A.T. Robertson Commentary 1 Corinthians 15:37

"and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not the body that shall be, but a bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other kind;" — 1 Corinthians 15:37 (ASV)

Not the body which shall be (ου το σωμα το γενησομενον). Articular future participle of γινομα, literally, "not the body that will become." The new

body (σωμα) is not yet in existence, but only the seed (κοκκος, grain, old word, as in Mt 13:31).

It may chance (ε τυχο). Fourth class condition as in 14:10 which see. Paul is rich in metaphors here, though usually not so (Howson, Metaphors of St. Paul). Paul was a city man. We sow seeds, not plants (bodies). The butterfly comes out of the dying worm.