Explanation of 1 Corinthians 15:24-28
In this passage, the apostle Paul describes the culmination of Christ’s redemptive work and the final victory of God’s kingdom. It is part of a larger argument concerning the resurrection, where Paul demonstrates that Christ’s resurrection is not only the foundation of the believer’s hope but also the means by which God will bring about the ultimate subjection of all things under His rule.
1 Corinthians 15:24 – The Final Consummation of Christ’s Kingdom
Paul begins by speaking of “the end,” a phrase that signals the final stage of history when Christ delivers the kingdom to God the Father. This occurs after He has destroyed every rule, authority, and power that stands in opposition to God.
This verse confirms that Christ is presently reigning as King. He has already been given all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18), and He is actively subduing His enemies through the spread of the gospel and the advance of His kingdom. However, His reign is not yet fully consummated because sin, rebellion, and death still exist in the present world.
When Paul speaks of Christ delivering the kingdom to the Father, he is referring to the completion of Christ’s mediatorial reign. This does not mean that Christ ceases to reign altogether, but rather that His role as the mediator between God and man reaches its final fulfillment. Christ reigns now as the One who intercedes for His people, subdues His enemies, and applies the benefits of His atoning work. When all things are brought into subjection, He will hand over the kingdom to the Father, signifying the full restoration of God’s perfect rule over creation.
This statement reflects a biblical pattern seen throughout Scripture:
- God originally ruled over creation in an unmediated way.
- After the fall, His rule was mediated through covenants, kings, and ultimately through Christ.
- In the final state, God’s rule will be directly manifested once again in a glorified creation.
Thus, Paul is describing the completion of redemptive history, when Christ’s work as the mediator of the New Covenant reaches its intended goal, and the kingdom is restored in its fullest expression.
1 Corinthians 15:25 – Christ’s Ongoing Reign Until All Enemies Are Subdued
Paul states that Christ must reign until He has put all enemies under His feet. This echoes Psalm 110:1, where God tells the Messiah, “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool.” This is one of the most frequently quoted Old Testament passages in the New Testament, emphasizing that Christ is currently reigning and progressively bringing His enemies under submission.
The word “until” does not imply that Christ’s reign will come to an end, but rather that there is a goal that must be achieved. He will continue reigning in this present age until the last enemy—death—is abolished. This is crucial for understanding eschatology. Christ is not waiting to begin His reign at some future millennial kingdom; He is reigning now and actively subduing all things. His reign is not postponed but ongoing.
How does Christ subdue His enemies?
- Through the preaching of the gospel, as sinners are converted and brought into submission to Him (Acts 26:18).
- Through His sovereign rule over history, as He directs all things to their appointed end (Ephesians 1:20-22).
- Through His final judgment, when all who refuse to bow to Him in repentance will be cast into eternal punishment (Revelation 20:11-15).
The progressive nature of Christ’s kingdom aligns with the amillennial understanding of eschatology. Unlike premillennialism, which expects a future earthly reign of Christ, or postmillennialism, which anticipates an era of Christian dominion before Christ’s return, amillennialism recognizes that Christ’s kingdom is already present and growing amidst the present world, awaiting its final consummation at His return.
1 Corinthians 15:26 – The Destruction of the Last Enemy: Death
Paul identifies death as the final enemy to be abolished. This is significant because death is the great consequence of sin (Romans 6:23). Though Christ has defeated the power of death through His resurrection, death itself still exists in this present age. Believers still die, and creation still groans under the curse of sin (Romans 8:20-22).
However, at the final resurrection, death will be completely destroyed. This is vividly described in Revelation 20:14, where death itself is thrown into the lake of fire. At that moment, believers will be raised in glorified bodies, and mortality will be swallowed up by life (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). This is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan—where the effects of sin are fully and finally reversed, and God’s people enjoy eternal life without the possibility of death ever returning.
The destruction of death is a direct fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Isaiah 25:8 promises that God will “swallow up death forever,” and Hosea 13:14 declares that He will “redeem His people from the power of the grave.” Paul sees these prophecies as reaching their ultimate fulfillment in Christ’s final victory.
1 Corinthians 15:27 – The Universal Subjection of All Things to Christ
Paul affirms that God has put everything under Christ’s feet, citing Psalm 8:6. This means that all creation is subject to Christ’s rule. However, Paul adds an important clarification: when Scripture says that “all things” are subjected to Christ, this does not include God the Father Himself. Christ’s authority is delegated by the Father, meaning that He reigns as the appointed ruler over creation, but He remains distinct from the Father in His role.
This verse highlights the functional order within the Trinity. The Father is the source of all things, the Son is the mediator through whom all things are reconciled, and the Spirit applies this work. There is no competition or inferiority within the Godhead—only perfect harmony in fulfilling God’s eternal plan.
1 Corinthians 15:28 – The Son’s Final Act of Submission to the Father
Once all things are subjected to Christ, He will in turn subject Himself to the Father, so that “God may be all in all.” This does not mean that Christ ceases to reign, but that His mediatorial role reaches its completion. Christ, as the incarnate Son, has been ruling as the representative of His people and the mediator of the New Covenant. Once His work is fully accomplished, He presents the kingdom to the Father, signifying the restoration of God’s perfect rule over creation.
This verse does not teach any inferiority within the Trinity. Rather, it speaks of Christ’s voluntary submission in His role as the incarnate mediator. Christ remains fully God, but His specific role as the one who brings creation into submission to the Father reaches its fulfillment.
The phrase “God may be all in all” points to the final, unchallenged reign of God over His redeemed creation. This echoes passages like Revelation 21:3-4, where God dwells fully with His people, and every trace of sin, rebellion, and death is removed. In this new creation, God’s glory fills all things, and His perfect reign is fully realized.
Conclusion: The Triumph of Christ’s Reign
1 Corinthians 15:24-28 presents a breathtaking vision of the final triumph of Christ’s kingdom. It affirms that Christ is already reigning and subduing His enemies, leading up to the final destruction of death at the resurrection. At that point, Christ will present the fully restored kingdom to the Father, signifying the completion of redemption.
This passage reinforces the amillennial understanding of Christ’s reign—He is currently ruling, His kingdom is expanding, and His final victory is assured. For believers, this provides great hope. Though we still live in a fallen world, the outcome is certain: Christ will triumph, death will be defeated, and we will reign with Him in a perfected creation. This is the glorious future secured by the resurrection of Christ, and it is the hope that sustains His people as they await His return.
Leave a comment