because Paul is dealing with the believing element, 'every man' means every believer 'in his own order.' That word order is a military term for a company, battalion, or organized group. So every human being in the human race will be resurrected, but each in his own particular company. Christ is the firstfruits, the first group of resurrected people, including those who came out of the graves at Jerusalem. Then, after a semicolon and 'afterward,' not simultaneously, come those who are Christ's at His coming—the church age, grace age believer, the body of Christ. Verse 24 then says, 'and then cometh the end,' which follows the tribulation.

1 Corinthians 15:23

But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

More Questions

What is the resurrection order in 1 Corinthians 15:23?

In 1 Corinthians 15:23, resurrection comes in order: first Christ the firstfruits, and afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.