---
title: 1 Corinthians 15:25
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/1-corinthians-15-25/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/1-corinthians-15-25.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: 1 Corinthians 15:25
testament: NT
section: Letters
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# 1 Corinthians 15:25

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.

## JW Usage

JWs read "he must reign until he has put all enemies under his feet" as describing Christ's heavenly rule that began in 1914. The enemies are being progressively subdued and will be fully conquered at Armageddon, after which Christ hands the kingdom to the Father (v. 24). The "until" is taken to mean Christ's reign has a defined endpoint after which the Father resumes direct rule.

## Protestant Usage

First Corinthians 15:25 declares Christ's reign as a present, ongoing reality: "he must reign until he has put all enemies under his feet." This is one of four NT declarations that stack together — Acts 2:30 (already on David's throne), Ephesians 1:20-22 (already seated far above all rule), Matthew 28:18 (already has all authority), and 1 Corinthians 15:25 (must reign until completion). The reign began at the ascension, not in 1914. The "until" does not imply the reign stops — just as "he will be called a Nazarene" does not mean he stops being one. The passage echoes Psalm 110:1, where YHWH tells the Messiah "sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool" — language of ongoing royal authority, not a temporary appointment with an expiry date.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [The Son Hands Over the Kingdom — 1 Corinthians 15:24-28](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/1corinthians15-subjection.md) — 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 / John 17:5 / Philippians 2:9-11 [Deity of Christ]
- [Christ Is Already Reigning](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/christ-reigning-now.md) — Acts 2:30-36 / Ephesians 1:20-22 / 1 Corinthians 15:25 [Eschatology]
- [The Kingdom Was Already Here in Jesus's Ministry](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/kingdom-already-present.md) — Matthew 12:28 / Luke 17:21 — the King among us, the kingdom upon us [Eschatology]
- [The Last Enemy Is Death — and It's Last for a Reason](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/last-enemy-death-subjection-chain.md) — 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 / Revelation 20:7-15 — the chain Paul will not let break [Eschatology]