Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Corinthians 15:38

"but God giveth it a body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own." — 1 Corinthians 15:38 (ASV)

But God gives it a body. God gives to the seed sown its own proper body, formation, and growth. The word body here, as applied to grain, seems to mean the whole system, or arrangement of roots, stalks, leaves, flowers, and kernels that grow from the seed that is sown.

The meaning is that such a form is produced from the seed sown as God pleases. Paul here traces the result to God to show that there is no chance, and that it did not depend on the nature of things but was dependent on the wise arrangement of God.

There was nothing in the decaying kernel itself that would produce this result; but God chose that it should be so. Similarly, there is nothing in the decaying body of the dead which in itself would lead to the resurrection; but God chose that it should be so.

As it has pleased him. As he chose. It is by his arrangement and agency.

Though it is by regular laws, it is still as God pleases. He acts according to his own pleasure in the formation of each root, stalk, and kernel of grain.

It is probably intimated here that God will give to each one of the dead at the resurrection such a body as he chooses, though it will be, doubtless, in accordance with general laws.

And to every seed its own body. This means that which appropriately belongs to it, which it is fitted to produce, and which is of the same kind. God does not cause a stalk of rye to grow from a kernel of wheat, nor maize from barley, nor hemp from lentils.

He has fixed proper laws, and he ensures that they are observed. So it will be in the resurrection.

Everyone will have his own, that is, his proper body—a body that will belong to him and be fitted to him. The wicked will not rise with the body of the just, or with a body adapted to heaven; nor will the saint rise with a body adapted to perdition.

There will be a fitness or appropriateness in the new body to the character of the one who is raised.

The argument here is designed to address the question of HOW the body will be raised. It is that there is nothing more remarkable or impossible in the doctrine of the resurrection than in the fact constantly before us: that grain that seems to rot sends up a shoot or stalk and is reproduced in a wonderful and beautiful manner.

In a similar manner, the body will be raised. Paul's illustration addresses all the difficulties concerning the fact of the resurrection.

It cannot be shown that one is more difficult than the other. Since the facts of vegetation are constantly before our eyes, we should not consider it strange if similar facts take place hereafter in regard to the resurrection of the dead.