Many of the ancient Greeks, influenced especially by the philosopher Plato, viewed death as an escape of the soul from the body (which was viewed as lower than the soul and even evil). Such a view differs widely from the biblical perspective on death. The first three chapters in Genesis reveal that we were not created to die, but that death is a curse that God has placed on the world due to Adam’s sin.
In keeping with the biblical view, Paul describes death as an enemy. Like the demonic powers described in 1 Corinthians 15:24b, death has been dominating humanity since Adam. Christ conquered death with his resurrection, but he will only destroy it at his second coming. Actually, based on the verses that follow and on Psalm 110:1, it is more accurate to say that God will destroy death and put it under Christ’s feet.
1 Corinthians 15:24–28 form a neat symmetric unit, with the first part (Then comes the end
) corresponding to the last part (“that God may be all in all), the second part (when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father
) corresponding to the second last part (then the Son himself will also be subjected…
), and so forth. 1 Corinthians 15:26 is located right in the middle of this unit. In opposition to those who deny the resurrection, Paul emphasizes that death is an enemy and that it will be destroyed.
26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.