"Baptized unto Moses" what does this mean? It is not talking about physical be baptized in WH2O. Rather, Israel had submitted to Moses, "sphere of authority" as God gave him. The Israelites by this event, left Egypt, escaped from Pharaoh, and entered upon their march, in a corporate "body of Moses." The term, "baptized into Moses" gives us a lucid idea of what Paul meant by being covenant.
During the transition period when the Old Covenant was fading away. At this time, the saints were being Baptized in the corporate "body of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12) This is speaking about position, not only practice. This is a corporate body of believers wherein Christ is the head. We must read the Bible and think in terms of covenants.
This is very important to understand in order to get past the false idea of a physical bodily resurrection in scripture . By and far most commentators say and assume that Paul is talking about the physical body. It's kind of crazy to me how many commentators don't even deal with the “corporate body of Moses” and “corporate body of Christ" in scripture they just assume Paul is always addressing a physical body. Often, in the things, that are overlooked God expresses deep truths.
With that thought in mine before we get into how Paul used the metaphor “ body” let see how he used another metaphor “house” in relations to covenants. Hebrews 3:5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward. Moses was faithful in all His house or covenant as a servant. Now notice what is said about Christ is the head over his house or covenant. Hebrews 3:6 NIV But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. Notice here it says, WE ARE HIS HOUSE. The house is made up of a corporate body of believers. It is NOT a literal house. It is NOT a physical body. It is a spiritual house of believers.
I don’t believe Paul change the subject when he address a tent or house in (2 Corinthians 5:1-4) Acts 18:3 tells us that Paul was a professional Tentmaker. What does Paul mean when he writes about living in a tent or a house? Is he talking about a real literal tent or house? No, so why is it assumed Paul jumps into talking about our physical human body. I believe he is talking about the same corporate “house of Moses.” The old "tent or house of Moses was being made useless, and being torn down. Peter also used this same corporate language in 1 Peter 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
The Bible never contradicts itself. To declare (a proposition, statement, etc.) opposite of (a proposition, or statement), made somewhere else in the Bible. The Bible is clear our physical bodies returns to the earth and our spirits returns to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7 Psalms. 146:4.
Therefore, Paul never contradicts what was written in ECC 12:7 and Psa. 146:4 which was his Bible at the time. With this thought before us, lest look at 1 Corinthians 15:53-54 NASB For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. In Paul's argument in this chapter he has been talking about two bodies. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. (1 Corinthians 15:44 NASB)
Now lets see what two bodies Paul was talking about here. So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam became a LIFE GIVING SPIRIT. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. (1 Corinthians 15:45-46 NASB) Here again Paul is using CORPORATE BODY language. The body of Adam and the body of Christ. Because of Adam’s sin all humanity was in the mortal corporate body of Adam. In the corporate body of Christ all humanity was made alive and put on immortality.
All that are in the first Adam put on immortality in the second Adam Christ. Notice what is swallowed up. And when this corruptible may have put on incorruption, and this mortal may have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the word that hath been written, `The Death was swallowed up to victory; (1 Corinthians 15:54 YLT) This is the death that came from Adam. So in the context of chapter 15 mortal is connected with the corporate body of Adam, as opposed to the immortality corporate body of Christ.
Alright, let's look at how Paul uses this word glory or glorious in terms of covenant change. For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. (2 Corinthians 3:9 NASB) This verse is much clearer in YLT. for if that which is being made useless is through glory, much more that which is remaining is in glory. (2 Corinthians 3:11 YLT)
And in Romans 8:18-19 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. And in Philippians 3:12 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. This should be clear that Paul is contrasting the two covenants.
If it be argued that the creation here is the earthly creation. When did the earthly creation eagerly waiting to be called the sons of God? (Roman 8:19) The earthly creation was never in bondage of corruption and waiting the adoption, the redemption of the body. The corporate body of Moses was and they were waiting the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:21-26)
The Bible never contradicts itself. To declare (a proposition, statement, etc.) opposite of (a proposition, or statement), made some where else in the Bible. The Bible is clear our physical bodies returns to the earth and our spirits returns to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7 Psalms. 146:4.
Therefore, Paul never contradicts what was written in ECC 12:7 and Psa. 146:4 which was his Bible at the time. With this thought before us, lest look at 1 Corinthians 15:53-54 NASB For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. In Paul's argument in this chapter he has been talking about two bodies. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. (1 Corinthians 15:44 NASB)
Now lets see what two bodies Paul was talking about here. So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam became a LIFE GIVING SPIRIT. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. (1 Corinthians 15:45-46 NASB) Here again Paul is using CORPORATE BODY language. The body of Adam and the body of Christ. Because of Adam’s sin all humanity was in the mortal corporate body of Adam. In the corporate body of Christ all humanity was made alive and put on immortality.
All that are in the first Adam put on immortality in the second Adam Christ. Notice what is swallowed up. and when this corruptible may have put on incorruption, and this mortal may have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the word that hath been written, `The Death was swallowed up to victory; (1 Corinthians 15:54 YLT) This is the death that came from Adam. So in the context of chapter 15 mortal is connected with the corporate body of Adam, as opposed to the immortality corporate body of Christ.
Alright, let's look at how Paul uses this word glory or glorious in terms of covenant change. For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. (2 Corinthians 3:9 NASB) This verse is much clearer in YLT. for if that which is being made useless is through glory, much more that which is remaining is in glory. (2 Corinthians 3:11 YLT)
And in Romans 8:18-19 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. And in Philippians 3:12 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. This should be clear that Paul is contrasting the two covenants.
If it be argued that the creation here is the earthly creation. When did the earthly creation eagerly waiting to be called the sons of God? (Roman 8:19) The earthly creation was never in bondage of corruption and waiting the adoption, the redemption of the body. The corporate body of Moses was and they were waiting the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:21-26)
Paul has been talking about the change of covenants. Now let's look at how he used the"metaphor body" to speak about the change of covenants. He hasn't switched his topic between the corporate body of Adam and Moses and Christ to a physical, biological bodies, he is still talking about covenant identity. Now, lest look Phil. 3 21 a little deeper. who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
The first thing that should be obvious is the statement “our vile body” or our body of “humiliation,” which is the true meaning of the word vile. "Body" here is singular, he is not talking about plural bodies. The "our bodies" plural, but "our body" singular the corporate body of Moses. If Paul were talking bout the transformation of individual bodies Paul would have said “our bodies plural.” The fact is that in this text the body is one or singular, and it was composed of as many members waiting for the body of humiliation “corporate body of Moses” to be transformed into the glorious “corporate body of Christ.” The vile body singular, (not bodies) was waiting to be transformed into the glorious body singular, of Christ (Philippians 3:12)
The purchased possession was the body of humiliation waiting for the change, manifestation of the sons of God. (Roman 8:18:23) The redemption of our body (not bodies) in Roman 8:23 is equated with our vile body (not bodies) in Philippians 3:21 and corresponds to the redemption of purchased possession in Eph 1:14. We today ARE the sons of God and HAVE redemption and we are waiting for it so these things do not apply to us today.
Certainly, if Paul wanted us to understand that he meant bodies plural in the above verses he would have used it as he did in Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. And in Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
When Paul talks about being baptized in Moses and in Christ. This shows us that the physical people of Israel who made up the Old Covenant were the corporate body of Moses. And those who put their trust in Christ become part of the corporate body of Christ. In Romans 7:4 Paul is telling these believing Jews not to put themselves under the Law now that they are part of the body of Christ.
Paul uses this language all over the New Testament, it is mostly ignored.
However, Paul uses the metaphor “ body ” as a corporate body of Adam and corporate body of Moses. We are the corporate body of Christ, and members individually 1Cr 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. Could Paul concept of the corporate body with many individuals be made any more clear than what he says in this verse?
