1 Corinthians 6:14 Meaning: Raised Up
Now God raised up the Lord, and will also raise us up by his power.
And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
and God both raised the Lord, and will raise up us through his power.
and God both the Lord did raise, and us will raise up through His power.
And God has both raised up the Lord, and will raise us up from among [the dead] by his power.
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Paul connect our future resurrection with sexual purity in 1 Corinthians 6:14?
Context
Paul is writing to believers in Corinth, a city where sexual immorality was woven into everyday life. In this chapter, he has already warned them against taking each other to court. Now he turns to a deeper problem: some in the church were using a popular slogan, "all things are lawful for me", to justify sleeping with prostitutes. They argued that the body didn't matter, comparing it to food that passes away.
Paul pushes back hard. He says the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. Then he gives the reason: God raised Christ from death, and He will raise us too. This verse is the foundation for everything that follows. It ties present purity to future hope.
Key Words
Two Greek words anchor this promise. The verb for "will raise up" is exegeirei, a compound that means "to raise out", not just lifting someone up, but pulling them out from among the dead. It suggests a resurrection that is specific, personal, and complete. Your body is not left behind; it is brought out of the grave.
The word for "power" is dunamis, the same root that gives us "dynamite." But here it's not an explosion; it's the quiet, unstoppable ability of God. The same dunamis that raised Christ is at work for you. This is not a maybe. It is a certainty grounded in who God is.
Together, these words say: your body has a future, and it takes God's own power to get it there. That changes how you treat your body today.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have long agreed that Paul uses the resurrection as a moral argument here, but they have drawn distinct emphases. Calvin and other Reformed interpreters stress how unseemly it is for a body destined for glory to be profaned by sin. Wesleyan commentators like Adam Clarke see Christ's resurrection as a pledge, a guarantee that believers will share in that same life.
The Cambridge Bible notes an interesting detail: the Greek uses different verbs for Christ's resurrection and ours. Christ's is simple; ours is a compound form ("raise out"), perhaps pointing to our rescue from corruption.
Some early commentators debated whether "his power" refers to the Father or to Christ. Both are seen as working together. The common thread across traditions is confidence: because God raised Jesus, He will certainly raise us.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers treat this verse as a detached promise about the far-off future, a nice thought that has nothing to do with how they live today. In fact, Paul places it right in the middle of an argument about sexual purity. He is saying: "Because God will raise your body, do not use it for immorality." The future hope is not a distraction from right living; it is the reason for it. Your body matters too much to be thrown away.
Living This Out
This week, when you feel pressure to treat your body as disposable, whether through sexual temptation, neglect, or shame, remember that God has a future for it. You are not just a soul waiting to escape; you are a whole person who will be raised. In a moment of temptation, try saying quietly to yourself: "My body is for the Lord, and He will raise me up. I am not free to give myself away." That one thought can break the lie that physical actions don't matter.
Main takeaway: Because God raised Christ and has promised to raise our bodies too, our bodies matter to God and are not for sin.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God made your body and loves it. One day He will make it new and strong. You can take care of your body because it belongs to Him.
For ages 9, 12
Some people think God only cares about our souls, but the Bible says He will raise our bodies from the dead, just like Jesus. That means your body is important to God. When you feel pressure to use your body in a way that dishonors Him, remember that He has a wonderful plan for it. The way you treat your body matters to God because He made it and will raise it up.
Questions People Ask
What does 1 Corinthians 6:14 mean?
Paul is reminding believers that God raised Jesus from the dead and will also raise us. He uses this truth to argue that our bodies are not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord. The resurrection of our bodies gives them lasting value, so we should honor God with them now.
How does the resurrection relate to sexuality in this verse?
Paul connects the two directly. Some Corinthians thought the body was temporary and didn't matter ethically. Paul says no, because our bodies will be raised, they are destined for a future with God. Therefore, using them for sexual sin is a betrayal of that destiny. The resurrection makes our bodies sacred and significant.
Is this verse about the resurrection of the dead?
Yes. It affirms both Christ's resurrection and the future resurrection of believers. The same power that raised Jesus will raise us. This is a core Christian hope, and Paul treats it as a settled fact that should shape how we live today.
Who is 'us' in this verse?
'Us' refers to believers in Christ, those who have been washed, sanctified, and justified (as Paul describes in verse 11). It includes all who belong to Christ by faith. Paul is not speaking about everyone in general but about those who are united to the Lord.
What is the context of 1 Corinthians 6:14?
Paul is correcting a problem in the Corinthian church: some believers were visiting prostitutes and justifying it with the idea that the body doesn't matter. In verses 12, 20, he argues that the body is for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. He uses the resurrection, both Christ's and ours, as the foundation for why we must flee sexual immorality and glorify God with our bodies.
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