Bible Truth #180 - 1 Corinthians 15:21-22

1 Corinthians 15:21-22

21  For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Here is a passage where the word “all” can easily be misunderstood.

I’m sure that most Christians will agree that with the exception of Jesus Christ, because of Adam all men, all mankind, every person who ever lived, was conceived and born with the sinful nature.  Every man who ever lived was conceived and born spiritually dead.  The problem is the verse goes on to say that in Christ all will be made alive.  And again I’m sure that most, if not every Christian, will agree that NOT all men, NOT all mankind, will be made alive, i.e. receive eternal life.

So in context, Paul is writing about a specific group of people who fall into both categories.  Who is he writing about?

Since he is writing in this passage about those whom Christ will make alive, i.e. WILL raise (John 6:44), he is writing about the Elect, all those God chose in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4), all those in whom God WILL work to make them believe (John 6:29), all those God foreknew (Romans 8:29).

Here is an accurate way of understanding this passage - For as in Adam all the Elect die, so in Christ all the Elect will be made alive.  Bottom Line - this passage is one example where ALL does not mean ALL humans, but ALL the Elect.