³ For ^(A)I handed down to you ^[a]as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died ^(B)for our sins ^(C)according to the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He was ^(D)raised on the third day ^(E)according to the Scriptures,

¹² Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there ^(A)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 ^(B)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 ^[a]against God that He ^(C)raised ^[b]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; ^(D)you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Then also those who ^(E)have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If we have hoped in Christ only in this life, we are ^(F)of all people most to be pitied.

The Order of Resurrection

²⁰ But the fact is, Christ ^(G)has been raised from the dead, the ^(H)first fruits of those who ^(I)are asleep.

The Mystery of Resurrection

⁵⁰ Now I say this, brothers and sisters, that ^(A)flesh and blood cannot ^(B)inherit the kingdom of God; nor does ^[a]the perishable inherit ^[b](C)the imperishable. ⁵¹ Behold, I am telling you a ^[c](D)mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be ^(E)changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for ^(F)the trumpet will sound, and ^(G)the dead will be raised ^[d]imperishable, and ^(H)we will be changed. ⁵³ For this ^[e]perishable must put on ^[f](I)the imperishable, and this ^(J)mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ But when this ^[g]perishable puts on ^[h]the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: “^(K)Death has been swallowed up in victory. ^55 (L)Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” ⁵⁶ The sting of ^(M)death is sin, and ^(N)the power of sin is the Law; ⁵⁷ but ^(O)thanks be to God, who gives us the ^(P)victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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