20 ¶ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
If its is the PHYSICAL body of Christ that the gospel speaks of in 1 Cor. 15:3-4 AND if it is the PHYSICAL bodily resurrection that the apostles were eyewitnesses of in 1 Cor. 15:5-11 AND if it is the PHYSICAL body of Jesus Christ that must have overcome physical death in 1 Cor. 15:12-19 or else both living and "the dead" believer's faith is vain (those already "in Christ") and still in their sins, then it is the PHYSICAL body of Christ that has "risen from THE DEAD" and become "THE FIRSTFRUITS" of them that slept" sa the only hope of "the dead" and only object of their faith to overcome death!
Do you know the meaning of "firstfruits"? It is the first part of the harvest with a fuller harvest yet to follow it. If its is the firstfruits of a barley harvest then it is barely that is gathered as "firstfruit" and it is barely that will be gathered at the full harvest.
It is the PHYSICAL BODY that was raised from the dead that is the "firstfruits" and therefore it must be the PHYSICAL BODIES of "them that slept" which must be raised in the full gathering.
Surely, no one is going to argue that Christ was SPIRITUALLY dead and had to be raised to SPIRITUAL LIFE?
Surely, no one is going to argue that those already "in Christ" which sleep are SPIRITUALLY DEAD and must be raised to SPIRITUAL life???? The only rational conclusion is that it is the PHYSICAL BODILY resurrection of "the dead" which are "in Christ" who sleep will be raised due to the "firstfruits" of Christ's physical body having been raised!
I might would argue that when Jesus dismissed his spirit unto the hands of the Father, Jesus was soul dead, in a corruptible body and that before/after three days and three nights were in the past Spirit life took his soul from Hades, in an incorruptible body.
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, (Jesus, the once living soul) being put to death in the flesh, but
quickened by the Spirit: 1 Peter 3:18 with an added note.
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam (Whose soul was not left in Hades) was made a
quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; (the once living soul Jesus whose soul was not left in Hades) and afterward (after the resurrection) that which is spiritual. 1 Cor 15:45,46
I believe Jesus does have the preeminence as the firstborn from the dead, does he not?