Every Man in His Own Order

A common expression I have heard is, "St. Paul says, 'Every Man to His Own Order'", which is another verse often misquoted and misunderstood and/or taken out of context. I Corinthians 15:3reads, "But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming."  In fact, the entire verse is not usually quoted and the part that is quoted usually goes something like this: "Every man to his own order." I usually remind students of the Word to read the verses surrounding a particular verse to get the context.  Even the headings in some Bible help to put things into context.  The heading for this section says, THE ORDER OF RESURRECTION.  These are the verses. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.  (I Corinthians 15:20-23) Note that this chapter is speaking about resurrection, both of Christ and of humans.  What is Paul saying? There is an order in the resurrection.  Yehoshua first; He is "the firstfruit of them that slept" ( v. 20).  He is the first Person to be raised from death to permanent life (Rev. 1:18).  Messiah must first be raised to permanent life and then those who belong to Him will be resurrected.  So the next resurrection, when the trumpet of God shall sound, will be the resurrection of the righteous dead (I Thess. 4:16 ).  There will be another resurrection: the resurrection of the wicked dead, to be judged ( Daniel 12:2; Revelation 14:14-20).  So then, this is the order of which Paul speak: Messiah first, (which has already happen), the righteous dead second, and the wicked dead third (the latter two are yet to come).  Every human in his own order. (2015/12/08)