1 Corinthians 15:28

Finally God will be the head of everything (cf. Romans 11:36). The earthly millennial kingdom will end and everything will merge into the eternal kingdom of God (cf. Isaiah 9:7; Luke 1:33). [Note: Cf. Saucy, The Case . . ., pp. 321-22.] Some interpreters believe the kingdom Paul referred to is Christ’s present cosmic lordship that he exercises from heaven. [Note: E.g., C. E. Hill, "Paul’s Understanding of Christ’s Kingdom in 1 Corinthians 15:20-28," Novum Testamentum 30:4 (October 1988):297-320.] But this view does not harmonize well with biblical eschatology. Christ will be submissive to His Father forever. This is the central passage that affirms the eternal functional (not ontological) subordination of the Son to the Father (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:22-23; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Mark 13:32; Mark 14:62; John 1:1; John 14:28; John 17:24; Ephesians 3:21; Philippians 2:9-11; Philippians 4:19-20). [Note: John V. Dahms, "The Subordination of the Son," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 37:3 (September 1994):351-64.] The Resurrection set in motion a chain of events that will ultimately culminate in the death of death. Then God will continue being what He has always been: "all in all."

"The meaning seems to be that there will no longer be need of a Mediator: all relations between Creator and creatures, between Father and offspring, will be direct." [Note: Robertson and Plummer, p. 358.]

In this pericope Paul traced the career of Christ from His resurrection to His final exaltation, which will occur at the end of the present heavens and earth. Undoubtedly he intended his readers to identify with the Savior since he had taught them that believers reproduce the experiences of their Lord when they reproduce His attitudes and actions. In view of what lies ahead, how foolish it would be to deny the resurrection of the body. This passage clarifies the true significance of Easter.