Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I would say that the imagery of death being swallowed referred to the total and complete manner in which Christ's victory over death through His resurrection did away with the eternal consequences of death (separation from God) that had existed prior to that time for humans.

Instead, humans could now share in Christ's victory by placing their faith in His sinless life, atoning death, and resurrection, rather than in their own imperfect works or righteousness, for reconciliation to God and the attainment of eternal life, which had previously been unattainable due the universality of human sin.

Following Christ's resurrection, death's finality had been abolished as surely as an object in the mouth disappears after being consumed or swallowed.

February 21 2020 • 4 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

Of course, death swallows up all the strength of life. Who can number the victims of materialism, alcoholism and licentiousness? Even spiritual sins exercise their influence on corporal life; envy is a rottenness of the bones (Prov 14:30) Herman Bavinck

The Brown, Driver, and Briggs (BDB) Lexicon says, "swallow" (בָּלַע = bala). It is used "object reflexive in sense Ecclesiastes 10:12; = annihilate Isaiah 25:7-8." 

But death is to be swallowed up in victory. "The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces” (Isa. 25:7–8 niv, Wiersbe). Aren't you looking forward to hearing a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

October 21 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What did Isaiah and Paul mean by "swallowing death"?

Isaiah 25:8; Rotherham Bible:

Having swallowed up death itself victoriously, my Lord Yahweh will wipe away tears from off all faces, and the reproach of his own people will he remove from off all the earth, for Yahweh hath spoken.

In Isaiah 25:8, the prophetic promise is made that God "will actually swallow up death forever, and the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will certainly wipe the tears from all faces." The sting producing death is sin (1Co 15:56), and thus all who have sin and its accompanying imperfection have death working in their bodies. (Ro 7:13, 23, 24) The abolition of death, therefore, would require the abolition of that which produces death: sin. By the removal of the last trace of sin from obedient mankind, the authority of death will be abolished and death itself will be destroyed, and this is to be accomplished during the reign of Christ. (1Co 15:24-26) Thereby, death, brought upon the human race by Adam's transgression, "will be no more." (Ro 5:12; Re 21:3, 4)

Isaiah 25:8 prophesies God's final judgment and eternal kingdom, where "He will swallow up death forever" and wipe away tears." This symbolises the annihilation of death and the end of suffering. 

1 Cor 15:54; Rotherham Bible:

"But whensoever this mortal shall clothe itself with immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, 'Death hath been swallowed up victoriously.'"

The Greek word a·tha·na·siʹa is formed by the negative prefix a followed by a form of the word for "death" (thaʹna·tos). Thus, the basic meaning is "deathlessness," referring to the quality of life enjoyed, its endlessness and indestructibility. (1Co 15:53, 54, ftn; 1Ti 6:16, ftn) The Greek word a·phthar·siʹa, meaning "incorruption," refers to that which cannot decay or be corrupted, that which is imperishable.​—Ro 2:7; 1Co 15:42, 50, 53; Eph 6:24; 2Ti 1:10.

Paul references Isaiah 25:8 in 1 Corinthians 15:54 to explain the hope of resurrection and eternal life in Christ, stating, "Death is swallowed up in victory". He connects this to Christ's victory over death, promising a transformation to an imperishable body and the end of pain and sorrow. 

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul quotes Isaiah and uses the phrase to explain the significance of Jesus' resurrection.

He presents the resurrection of Christ as the foundational moment where death is "swallowed up in victory".

For Paul, this means that death no longer holds its power over believers, and those who have faith in Christ will be given immortal bodies, thereby gaining victory over death through him. 

2 Cor 5:4. --Rotherham Bible

"And verily we who are in the tent do sigh being weighed down, while yet we are not wishing to unclothe ourselves but to clothe ourselves over, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life." 

Paul meant that God, through Jesus Christ's resurrection, would completely and permanently destroy the power of death and its eternal consequences. God will "swallow up death" in a figurative sense, meaning that death will no longer have victory or finality over believers, and it will be replaced by eternal life. 

For Paul, this means that death no longer holds its power over believers, and those who have faith in Christ will be given immortal bodies, thereby gaining victory over death through him. 

2 Corinthians 5:4: Paul reiterates this hope with slightly different wording: "what is mortal may be swallowed up by life". In this chapter, Paul compares the earthly body to a temporary "tent". He expresses a desire not to be left "unclothed" (a disembodied state at death), but to be "further clothed" with a heavenly, resurrected body.

Both Isaiah and Paul use the phrase to envision a time when death —the ultimate enemy —is entirely and permanently abolished by God's divine power.

3 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report