The Fact of Christ’s Resurrection

15 Now ^(A)I make known to you, brothers and sisters, the ^(B)gospel which I preached to you, which you also received, ^(C)in which you also stand, ² by which you also are saved, ^(D)if you hold firmly to ^[a]the word which I preached to you, ^(E)unless you believed in vain.

³ For ^(F)I handed down to you ^[b]as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died ^(G)for our sins ^(H)according to the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He was ^(I)raised on the third day ^(J)according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that ^(K)He appeared to ^[c](L)Cephas, then ^(M)to the twelve. ⁶ After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some ^(N)have fallen asleep; ⁷ then He appeared to ^[d](O)James, then to ^(P)all the apostles; ⁸ and last of all, as ^[e]to one untimely born, ^(Q)He appeared to me also. ⁹ For I am ^(R)the least of the apostles, ^[f]and not fit to be called an apostle, because I ^(S)persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by ^(T)the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I ^(U)labored even more than all of them, yet ^(V)not I, but the grace of God with me. ¹¹ Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

¹² Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there ^(W)is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; ¹⁴ and ^(X)if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, your faith also is in vain. ¹⁵ Moreover, we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified ^[g]against God that He ^(Y)raised ^[h]Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. ¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised; ¹⁷ and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; ^(Z)you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Then also those who ^(AA)have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If we have hoped in Christ only in this life, we are ^(AB)of all people most to be pitied.

The Order of Resurrection

²⁰ But the fact is, Christ ^(AC)has been raised from the dead, the ^(AD)first fruits of those who ^(AE)are asleep. ²¹ For since ^(AF)by a man death came, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. ²² For ^(AG)as in Adam all die, so also in ^[i]Christ all will be made alive. ²³ But each in his own order: Christ ^(AH)the first fruits, after that ^(AI)those who are Christ’s at ^(AJ)His coming, ²⁴ then comes the end, when He hands over ^(AK)the kingdom to our ^(AL)God and Father, when He has abolished ^(AM)all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For He must reign ^(AN)until He has put all His enemies under His feet. ²⁶ The last enemy that will be ^(AO)abolished is death. ²⁷ For ^(AP)He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “^(AQ)All things are put in subjection,” it is clear that ^[j]this excludes the Father who put all things in subjection to Him. ²⁸ When ^(AR)all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that ^(AS)God may be all in all.

²⁹ For otherwise, what will those do who are baptized ^[k]for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized ^[l]for them? ³⁰ Why are we also ^(AT)in danger every hour? ³¹ I affirm, brothers and sisters, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, that ^(AU)I die daily. ³² If ^[m]from human motives I ^(AV)fought with wild beasts at ^(AW)Ephesus, what good is it to me? If the dead are not raised, ^(AX)let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. ^33 (AY)Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” ^34 (AZ)Sober up ^[n]morally and stop sinning, for some have ^(BA)no knowledge of God. ^(BB)I say this to your shame.

³⁵ But ^(BC)someone will say, “How are ^(BD)the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” ^36 (BE)You fool! That which you ^(BF)sow does not come to life unless it dies; ³⁷ and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of ^[o]something else. ³⁸ But God gives it a body just as He wished, and ^(BG)to each of the seeds a body of its own. ³⁹ All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of mankind, another flesh of animals, another flesh of birds, and another of fish. ⁴⁰ There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. ⁴¹ There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

^42 (BH)So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown ^[p](BI)a perishable body, it is raised ^[q](BJ)an imperishable body; ⁴³ it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in ^(BK)glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; ⁴⁴ it is sown a ^(BL)natural body, it is raised a ^(BM)spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ So also it is written: “The first ^(BN)man, Adam, became a living ^[r]person.” The ^(BO)last Adam was a ^(BP)life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶ However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first man is ^(BQ)from the earth, ^[s](BR)earthy; the second man is from heaven. ⁴⁸ As is the earthy one, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly one, ^(BS)so also are those who are heavenly. ⁴⁹ Just as we have ^(BT)borne the image of the earthy, ^[t]we ^(BU)will also bear the image of the heavenly.

The Mystery of Resurrection

⁵⁰ Now I say this, brothers and sisters, that ^(BV)flesh and blood cannot ^(BW)inherit the kingdom of God; nor does ^[u]the perishable inherit ^[v](BX)the imperishable. ⁵¹ Behold, I am telling you a ^[w](BY)mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be ^(BZ)changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for ^(CA)the trumpet will sound, and ^(CB)the dead will be raised ^[x]imperishable, and ^(CC)we will be changed. ⁵³ For this ^[y]perishable must put on ^[z](CD)the imperishable, and this ^(CE)mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ But when this ^[aa]perishable puts on ^[ab]the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: “^(CF)Death has been swallowed up in victory. ^55 (CG)Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” ⁵⁶ The sting of ^(CH)death is sin, and ^(CI)the power of sin is the Law; ⁵⁷ but ^(CJ)thanks be to God, who gives us the ^(CK)victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

^58 (CL)Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in ^(CM)the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Instructions and Greetings

16 Now concerning ^(CN)the collection for ^[ac](CO)the saints, as ^(CP)I directed the churches of ^(CQ)Galatia, so you are to do as well. ² On ^(CR)the first day of every week, each of you is to ^[ad]put aside and save as he may prosper, so that ^(CS)no collections need to be made when I come. ³ When I arrive, ^(CT)whomever you approve, I will send them with letters to take your gift to Jerusalem; ⁴ and if it is appropriate for me to go also, they will go with me.

⁵ But I ^(CU)will come to you after I go through ^(CV)Macedonia; for I ^(CW)am going through Macedonia, ⁶ and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may ^(CX)send me on my way wherever I go. ⁷ For I do not want to see you now ^(CY)just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time, ^(CZ)if the Lord permits. ⁸ But I will remain in ^(DA)Ephesus until ^(DB)Pentecost; ⁹ for a ^(DC)wide door ^[ae]for effective service has opened to me, and ^(DD)there are many adversaries.

¹⁰ Now if ^(DE)Timothy comes, see that he ^[af]has no reason to be afraid while among you, for he is doing ^(DF)the Lord’s work, as I also am. ^11 (DG)So do not look down on him, anyone. But ^(DH)send him on his way ^(DI)in peace, so that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brothers.

¹² Now concerning our brother ^(DJ)Apollos, I strongly encouraged him to come to you with the brothers; and it was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has the opportunity.

^13 (DK)Be on the alert, ^(DL)stand firm in the faith, ^(DM)act like men, ^(DN)be strong. ¹⁴ All that you do must be done ^(DO)in love.

¹⁵ Now I urge you, brothers and sisters: you know the ^(DP)household of Stephanas, that ^[ag]they are the ^(DQ)first fruits of ^(DR)Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to ^(DS)ministry to ^(DT)the ^[ah]saints; ¹⁶ I urge that ^(DU)you also be subject to such as these and to everyone who helps in the work and labors. ¹⁷ I rejoice over the ^[ai](DV)coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because they have ^[aj]supplied ^(DW)what was lacking on your part. ¹⁸ For they ^(DX)have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore ^(DY)acknowledge such men.

¹⁹ The churches of ^[ak](DZ)Asia greet you. ^(EA)Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with ^(EB)the church that is in their house. ²⁰ All the brothers and sisters greet you. ^(EC)Greet one another with a holy kiss.

²¹ The greeting is in ^(ED)my own hand—that of Paul. ²² If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be ^[al](EE)accursed. ^[am](EF)Maranatha! ^23 (EG)The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. ²⁴ My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Introduction

1 Paul, ^(EH)an apostle of ^(EI)Christ Jesus ^(EJ)by the will of God, and our brother ^(EK)Timothy,

To ^(EL)the church of God which is at ^(EM)Corinth with all the ^[an]saints who are throughout ^(EN)Achaia:

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

^3 (EP)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and ^(EQ)God of all comfort, ⁴ who ^(ER)comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in ^[ao]any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For just ^(ES)as the sufferings of Christ are ^[ap]ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. ⁶ But if we are afflicted, it is ^(ET)for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; ⁷ and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that ^(EU)as you are partners in our sufferings, so also you are in our comfort.

⁸ For ^(EV)we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of our ^(EW)affliction which occurred in ^[aq](EX)Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life. ^9 [ar]Indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, ¹⁰ who ^(EY)rescued us from so great a danger of death, and will rescue us, He ^[as](EZ)on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, ¹¹ if you also join in ^(FA)helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by ^(FB)many persons in our behalf for the favor granted to us through the prayers of many.

Paul’s Integrity

¹² For our ^[at]proud confidence is this: the testimony of ^(FC)our conscience, that in holiness and ^(FD)godly sincerity, ^(FE)not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you. ¹³ For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand ^(FF)until the end; ¹⁴ just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours, on ^(FG)the day of our Lord Jesus.

¹⁵ In this confidence I intended at first to ^(FH)come to you, so that you might ^[au]twice receive a ^[av](FI)blessing; ^16 [aw]that is, to ^(FJ)pass ^[ax]your way into ^(FK)Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be ^(FL)helped on my journey to Judea. ¹⁷ Therefore, I was not vacillating when I intended to do this, was I? Or what I decide, do I decide ^(FM)according to the flesh, so that with me there will be ^[ay]yes, yes and no, no at the same time? ¹⁸ But as ^(FN)God is faithful, ^(FO)our word to you is not yes and no. ¹⁹ For ^(FP)the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us—by me and ^(FQ)Silvanus and ^(FR)Timothy—was not yes and no, but has been yes ^(FS)in Him. ²⁰ For ^(FT)as many as the promises of God are, ^(FU)in Him they are yes; therefore through Him also is ^(FV)our Amen to the glory of God through us. ²¹ Now He who ^(FW)establishes us with you in Christ and ^(FX)anointed us is God, ²² who also ^(FY)sealed us and ^(FZ)gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a ^[az]pledge.

²³ But ^(GA)I call God as witness to my soul, that it was ^(GB)to spare you that I did not come again to ^(GC)Corinth. ²⁴ Not that we ^(GD)domineer over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are ^(GE)standing firm.

Reaffirm Your Love

2 But I decided this ^[ba]for my own sake, that I ^(GF)would not come to you in sorrow again. ² For if I ^(GG)cause you sorrow, who then will be the one making me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me? ³ This is the very thing I ^(GH)wrote you, so that ^(GI)when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having ^(GJ)confidence in you all that my joy was the joy of you all. ⁴ For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I ^(GK)wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.

⁵ But ^(GL)if anyone has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not for me, but in some degree—^[bb]not to say too much—for all of you. ⁶ Sufficient for such a person is ^(GM)this punishment which was imposed by the majority, ⁷ so that on the other hand, you should rather ^(GN)forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a person might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. ⁸ Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. ⁹ For to this end ^(GO)I also wrote, so that I might ^[bc](GP)put you to the test, whether you are ^(GQ)obedient in all things. ¹⁰ But one whom you forgive anything, I also forgive; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did so for your sakes ^(GR)in the presence of Christ, ¹¹ so that no advantage would be taken of us by ^(GS)Satan, for ^(GT)we are not ignorant of his schemes.

¹² Now when I came to ^(GU)Troas for the ^(GV)gospel of Christ and when a ^(GW)door was opened for me in the Lord, ¹³ I ^(GX)had no rest for my spirit, not finding ^(GY)Titus my brother; but ^(GZ)saying goodbye to them, I went on to ^(HA)Macedonia.

^14 (HB)But thanks be to God, who always ^(HC)leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us reveals the ^(HD)fragrance of the ^(HE)knowledge of Him in every place. ¹⁵ For we are a ^(HF)fragrance of Christ to God among ^(HG)those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: ^16 (HH)to the one an ^[bd]aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is ^(HI)adequate for these things? ¹⁷ For we are not like the many, ^[be](HJ)peddling the word of God, but ^(HK)as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ ^(HL)in the sight of God.

Ministers of a New Covenant

3 Are we beginning to ^(HM)commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, ^(HN)letters of commendation to you or from you? ^2 (HO)You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all people, ³ revealing yourselves, that you are a letter of Christ, ^[bf](HP)delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of ^(HQ)the living God, not on ^(HR)tablets of stone but on ^(HS)tablets of ^[bg](HT)human hearts.

⁴ Such is the ^(HU)confidence we have toward God through Christ. ⁵ Not that we are adequate in ourselves so as to consider anything as having come from ourselves, but ^(HV)our adequacy is from God, ⁶ who also made us adequate as ^(HW)servants of a ^(HX)new covenant, not of ^(HY)the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but ^(HZ)the Spirit gives life.

⁷ But if the ^(IA)ministry of death, engraved ^(IB)in letters on stones, came ^[bh]with glory ^(IC)so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, ⁸ how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? ⁹ For if ^(ID)the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ^(IE)ministry of righteousness excel in glory. ¹⁰ For indeed what had glory in this case has no glory, because of the glory that surpasses it. ¹¹ For if that which fades away was ^[bi]with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

^12 (IF)Therefore, having such a hope, ^(IG)we use great boldness in our speech, ¹³ and we are not like Moses, ^(IH)who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not stare at the end of what was fading away. ¹⁴ But their minds were ^(II)hardened; for until this very day at the ^(IJ)reading of ^(IK)the old covenant the same veil ^[bj]remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. ¹⁵ But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts; ^16 (IL)but whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where ^(IM)the Spirit of the Lord is, ^(IN)there is freedom. ¹⁸ But we all, with unveiled faces, ^(IO)looking as in a mirror at the ^(IP)glory of the Lord, are being ^(IQ)transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from ^(IR)the Lord, the Spirit.

Paul’s Apostolic Ministry

4 Therefore, since we have this ^(IS)ministry, as we ^(IT)received mercy, we ^(IU)do not lose heart, ² but we have renounced the ^(IV)things hidden because of shame, not walking in trickery nor ^(IW)distorting the word of God, but by the open proclamation of the truth ^(IX)commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in the sight of God. ³ And even if our ^(IY)gospel is ^(IZ)veiled, it is veiled ^[bk]to ^(JA)those who are perishing, ⁴ in whose case ^(JB)the god of ^(JC)this ^[bl]world has ^(JD)blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that ^[bm]they will not see the ^(JE)light of the gospel of the ^(JF)glory of Christ, who is the ^(JG)image of God. ⁵ For we ^(JH)do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants ^[bn]on account of Jesus. ⁶ For God, who said, “^(JI)Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has ^(JJ)shone in our hearts to give the ^(JK)Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

⁷ But we have this treasure in ^[bo](JL)earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of ^(JM)the power will be of God and not from ourselves; ⁸ we are ^(JN)afflicted in every way, but not ^(JO)crushed; ^(JP)perplexed, but not despairing; ^9 (JQ)persecuted, but not ^(JR)abandoned; ^(JS)struck down, but not destroyed; ^10 (JT)always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that ^(JU)the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who live are constantly being handed over to death because of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. ¹² So death works in us, but life in you.

¹³ But having the same ^(JV)spirit of faith, according to what is written: “^(JW)I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, ¹⁴ knowing that He who ^(JX)raised the Lord Jesus ^(JY)will also raise us with Jesus, and will ^(JZ)present us with you. ¹⁵ For all things are ^(KA)for your sakes, so that grace, having ^[bp](KB)spread to more and more people, will cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

¹⁶ Therefore we ^(KC)do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our ^(KD)inner person is ^(KE)being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our momentary, ^(KF)light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ while we ^(KG)look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The Temporal and Eternal

5 For we know that if our ^[bq](KH)earthly ^(KI)tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house ^(KJ)not made by hands, eternal in the heavens. ² For indeed, in this tent we ^(KK)groan, longing to be ^(KL)clothed with our ^[br]dwelling from heaven, ³ since in fact after putting it on, we will not be found naked. ⁴ For indeed, we who are in this tent ^(KM)groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be ^(KN)clothed, so that what is ^(KO)mortal will be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who ^(KP)gave us the Spirit as a ^[bs]pledge.

⁶ Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that ^(KQ)while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— ⁷ for ^(KR)we walk by faith, not by ^[bt]sight— ⁸ but we are of good courage and ^(KS)prefer rather to be absent from the body and ^(KT)to be at home with the Lord. ⁹ Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be ^(KU)pleasing to Him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before ^(KV)the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for ^[bu]his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.

¹¹ Therefore, knowing the ^(KW)fear of the Lord, we persuade people, but we are well known to God; and I hope that we are also ^(KX)well known in your consciences. ¹² We are not commending ourselves to you ^(KY)again, but are giving you an ^(KZ)opportunity to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart. ¹³ For if we have ^(LA)lost our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. ¹⁴ For the love of Christ ^(LB)controls us, having concluded this, that ^(LC)one died for all, therefore all died; ¹⁵ and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer ^(LD)live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf.

¹⁶ Therefore from now on we recognize no one ^[bv](LE)by the flesh; even though we have known Christ by the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore if anyone is ^(LF)in Christ, this person is ^(LG)a new ^[bw]creation; ^(LH)the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. ¹⁸ Now ^(LI)all these things are from God, ^(LJ)who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ^(LK)ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ namely, that ^(LL)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, ^(LM)not counting their wrongdoings against them, and ^[bx]He has ^[by]committed to us the word of reconciliation.

²⁰ Therefore, we are ^(LN)ambassadors for Christ, ^(LO)as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be ^(LP)reconciled to God. ²¹ He made Him who ^(LQ)knew no sin to be ^[bz](LR)sin in our behalf, so that we might become the ^(LS)righteousness of God in Him.