The Resurrection of Christ

15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel^(A) I preached to you,^(B) which you received and on which you have taken your stand. ² By this gospel you are saved,^(C) if you hold firmly^(D) to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

³ For what I received^(E) I passed on to you^(F) as of first importance^[a]: that Christ died for our sins^(G) according to the Scriptures,^{(H) 4} that he was buried,^(I) that he was raised^(J) on the third day^(K) according to the Scriptures,^{(L) 5} and that he appeared to Cephas,^[b](M) and then to the Twelve.^{(N) 6} After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.^{(O) 7} Then he appeared to James,^(P) then to all the apostles,^{(Q) 8} and last of all he appeared to me also,^(R) as to one abnormally born.

⁹ For I am the least of the apostles^(S) and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted^(T) the church of God.^{(U) 10} But by the grace^(V) of God I am what I am, and his grace to me^(W) was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them^(X)—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.^{(Y) 11} Whether, then, it is I or they,^(Z) this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

The Resurrection of the Dead

¹² But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead,^(AA) how can some of you say that there is no resurrection^(AB) of the dead?^{(AC) 13} If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised,^(AD) our preaching is useless and so is your faith. ¹⁵ More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead.^(AE) But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. ¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. ¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.^{(AF) 18} Then those also who have fallen asleep^(AG) in Christ are lost. ¹⁹ If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.^(AH)

²⁰ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,^(AI) the firstfruits^(AJ) of those who have fallen asleep.^{(AK) 21} For since death came through a man,^(AL) the resurrection of the dead^(AM) comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.^{(AN) 23} But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits;^(AO) then, when he comes,^(AP) those who belong to him.^{(AQ) 24} Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom^(AR) to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.^{(AS) 25} For he must reign^(AT) until he has put all his enemies under his feet.^{(AU) 26} The last enemy to be destroyed is death.^(AV)

The Authority of the Son

¹⁶ So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. ¹⁷ In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father^(A) is always at his work^(B) to this very day, and I too am working.” ¹⁸ For this reason they tried all the more to kill him;^(C) not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.^(D)

¹⁹ Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself;^(E) he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son^(F) and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these,^(G) so that you will be amazed. ²¹ For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,^(H) even so the Son gives life^(I) to whom he is pleased to give it. ²² Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,^{(J) 23} that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.^(K)

²⁴ “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me^(L) has eternal life^(M) and will not be judged^(N) but has crossed over from death to life.^{(O) 25} Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come^(P) when the dead will hear^(Q) the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. ²⁶ For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life^(R) in himself. ²⁷ And he has given him authority to judge^(S) because he is the Son of Man.

²⁸ “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming^(T) when all who are in their graves will hear his voice ²⁹ and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.^{(U) 30} By myself I can do nothing;^(V) I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just,^(W) for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.^(X)