Since none of the commentators is universalist, they all understand it to mean that all who are in Christ will be made alive. This doesn't technically rule out ECT, if you think the whole of 15 only describes what happens to Christians. That seems unlikely since it seems pretty clear it's giving Paul's whole vision of what will happen. It does permit universalism or conditional immortality.
These are the main principles I see in 1Co 15:
- All the dead will be resurrected.
- those who are alive will be changed.
- death will be eliminated.
1Co 15 is about resurrection of the dead. But before getting there, it is useful to quote a short passage about the resurrection from Thessalonians:
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
15 For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
This is a short summary of the whole process but 1Co 15 is a 58-verse chapter and gives us more information.
1Co 15:21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man.
22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
This is the 1st axiom I listed above: All will be made physically alive. But we should not stop there but rather compare the following:
Rom 5:18 So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone.
19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
Through Adam, all got condemnation (Rom) and death (1Co). Through Christ, all got justification (Rom) and resurrection (1Co).
Thus the vivification we receive from Christ is not only the resurrection of the body, but also justification.
1Co 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ.
24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power.
These verses seem to indicate that there a sequence in the resurrection of the dead, (1) Christ Himself, the firstfruits; (2) the faithful in Christ at His coming; (3) all the rest of mankind at the end, when the final judgment takes place.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy to be abolished is death.
This is the third axiom. Death will be abolished. The expression supports that all everyone would have been resurrected, not only Christians. The Apostle concludes his thoughts about the restoration of all things in v. 28, adds concluding remarks in v. 29-34, then starts to describe the resurrection body in v. 35. He asserts that a material body made of flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Then we get to the verses under question.
1Co 15:51 Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed,
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
53 For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality.
54 When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place:
Death has been swallowed up in victory. 55 Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting?
This is the 2nd axiom mentioned above. Everyone will be changed. All people will have incorruptible spiritual bodies. Then, and only then, victoroy can be completed and death completely conquered.
There is absolutely no way that death could be completely conquered if only Christians are resurrected, as some of your sources indicate.
I've actually found all of these discussions on eternal fate useful. I've learned a lot, more from my own investigations to prepare responses, than from actual postings.
Yes, this is how discussions are supposed to work: send us back to our study
.