1 Corinthians 15

Resurrection Essential to the Gospel

1 Now brothers, I want to clarify for you the gospel I proclaimed to you; you received it and have taken your stand on it. 2 You are also saved by it, if you hold to the message I proclaimed to you-unless you believed for no purpose.

3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received:
that Christ died for our sins
according to the Scriptures,

4 that He was buried,
that He was 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 over 500 brothers at one time;
most of them are still alive,
but some have fallen asleep.

7 Then He appeared to James,
then to all the apostles.

8 Last of all, as to one abnormally born,
He also appeared to me.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by God's grace I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not ineffective. However, I worked more than any of them, yet not I, but God's grace that was with me.

11 Therefore, whether it is I or they, so we proclaim and so you have believed.

Resurrection Essential to the Faith

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, "There is no resurrection of the dead"? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is without foundation, and so is your faith. 15 In addition, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified about God that He raised up Christ-whom He did not raise up if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Therefore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished.

19 If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.

Christ's Resurrection Guarantees Ours

20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 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. 25 For He must reign until He puts all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy to be abolished is death. 27 For God has put everything under His feet. But when it says "everything" is put under Him, it is obvious that He who puts everything under Him is the exception.

28 And when everything is subject to Christ, then the Son Himself will also be subject to the One who subjected everything to Him, so that God may be all in all.

Resurrection Supported by Christian Experience

29 Otherwise what will they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them? 30 Why are we in danger every hour? 31 I affirm by the pride in you that I have in Christ Jesus our Lord: I die every day! 32 If I fought wild animals in Ephesus with only human hope, what good did that do me? If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. 33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."

34 Come to your senses and stop sinning, for some people are ignorant about God. I say this to your shame.

The Nature of the Resurrection Body

35 But someone will say, "How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come?" 36 Foolish one! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And as for what you sow-you are not sowing the future body, but only a seed, perhaps of wheat or another grain. 38 But God gives it a body as He wants, and to each of the seeds its own body. 39 Not all flesh is the same flesh; there is one flesh for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is different from that of the earthly ones. 41 There is a splendor of the sun, another of the moon, and another of the stars; for [one] star differs from [another] star in splendor.

42 So it is with the resurrection of the dead:
Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption;

43 sown in dishonor, raised in glory;
sown in weakness, raised in power;

44 sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit.

46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, then the spiritual.

47 The first man was from the earth
and made of dust;
the second man is from heaven.

48 Like the man made of dust,
so are those who are made of dust;
like the heavenly man,
so are those who are heavenly.

49 And just as we have borne
the image of the man made of dust,
we will also bear
the image of the heavenly man.

Victorious Resurrection

50 Brothers, I tell you this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and corruption cannot inherit incorruption.

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 blink 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 must be clothed
with incorruptibility,
and this mortal must be clothed
with immortality.

54 When this corruptible is clothed
with incorruptibility,
and this mortal is clothed
with immortality,
then the saying that is written will take place:
Death has been swallowed up in victory.

55 Death, where is your victory?
Death, where 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 Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord's work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

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.