1 Corinthians 15

Paul’s Gospel and the Resurrection of Christ

1 Now I make known to you, brothers, the gospel which I proclaimed to you, which you have also received, in which you also stand,2 by which you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the message I proclaimed to you, unless you believed to no purpose.3 For I passed on to you as of first importancet what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised up on the third day according to the scriptures,5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve,6 then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, the majority of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep.7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,8 and last of all, as it were to one born at the wrong time, he appeared also to me.9 For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been in vain, but I labored even more than all of them, and not I, but the grace of God with me.

11 Therefore whether I or those, in this way we preached, and in this way you believed.

Concerning the Resurrection of the Dead

12 Now if Christ is preached as raised up from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, Christ has not been raised either.14 But if Christ has not been raised, thent our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain.15 And also we are found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if after all, then, the dead are not raised.16 For if the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised either.17 But if Christ has not been raised, your faith is empty; you are still in your sins.18 And as a further result, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

19 If we have put our hopet in Christ in this life only, we are of all people most pitiable.
20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.21 For since through a man came death, also through a man came the resurrection of the dead.22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.23 But each in his own group: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s at his coming,24 then the end, when he hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when he has abolished all rule and all authority and power.25 For it is necessary for him to reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.26 The last enemy to be abolished is death.27 For “he subjected all things under his feet.”t But when it says “all things” are subjected, it is clear that the one who subjected all things to him is not included.

28 But whenever all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subjectedt to the one who subjected all things to him, in order that God may be all in all.
29 Otherwise, why do they do it, those who are being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why indeed are they being baptized on behalf of them?30 And why are we in danger every hour?31 I die every day—yes indeed, by my boasting in you,t which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord!32 If according to a human perspective I fought wild beasts at Ephesus, what benefit is it to me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.t33 Do not be deceived! “Bad company corrupts good morals.”t

34 Sober up correctly and stop sinningt, for some have no knowledge of God—I say this to your shame.

Questions Concerning the Resurrection Body

35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what sort of body do they come?”36 Foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.37 And what you sow is not the body which it will become, but you sow the bare seed, whether perhaps of wheat or of some of the rest.38 But God gives to it a body just as he wishes, and to each one of the seeds its own body.39 Not all flesh is the same, but there is one flesh of human beings, and another flesh of animals, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish,40 and heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. But the glory of the heavenly bodies is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly bodies is of another kind.

41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars, for star differs from star in glory.
42 Thus also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruptibility.43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.45 Thus also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul”;t the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.46 But the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.47 The first man is from the earth, made of earth; the second man is from heaven.48 As the one who is made of earth, so also are those who are made of earth, and as the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly.

49 And just as we have borne the image of the one who is made of earth, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 But I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood is not able to inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruptibility.51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed,52 in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.53 For it is necessary for this perishable body to put on incorruptibility, and this mortal body to put on immortality.

54 But whenever this perishable body puts on incorruptibility and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will take place:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
56 Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

58 So then, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15

1 Now I make known unto you brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received, wherein also ye stand,2 by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain.3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;4 and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures;5 and that he appeared to Cephas; then to the twelve;6 then he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain until now, but some are fallen asleep;7 then he appeared to James; then to all the apostles;8 and last of all, as to the child untimely born, he appeared to me also.9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not found vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.11 Whether then it be I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.12 Now if Christ is preached that he hath been raised from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been raised:14 and if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain.15 Yea, we are found false witnesses of God; because we witnessed of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead are not raised.16 For if the dead are not raised, neither hath Christ been raised:17 and if Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.18 Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ have perished.19 If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.20 But now hath Christ been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of them that are asleep.21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ’s, at his coming.24 Then cometh the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power.25 For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet.26 The last enemy that shall be abolished is death.27 For, He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him.28 And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all.29 Else what shall they do that are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?30 Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour?31 I protest by that glorifying in you, brethren, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.32 If after the manner of men I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what doth it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.33 Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals.34 Awake to soberness righteously, and sin not; for some have no knowledge of God: I speak this to move you to shame.35 But some one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what manner of body do they come?36 Thou foolish one, that which thou thyself sowest is not quickened except it die:37 and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not the body that shall be, but a bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other kind;38 but God giveth it a body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own.39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fishes.40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory.42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:43 it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:44 it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.45 So also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.46 Howbeit that is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; then that which is spiritual.47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is of heaven.48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed,52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.54 But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.55 O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?56 The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law:57 but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.58 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord.