Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Corinthians 15:35

"But some one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what manner of body do they come?" — 1 Corinthians 15:35 (ASV)

But some man will say. An objection will be made to the statement that the dead will be raised. This verse begins the second part of the chapter, in which the apostle meets the objections to the argument and shows how the dead will be raised. See the Analysis. That objections were made to the doctrine is apparent from 1 Corinthians 15:12.

How are the dead raised up? pwv. In what way or manner; by what means. This I regard as the first objection that would be made, or the first inquiry on the subject that the apostle answers. The question is one that would likely be made by the subtle and doubting Greeks.

The apostle, indeed, does not explain it in detail, or state it fully, but it can probably be regarded as substantially the same one that has been made in all ages.

"How is it possible that the dead should be raised? They return to their native dust. They become entirely disorganized. Their dust may be scattered; how will it be recollected? Or they may be burned at the stake, and how will the particles that composed their bodies be recollected and reorganized? Or they may be devoured by the beasts of the field, the fowls of heaven, or the fishes of the sea, and their flesh may have served to constitute the food of other animals, and to form their bodies; how can it be recollected and reorganized? Or it may have been the food of plants, and like other dust have been used to constitute the leaves or the flowers of plants, and the trunks of trees; and how can it be remolded into a human frame?"

This objection the apostle answers in 1 Corinthians 15:36–38.

And with what body do they come? This is the second objection or inquiry that he answers.

It may be understood as meaning, "What will be the form, the shape, the size, the organization of the new body? Are we to suppose that all the matter that at any time entered into its composition here is to be recollected and to constitute a colossal frame? Are we to suppose that it will be the same as it is here, with the same organization, the same necessities, the same wants? Are we to suppose that the aged will be raised as aged, and the young as young, and that infancy will be raised in the same state, and remain so forever? Are we to suppose that the bodies will be gross, material, and needing support and nourishment, or, that there will be a new organization?"

All these and numerous other questions have been asked regarding the bodies at the resurrection. It is quite probable that they were asked by the subtle and philosophizing Greeks and that they formed part of the reasoning of those who denied the doctrine of the resurrection.

This question, or objection, the apostle answers in 1 Corinthians 15:39–50. It has been doubted, indeed, whether he refers in this verse to two inquiries—to the possibility of the resurrection, and to the kind of bodies that should be raised; but it is the most obvious interpretation of the verse, and it is certain that in his argument he discusses both these points.