The Resurrection of the Dead

¹² But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead,^(A) how can some of you say that there is no resurrection^(B) of the dead?^{(C) 13} If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised,^(D) 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.^(E) 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.^{(F) 18} Then those also who have fallen asleep^(G) in Christ are lost. ¹⁹ If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.^(H)

²⁰ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,^(I) the firstfruits^(J) of those who have fallen asleep.^{(K) 21} For since death came through a man,^(L) the resurrection of the dead^(M) comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.^{(N) 23} But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits;^(O) then, when he comes,^(P) those who belong to him.^{(Q) 24} Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom^(R) to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.^{(S) 25} For he must reign^(T) until he has put all his enemies under his feet.^{(U) 26} The last enemy to be destroyed is death.^{(V) 27} For he “has put everything under his feet.”^[a](W) Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.^{(X) 28} When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him,^(Y) so that God may be all in all.^(Z)

²⁹ Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? ³⁰ And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?^{(AA) 31} I face death every day^(AB)—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. ³² If I fought wild beasts^(AC) in Ephesus^(AD) with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,

³³ Do not be misled:^(AF) “Bad company corrupts good character.”^{[c](AG) 34} Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God^(AH)—I say this to your shame.^(AI)

The Resurrection Body

³⁵ But someone will ask,^(AJ) “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?”^{(AK) 36} How foolish!^(AL) What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.^{(AM) 37} When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. ³⁸ But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body.^{(AN) 39} Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. ⁴⁰ There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. ⁴¹ The sun has one kind of splendor,^(AO) the moon another and the stars another;^(AP) and star differs from star in splendor.

⁴² So will it be^(AQ) with the resurrection of the dead.^(AR) The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;^{(AS) 43} it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory;^(AT) it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; ⁴⁴ it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.^(AU)

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”^[d];^(AV) the last Adam,^(AW) a life-giving spirit.^{(AX) 46} The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.^{(AY) 47} The first man was of the dust of the earth;^(AZ) the second man is of heaven.^{(BA) 48} As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven.^{(BB) 49} And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man,^(BC) so shall we^[e] bear the image of the heavenly man.^(BD)

⁵⁰ I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood^(BE) cannot inherit the kingdom of God,^(BF) nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.^{(BG) 51} Listen, I tell you a mystery:^(BH) We will not all sleep,^(BI) but we will all be changed^(BJ)— ⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound,^(BK) the dead^(BL) will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For the perishable^(BM) must clothe itself with the imperishable,^(BN) and the mortal with immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”^[f](BO)

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin,^(BQ) and the power of sin is the law.^{(BR) 57} But thanks be to God!^(BS) He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.^(BT)

⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,^(BU) because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.^(BV)

The Collection for the Lord’s People

16 Now about the collection^(BW) for the Lord’s people:^(BX) Do what I told the Galatian^(BY) churches to do. ² On the first day of every week,^(BZ) each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.^{(CA) 3} Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve^(CB) and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. ⁴ If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.

Personal Requests

⁵ After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you^(CC)—for I will be going through Macedonia.^{(CD) 6} Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey,^(CE) wherever I go. ⁷ For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.^{(CF) 8} But I will stay on at Ephesus^(CG) until Pentecost,^{(CH) 9} because a great door for effective work has opened to me,^(CI) and there are many who oppose me.

¹⁰ When Timothy^(CJ) comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord,^(CK) just as I am. ¹¹ No one, then, should treat him with contempt.^(CL) Send him on his way^(CM) in peace^(CN) so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.

¹² Now about our brother Apollos:^(CO) I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.

¹³ Be on your guard; stand firm^(CP) in the faith; be courageous; be strong.^{(CQ) 14} Do everything in love.^(CR)

¹⁵ You know that the household of Stephanas^(CS) were the first converts^(CT) in Achaia,^(CU) and they have devoted themselves to the service^(CV) of the Lord’s people.^(CW) I urge you, brothers and sisters, ¹⁶ to submit^(CX) to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. ¹⁷ I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.^{(CY) 18} For they refreshed^(CZ) my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.^(DA)

Final Greetings

¹⁹ The churches in the province of Asia^(DB) send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla^[h](DC) greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.^{(DD) 20} All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.^(DE)

²¹ I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.^(DF)

²² If anyone does not love the Lord,^(DG) let that person be cursed!^(DH) Come, Lord^[i]!^(DI)

²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.^(DJ)

²⁴ My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.^[j]

1 Paul, an apostle^(DK) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,^(DL) and Timothy^(DM) our brother,

To the church of God^(DN) in Corinth,^(DO) together with all his holy people throughout Achaia:^(DP)

² Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.^(DQ)

Praise to the God of All Comfort

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(DR) the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us^(DS) in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. ⁵ For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ,^(DT) so also our comfort abounds through Christ. ⁶ If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation;^(DU) if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. ⁷ And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings,^(DV) so also you share in our comfort.

⁸ We do not want you to be uninformed,^(DW) brothers and sisters,^[k] about the troubles we experienced^(DX) in the province of Asia.^(DY) We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. ⁹ Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God,^(DZ) who raises the dead.^{(EA) 10} He has delivered us from such a deadly peril,^(EB) and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope^(EC) that he will continue to deliver us, ¹¹ as you help us by your prayers.^(ED) Then many will give thanks^(EE) on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.