The New John Gill Exposition of the Entire Bible1 Corinthians 15:39
All flesh is not the same flesh…
Or "equal", as the
Syriac version renders it; though all flesh is flesh, as to the
nature and substance of it; agrees in its original, being by
generation; and is supported by food, and is alike frail and mortal;
all flesh is grass, rises out of it, or is maintained by it, or
withers like that, yet not of equal worth, value, and excellency:
"but" there is "one" kind "of flesh of men"; which is superior to,
and more excellent than any other; being animated by a rational
soul, and is set in the first place; so we read of (vya rvb) , "the
flesh of man", for mankind, (Job 12:10) see (Exodus 30:32) .
Another flesh of beasts;
as sheep and oxen, and other beasts of the
another of fishes:
which may be observed against the Papists, who
distinguish between flesh and fish, as if there was no flesh of
fishes; and on their fast days prohibit flesh, but allow the eating
of fish; thus flesh is attributed to fishes, as here, in (Leviticus 11:11)
upon which text Aben Ezra observes, lo, fish is called flesh; but as
our doctors say, according to the custom of those times; and so it
is by the Jews, who say F20,
``all flesh is forbidden to boil in milk, (Mygd rvbm) , "except
the flesh of fishes", and locusts; and it is forbidden to
set it on a table along with cheese, except "the flesh of
fishes", and locusts:''
and another of birds;
the fowls of the air. This is another
similitude, illustrating the resurrection of the dead; and is not
designed to point out the difference between the raised bodies of
the righteous, and the wicked; as if the former were signified by
the flesh of men, and the other by the flesh of beasts, fishes, and
birds; nor among the wicked themselves, with whom there will be
degrees of punishment; nor among the saints, as if the flesh of one
should differ from that of another. The intent of this simile is
only to show, that the resurrection of the dead will be in real
flesh, in their own flesh, in the selfsame flesh, as to substance,
with which they were clothed when on earth; but that it will, as to
its qualities, be different from it, as one sort of flesh is now
from another; and that if God can, as he does, make different sorts
of flesh, and yet all for kind are flesh, there is no difficulty in
conceiving, that God is able to raise the dead in their own flesh,
and yet different from what it now is; being free from all weakness,
frailty, corruption, and mortality.
F20 Misn. Cholin, c. 8. sect. 1.
The New John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible Modernised and adapted for the computer by Larry Pierce of Online Bible. All Rightes Reserved, Larry Pierce, Winterbourne, Ontario.
A printed copy of this work can be ordered from: The Baptist Standard Bearer, 1 Iron Oaks Dr, Paris, AR, 72855
Gill, John. "Commentary on 1 Corinthians 15:39". "The New John Gill Exposition of the Entire Bible". <http://classic.studylight.org/com/geb/view.cgi?book=1co&chapter=015&verse=039>. 1999.