Lexical Summary choikos: Earthly, of the earth, made of dust Original Word: χοϊκός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance earthy. From choos; dusty or dirty (soil-like), i.e. (by implication) terrene -- earthy. see GREEK choos HELPS Word-studies 5517 xoikós (an adjective, derived from xoos, "made of earth, dust") – properly, earthy, dusty (made of dust); (figuratively) temporal, passing away; transient, "earthly." All four occasions of 5517 /xoikós ("of dust, earthly") occur in 1 Cor 15:47-49. 1 Corinthians 15: "The earthly" . . . incomplete without "the heavenly" 1 Cor 15:50: "Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable" (NASU). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chous Definition earthy, made of dust NASB Translation earthy (4). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5517: χοϊκόςχοϊκός, χοικη χοικον (χοῦς, which see), made of earth, earthy: 1 Corinthians 15:47-49. (γυμνοί τούτους τοῦ χοϊκοῦ βαρους, Anon. in Walz, Rhett. i., p. 613, 4; (Hippolytus haer. 10, 9, p. 314, 95).) Topical Lexicon Root Imagery of Dust in Scripture The language of dust underscores the frailty and transience of human life. Genesis 2:7 records that Adam was “formed… from the dust of the ground,” and Genesis 3:19 echoes, “For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Psalms 103:14 reflects the same reality: “For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” Against this background, the adjective translated “earthly” in 1 Corinthians 15 powerfully evokes the creaturely limitations of Adam’s offspring. Occurrences in 1 Corinthians 15 1 Corinthians 15:47–49 uses the term four times, weaving it into Paul’s defense of bodily resurrection: Here Paul juxtaposes two representative heads of humanity. Adam embodies the “earthly” order marked by mortality; Christ inaugurates the “heavenly” order characterized by imperishable life. Contrast Between Earthly and Heavenly Humanities 1. Origin: Adam is fashioned from ground; Christ descends from heaven (John 6:38). Christological Significance The incarnate Son entered the dust-realm, yet without sin, to bear the curse pronounced on Adam’s race (Galatians 3:13). His resurrection demonstrates the decisive breach of dust’s dominion. Hebrews 2:14–15 affirms that by taking on flesh and blood He destroyed the one holding the power of death. Thus the “earthly” is not merely negated but redeemed and elevated in Christ. Eschatological Assurance Believers “shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52). The likeness of the earthly man is temporal; the likeness of the heavenly man is eternal. Philippians 3:21 assures that the Savior “will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.” This hope anchors Christian perseverance amid suffering and mortality. Anthropology and Sanctification Awareness of humanity’s dust-nature fosters humility (James 4:14) and dependence on divine grace. Simultaneously, the pledge of a heavenly likeness motivates ethical living: “Just as He who called you is holy, so be holy” (1 Peter 1:15). The moral transformation wrought by the Spirit previews the bodily transformation to come (Romans 8:11, 23). Pastoral and Liturgical Applications • Funerals: The reminder “dust to dust” confronts mourners with mortality while pointing to resurrection hope. Historical Reception Early Fathers such as Irenaeus highlighted the Adam–Christ typology to refute Gnostic denigration of the material body. Augustine used the passage to emphasize original sin and grace. Reformers grounded assurance of resurrection in the same textual contrast, while Puritans employed the imagery to cultivate sober God-fearing living. Contemporary theology still draws on this term to affirm bodily resurrection against dualistic or spiritualizing tendencies. Related Biblical Themes Dust (Genesis 18:27), Breath of Life (Job 34:14–15), Mortality (Ecclesiastes 12:7), New Creation (Revelation 21:1–4), First and Last Adam (Romans 5:14–21), Glorification (Romans 8:30). Summary Strong’s Greek 5517 spotlights the tension between mortal origin and immortal destiny. It reminds believers of their humble beginning and glorious future, grounding Christian hope in the victorious Second Adam and shaping life, ministry, and worship until “the mortal puts on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:54). Forms and Transliterations χοικοι χοϊκοί χοικος χοϊκός χοικου χοϊκού χοϊκοῦ choikoi choïkoí choikos choïkós choikou choïkoûLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Corinthians 15:47 Adj-NMSGRK: ἐκ γῆς χοϊκός ὁ δεύτερος NAS: is from the earth, earthy; the second KJV: the earth, earthy: the second INT: out of earth made of dust the second 1 Corinthians 15:48 Adj-NMS 1 Corinthians 15:48 Adj-NMP 1 Corinthians 15:49 Adj-GMS Strong's Greek 5517 |
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