The Chronology Paradox: Death First (Phtháno) vs. Life First (Phthártos) ⏳
The shocking difficulty lies in reconciling two different Greek terms Paul uses when discussing the timing of the faithful who are alive at Christ’s return versus those who have died.
1. The Shock of Precedence: The Word Phtháno ($\phi\theta\alpha ́\nu\omega$)
In 1 Thessalonians 4:15, Paul states a crucial chronological fact regarding Christ’s coming:
“For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede [$\phi\theta\alpha ́\nu\omega$, phtháno] those who have fallen asleep.”
- Meaning of Phtháno: The word phtháno means “to come sooner than,” “to anticipate,” or “to get ahead of.”
- Theological Focus: Paul is primarily assuring the Thessalonians that the deceased saints are not at a disadvantage. The living believers will not receive their glorified bodies sooner or get ahead of the dead. The dead in Christ are first in line for the resurrection.
- The Shocking Implication: The dead are not to be anticipated or preceded. This guarantees that the dead will be resurrected first, before the living are transformed.
Phtháno is the chronological guarantee that the dead are first.
2. The Condition of Transformation: The Word Phthartos ($\phi\theta\alpha\rho\tau o ́\varsigma$)
In 1 Corinthians 15:53, Paul explains why the living cannot precede the dead, but must undergo a change:
“For this perishable [$\phi\theta\alpha\rho\tau o ́\varsigma$, phthartos] must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
- Meaning of Phthartos: This word means “perishable,” “corruptible,” or “subject to decay.” It shares a similar root with phtháno, meaning to “perish” or “pass away.”
- The Shocking Paradox: The body of the living believer is still perishable (phthartos) right up until the last trumpet. It is only the body of the dead believer that is immediately ready for resurrection upon Christ’s return, having already passed through the process of physical death and decay, and awaiting the re-creation. The dead are “asleep” but their corruption process is complete. The living must have their corruption instantaneously interrupted and overcome.
The paradox is this: while the dead are guaranteed to be resurrected first (phtháno is negated), the living must be transformed instantly because their body is perishable (phthartos) and cannot inherit the Kingdom in its current state. The order is based on the necessity of completing the transformation from corruptible to incorruptible.
The Eschatological Conclusion
The paradox resolves into a single, breathtaking event:
- The Dead are Raised First (Chronology): The dead are resurrected, fulfilling the phtháno negation.
- The Living are Changed Instantly (Condition): The living believers, whose bodies are still phthartos (perishable), are immediately transformed in the same moment, “in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52).
The entire event is instantaneous, with the resurrection of the dead being the act of divine precedence that guarantees no one is left behind.
The Return Question
If the transformation of the living is dependent on the instantaneous removal of the ‘perishable’ substance (phthartos), what specific area of moral corruption in your life are you treating as a minor issue, failing to grasp that no perishable element can survive or participate in the coming of the Lord?