基督的復活

15 弟兄姊妹,我希望你們記住我傳給你們的福音,就是你們曾經領受,向來堅持的福音。 你們若持守我傳給你們的,必因這福音而得救——除非你們沒有真正相信。

我所領受並傳給你們的最重要的信息是:基督照聖經的記載為我們的罪死了, 然後被埋葬了;又照聖經的記載在第三天復活了, 並曾向彼得顯現,又向十二使徒顯現; 後來有一次向五百多位弟兄姊妹顯現,其中有許多至今依然健在,也有些已經安息了; 隨後,祂向雅各顯現,又向眾使徒顯現; 到最後,竟也向我這好像未按產期出生[a]的人顯現。

在眾使徒中我最微不足道,根本不配稱為使徒,因為我曾迫害上帝的教會。 10 但靠著上帝的恩典,我成了今天的我,祂賜給我的恩典沒有枉費。我比其他人更加賣力,不過我不是靠自己,而是上帝的恩典與我同在。 11 不論是我傳的還是其他使徒傳的,我們怎樣傳,你們也怎樣相信了。

死人復活

12 既然我們一直都在傳揚基督已經從死裡復活,怎麼你們當中卻有些人否定死人復活的事呢? 13 要是沒有死人復活的事,基督也就沒有復活。 14 如果基督沒有復活,我們所傳的就是虛空,你們所信的也是虛空, 15 而且,我們就是在為上帝做假見證,因為我們見證上帝已經使基督復活了。如果沒有死人復活的事,上帝也就沒有叫基督復活。 16 如果人死了不會復活,基督也就沒有復活。 17 如果基督沒有復活,你們的信仰就是虛空,你們依舊沉淪在罪中, 18 那些在基督裡安息的人也滅亡了。 19 如果我們對基督的盼望只在今世,我們就是世上最可憐的人。

20 然而,基督已經從死裡復活,祂是死人中第一個復活的[b] 21 既然死亡的到來是藉著一人,復活的到來也是藉著一人。 22 因為正如在亞當裡眾人都死了,同樣,在基督裡眾人也都要復活。 23 然而,各人要按照先後次序復活。基督最先復活,以後祂再來時,屬祂的人也要復活。 24 最後末日來臨,那時基督會廢除一切執政的、掌權的、有能力的,將國度交給父上帝。 25 因為基督必執掌王權,直到上帝將所有的仇敵都放在祂腳下。 26 祂最後要毀滅的仇敵就是死亡。 27 因為聖經上說:「上帝使萬物降服在祂腳下。」當然,這裡說的「萬物都降服祂」不包括使萬物降服祂的上帝。 28 到了萬物都歸服基督以後,聖子基督也要歸服那使萬物歸服祂的上帝,使上帝做萬物的主宰。

29 否則,那些人代替死人受洗有什麼意義呢?死人如果不會復活,為什麼要代替他們受洗呢? 30 我們又何必時刻身臨險境呢? 31 我天天與死亡搏鬥。弟兄姊妹,我這樣說,就跟我在主基督耶穌裡以你們為榮一樣,沒有半點虛假。 32 從人的角度看,我在以弗所與那些「惡獸」格鬥對我有什麼益處呢?如果死人不會復活,「讓我們吃喝吧!因為明天我們就死了。」 33 你們不要上當受騙,「交壞朋友會敗壞好品德」。 34 你們該醒悟了!不要繼續犯罪,因為你們當中有些人不認識上帝。我說這話是要叫你們羞愧。

復活後的身體

35 或許有人會問:「死人怎樣復活呢?復活後會有怎樣的身體呢?」 36 無知的人啊!你們種下的種子必須先死,然後才能生長。 37 而且,你們種下的並不是那將來要長成的形體,僅僅是種子,或麥種,或其他種子。 38 上帝按自己的旨意賜給種子形體,每個種子都有自己的形體。 39 血肉之體各不相同,人、魚、鳥、獸都各有不同的形體。

40 此外,有天上的形體,也有地上的形體,兩者的榮光各不相同。 41 日有日的榮光,月有月的榮光,星有星的榮光,這顆星和那顆星的榮光也有分別。

42 死人復活也是同樣的道理。種下去的會朽壞,復活的不會朽壞; 43 種下去的是羞恥的,復活的是榮耀的;種下去的是軟弱的,復活的是剛強的; 44 種下去的是血肉之軀,復活的是屬靈的形體。既有血肉之軀,也必有屬靈的形體。 45 聖經上也說:「第一個亞當成了有生命的人」,但末後的亞當是賜人生命的靈。 46 先有的不是屬靈的形體,而是血肉之軀,以後才有屬靈的形體。 47 第一個人亞當來自地上,是用塵土造的,但第二個人基督來自天上。 48 塵土所造的那位是什麼樣,屬地的人也是什麼樣;從天而來的那位是什麼樣,屬天的人也是什麼樣。 49 我們既然有屬地的形像,將來也必有屬天的形像。

50 弟兄姊妹,我告訴你們,血肉之軀不能承受上帝的國,必朽壞的身體也不能承受永不朽壞的產業。 51 聽著,我要告訴你們一個奧祕:我們並不是都要死亡[c],乃是都要改變—— 52 就在一剎那,眨眼之間,最後的號角吹響的時候。因為號角一吹響,死人就要復活成為永不朽壞的,我們也要改變。 53 那時,這必朽的身體要變成不朽的,這必死的要變成不死的。 54 當這一切發生的時候,就應驗了聖經上的話:

「死亡被勝利吞滅了。」
55 「死亡啊!你得勝的權勢在哪裡?
死亡啊!你的毒鉤在哪裡?」

56 死亡的毒鉤就是罪,罪藉著律法施展它的權勢。 57 但感謝上帝,祂使我們靠著主耶穌基督得勝。

58 所以,我親愛的弟兄姊妹,你們務要堅定不移,總要竭力做主的工作,因為你們知道自己在主裡面的辛勤付出不會白費。

Footnotes

  1. 15·8 保羅用「未按產期出生」來指自己非比尋常的蒙召經歷。
  2. 15·20 是死人中第一個復活的」希臘文是「成為已經睡了之人初熟的果子」。
  3. 15·51 死亡」希臘文是「睡覺」。

Concerning The Resurrection: Christ Was Raised From The Dead And Seen By Many

15 Now I make-known to you, brothers, the good-news which I announced-as-good-news to you, which you also received, in which you also stand, through which you also are being saved— if [a] you are holding-on in that message I announced-as-good-news to you, unless[b] you believed in-vain. For I delivered to you among the first[c] things what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He has been raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to over five-hundred brothers at-one-time, of whom the majority are remaining until now. But some fell-asleep. After that He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. And last of all, as-if-indeed[d] to the untimely-born[e] one, He appeared to me also. For I am the least of the apostles— who am not fit 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 toward me did not become[f] empty[g]. But I labored even more than them all— yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 11 So whether it was I or those, thus we are proclaiming, and thus you believed.

So If Christ Was Raised, Why Do Some of You Say There Is No Resurrection?

12 But if Christ is being proclaimed[h] that He has been raised from the dead, how is it some are saying among you that there is no resurrection of dead[i] ones?

If The Dead Are Not Raised, Christ Was Not Raised, And Your Faith Is Futile

13 Now if there is no resurrection of dead ones, neither has Christ been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is also empty; your faith is also empty; 15 and we are even found to be false-witnesses of [j] God, because we testified against[k] God that He did raise Christ— Whom He did not raise if-indeed then dead ones are not raised. 16 For if dead ones are not raised, neither has Christ been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile. You are still in your sins. 18 Then also the ones having fallen-asleep in Christ perished[l]. 19 If we are ones having hoped in Christ in this life only, we are more pitiable[m] than all people.

But Christ Has Been Raised As The Firstfruit of Those Yet To Be Raised

20 But now, Christ has been raised from the dead— the firstfruit[n] of the ones having fallen-asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of dead ones also came through a man. 22 For just as in[o] Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be given-life[p], 23 but each in his own order[q]: Christ the firstfruit; after-that[r] the ones of [s] Christ at His coming. 24 Then[t] comes the end— when He hands-over the kingdom to His God and Father, when He[u] has abolished all[v] rule and all authority and power. 25 For He[w] must reign until which time He[x] has put all the enemies under His feet. 26 Death, the last enemy, is abolished[y] 27 for “He[z] subjected all things under His[aa] feet” [Ps 8:6]. But when He says[ab] that “All things have been subjected”, it is clear that this is except the One[ac] having subjected all things to Him. 28 But when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One[ad] having subjected all things to Him, in order that God may be all things in all.

Otherwise, Why Be Concerned About The Dead Or Risk Our Lives?

29 Otherwise[ae], what will the ones being baptized for[af] the dead do? If dead ones are not raised at-all, why indeed are they baptized for them? 30 Why indeed[ag] are we in danger every hour? 31 I die[ah] daily— by[ai] your boasting, brothers, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If in accordance with human[aj] thinking I fought-wild-animals[ak] at Ephesus, what is the profit to me? If dead ones are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” [Isa 22:13].

Don’t Be Deceived. Sober Up

33 Do not be deceived: bad companionships[al] corrupt good habits[am]. 34 Sober-up[an] righteously[ao] and do not be[ap] sinning, for some have an ignorance of God. I speak to your shame.

How Are The Dead Raised, And With What Kind of Body?

35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?”

What You Sow Must Die, And Then God Gives It New Life In a Different Body

36 Foolish one! What you sow is not given-life unless it dies. 37 And as to what you sow— you do not sow the body which will come, but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or of some of the rest. 38 And God gives it a body just as He willed— indeed, to each of the seeds its own body[aq]. 39 Not all flesh is the same flesh. But there is one of humans, and another flesh of livestock, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. 40 And there are heavenly[ar] bodies and earthly bodies. But the glory of the heavenly is one kind, and the glory of the earthly is different. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars. For star differs from star in glory.

So Also Is The Resurrection of The Dead. We Are Raised In a Heavenly Body

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in decay[as]; it is raised in undecayability[at]. 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[au] body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is[av] a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So also it has been written [in Gen 2:7], “The first man, Adam, became a living soul”. The Last Adam[aw] became a life-giving[ax] spirit. 46 But the spiritual body is not first— but the natural body, then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from earth, made-of-dust. The second Man is from heaven[ay]. 48 Such[az] as was the one made-of-dust— such ones also are the ones made-of-dust. And such as is the heavenly One— such ones also are the heavenly ones. 49 And just as we bore[ba] the image[bb] of the one made of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly One.

Behold, I Tell You a Mystery: We Will Not All Die, But We Will All Conquer Death

50 Now I say this, brothers: that flesh and blood are not able to inherit the kingdom of God, nor does decay inherit undecayability. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery[bc]: 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 it will trumpet, and the dead will be raised undecayable[bd], and we will be changed. 53 For this decayable body must put-on undecayability, and this mortal body must put on immortality[be]. 54 And when this decayable body puts-on undecayability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying having been written will come-about[bf]: “Death was swallowed-up in victory” [Isa 25:8]. 55 “Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your stinger?” [Hos 13:14]. 56 Now the stinger[bg] of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law[bh]. 57 But thanks be to God, the One giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

So Abound In The Work of The Lord; Your Labor Is Not In Vain

58 So then my beloved brothers, be[bi] steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not empty[bj] in the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:2 That is, assuming that. The uncertainty arises because of the issue of the resurrection addressed in this chapter.
  2. 1 Corinthians 15:2 This would indeed be the case if Christ was not raised, v 17.
  3. 1 Corinthians 15:3 Or, foremost.
  4. 1 Corinthians 15:8 Or, as-it-were. Paul adds this word because he was not in fact born late in God’s plan, but was separated from his mother’s womb, Gal 1:15.
  5. 1 Corinthians 15:8 Or, abnormally-born.
  6. 1 Corinthians 15:10 Or, prove-to-be.
  7. 1 Corinthians 15:10 Or, without result.
  8. 1 Corinthians 15:12 That is, by all these witnesses in v 5-8, and others.
  9. 1 Corinthians 15:12 That is, that their bodies will not be raised, but they will live as spirits.
  10. 1 Corinthians 15:15 That is, concerning.
  11. 1 Corinthians 15:15 That is, against the truth of God. Or, by; that is, under oath.
  12. 1 Corinthians 15:18 Or, were lost.
  13. 1 Corinthians 15:19 That is, deserving of pity.
  14. 1 Corinthians 15:20 Or, first-portion, representative.
  15. 1 Corinthians 15:22 That is, in the sphere of, in connection with.
  16. 1 Corinthians 15:22 That is, all bodies will be raised from the dead. This includes unbelievers, but they are not in view here. Or, just as all in Adam die, so also all in Christ will be given-life. In this case, Paul is comparing all humanity to all Christians, and ‘given-life’ has its full meaning.
  17. 1 Corinthians 15:23 Or, group, class, division, turn.
  18. 1 Corinthians 15:23 Or, then, next-in-order.
  19. 1 Corinthians 15:23 That is, belonging to.
  20. 1 Corinthians 15:24 Or, Next.
  21. 1 Corinthians 15:24 That is, the Son (continuing from ‘He hands-over’); or, the Father (as described in v 26-28).
  22. 1 Corinthians 15:24 Or, every ruler and every authority.
  23. 1 Corinthians 15:25 That is, the Son.
  24. 1 Corinthians 15:25 That is, the Son; or, the Father.
  25. 1 Corinthians 15:26 Or, done away with, put to an end, nullified.
  26. 1 Corinthians 15:27 That is, the Father, as in the psalm.
  27. 1 Corinthians 15:27 That is, the Son.
  28. 1 Corinthians 15:27 That is, when God says in the psalm; or, when God says at the end of time (note the change of tense to ‘have been subjected’).
  29. 1 Corinthians 15:27 That is, the Father... to the Son.
  30. 1 Corinthians 15:28 That is, the Father.
  31. 1 Corinthians 15:29 That is, if v 20-28 is not the case.
  32. 1 Corinthians 15:29 Or, on behalf of, with reference to, for the sake of, because of. Paul’s meaning is uncertain. Some think he is sarcastically referring to some pagan practice of proxy baptism familiar to the Corinthians, but otherwise unknown to us. Others think he means ‘because of the dead’, because of the influence of their lives, or to be with them.
  33. 1 Corinthians 15:30 Or, also.
  34. 1 Corinthians 15:31 That is, face death.
  35. 1 Corinthians 15:31 Paul swears with an oath. I swear by the boasting I do concerning you.
  36. 1 Corinthians 15:32 Or, with mankind.
  37. 1 Corinthians 15:32 It was illegal to throw a Roman citizen like Paul to the animals. So this was either a mob action, or Paul is speaking of his enemies metaphorically.
  38. 1 Corinthians 15:33 Or, associations. Paul is referring to those influencing ‘some’ in v 12.
  39. 1 Corinthians 15:33 Or, customs, character.
  40. 1 Corinthians 15:34 Or, Come-to-your-senses.
  41. 1 Corinthians 15:34 Or, rightly.
  42. 1 Corinthians 15:34 Or, stop sinning.
  43. 1 Corinthians 15:38 These bodies God gives take many forms and have many degrees of glory, as seen by the following examples.
  44. 1 Corinthians 15:40 That is, angelic; or, celestial.
  45. 1 Corinthians 15:42 Or, corruption, ruin, destruction.
  46. 1 Corinthians 15:42 Or, incorruptibility.
  47. 1 Corinthians 15:44 Or, material, physical.
  48. 1 Corinthians 15:44 Or, exists.
  49. 1 Corinthians 15:45 Christ is the last progenitor or head of a race.
  50. 1 Corinthians 15:45 That is, one giving resurrection life.
  51. 1 Corinthians 15:47 That is, from the spiritual realm, even though He took a body like Adam’s.
  52. 1 Corinthians 15:48 That is, as to the composition and nature of their bodies, Adam’s family takes after him, Christ’s takes after Him.
  53. 1 Corinthians 15:49 bore... bear. Or, wore... wear.
  54. 1 Corinthians 15:49 Or, likeness.
  55. 1 Corinthians 15:51 That is, a truth formerly hidden, but now revealed.
  56. 1 Corinthians 15:52 Or, imperishable, not-subject-to-decay, incorruptible.
  57. 1 Corinthians 15:53 Or, deathlessness.
  58. 1 Corinthians 15:54 Or, take-place, come-to-pass, happen.
  59. 1 Corinthians 15:56 Death delivers its poison through sin. Sin is what brings separation from God in death. Apart from sin, death is powerless.
  60. 1 Corinthians 15:56 The Law establishes the line to cross, and the penalty for doing so.
  61. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Or, become.
  62. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Or, in vain.

基督的复活

15 弟兄姊妹,我希望你们记住我传给你们的福音,就是你们曾经领受,向来坚持的福音。 你们若持守我传给你们的,必因这福音而得救——除非你们没有真正相信。

我所领受并传给你们的最重要的信息是:基督照圣经的记载为我们的罪死了, 然后被埋葬了;又照圣经的记载在第三天复活了, 并曾向彼得显现,又向十二使徒显现; 后来有一次向五百多位弟兄姊妹显现,其中有许多至今依然健在,也有些已经安息了; 随后,祂向雅各显现,又向众使徒显现; 到最后,竟也向我这好像未按产期出生[a]的人显现。

在众使徒中我最微不足道,根本不配称为使徒,因为我曾迫害上帝的教会。 10 但靠着上帝的恩典,我成了今天的我,祂赐给我的恩典没有枉费。我比其他人更加卖力,不过我不是靠自己,而是上帝的恩典与我同在。 11 不论是我传的还是其他使徒传的,我们怎样传,你们也怎样相信了。

死人复活

12 既然我们一直都在传扬基督已经从死里复活,怎么你们当中却有些人否定死人复活的事呢? 13 要是没有死人复活的事,基督也就没有复活。 14 如果基督没有复活,我们所传的就是虚空,你们所信的也是虚空。 15 而且,我们就是在为上帝做假见证,因为我们见证上帝已经使基督复活了。如果没有死人复活的事,上帝也就没有叫基督复活。 16 如果人死了不会复活,基督也就没有复活。 17 如果基督没有复活,你们的信仰就是虚空,你们依旧沉沦在罪中, 18 那些在基督里安息的人也灭亡了。 19 如果我们对基督的盼望只在今世,我们就是世上最可怜的人。

20 然而,基督已经从死里复活,祂是死人中第一个复活的[b] 21 既然死亡的到来是借着一人,复活的到来也是借着一人。 22 因为正如在亚当里众人都死了,同样,在基督里众人也都要复活。 23 然而,各人要按照先后次序复活。基督最先复活,以后祂再来时,属祂的人也要复活。 24 最后末日来临,那时基督会废除一切执政的、掌权的、有能力的,将国度交给父上帝。 25 因为基督必执掌王权,直到上帝将所有的仇敌都放在祂脚下。 26 祂最后要毁灭的仇敌就是死亡。 27 因为圣经上说:“上帝使万物降服在祂脚下。”当然,这里说的“万物都降服祂”不包括使万物降服祂的上帝。 28 到了万物都归服基督以后,圣子基督也要归服那使万物归服祂的上帝,使上帝做万物的主宰。

29 否则,那些人代替死人受洗有什么意义呢?死人如果不会复活,为什么要代替他们受洗呢? 30 我们又何必时刻身临险境呢? 31 我天天与死亡搏斗。弟兄姊妹,我这样说,就跟我在主基督耶稣里以你们为荣一样,没有半点虚假。 32 从人的角度看,我在以弗所与那些“恶兽”格斗对我有什么益处呢?如果死人不会复活,“让我们吃喝吧!因为明天我们就死了。” 33 你们不要上当受骗,“交坏朋友会败坏好品德”。 34 你们该醒悟了!不要继续犯罪,因为你们当中有些人不认识上帝。我说这话是要叫你们羞愧。

复活后的身体

35 或许有人会问:“死人怎样复活呢?复活后会有怎样的身体呢?” 36 无知的人啊!你们种下的种子必须先死,然后才能生长。 37 而且,你们种下的并不是那将来要长成的形体,仅仅是种子,或麦种,或其他种子。 38 上帝按自己的旨意赐给种子形体,每个种子都有自己的形体。 39 血肉之体各不相同,人、鱼、鸟、兽都各有不同的形体。

40 此外,有天上的形体,也有地上的形体,两者的荣光各不相同。 41 日有日的荣光,月有月的荣光,星有星的荣光,这颗星和那颗星的荣光也有分别。

42 死人复活也是同样的道理。种下去的会朽坏,复活的不会朽坏; 43 种下去的是羞耻的,复活的是荣耀的;种下去的是软弱的,复活的是刚强的; 44 种下去的是血肉之躯,复活的是属灵的形体。既有血肉之躯,也必有属灵的形体。 45 圣经上也说:“第一个亚当成了有生命的人”,但末后的亚当是赐人生命的灵。 46 先有的不是属灵的形体,而是血肉之躯,以后才有属灵的形体。 47 第一个人亚当来自地上,是用尘土造的,但第二个人基督来自天上。 48 尘土所造的那位是什么样,属地的人也是什么样;从天而来的那位是什么样,属天的人也是什么样。 49 我们既然有属地的形象,将来也必有属天的形象。

50 弟兄姊妹,我告诉你们,血肉之躯不能承受上帝的国,必朽坏的身体也不能承受永不朽坏的产业。 51 听着,我要告诉你们一个奥秘:我们并不是都要死亡[c],乃是都要改变—— 52 就在一刹那,眨眼之间,最后的号角吹响的时候。因为号角一吹响,死人就要复活成为永不朽坏的,我们也要改变。 53 那时,这必朽的身体要变成不朽的,这必死的要变成不死的。 54 当这一切发生的时候,就应验了圣经上的话:

“死亡被胜利吞灭了。”
55 “死亡啊!你得胜的权势在哪里?
死亡啊!你的毒钩在哪里?”

56 死亡的毒钩就是罪,罪借着律法施展它的权势。 57 但感谢上帝,祂使我们靠着主耶稣基督得胜。

58 所以,我亲爱的弟兄姊妹,你们务要坚定不移,总要竭力做主的工作,因为你们知道自己在主里面的辛勤付出不会白费。

Footnotes

  1. 15:8 保罗用“未按产期出生”来指自己非比寻常的蒙召经历。
  2. 15:20 是死人中第一个复活的”希腊文是“成为已经睡了之人初熟的果子”。
  3. 15:51 死亡”希腊文是“睡觉”。

Jesus Came Back to Life

15 Brothers and sisters, I’m making known to you the Good News which I already told you, which you received, and on which your faith is based. In addition, you are saved by this Good News if you hold on to the doctrine I taught you, unless you believed it without thinking it over. I passed on to you the most important points of doctrine that I had received:

Christ died to take away our sins as the Scriptures predicted.

He was placed in a tomb.

He was brought back to life on the third day as the Scriptures predicted.

He appeared to Cephas.[a] Next he appeared to the twelve apostles. Then he appeared to more than 500 believers at one time. (Most of these people are still living, but some have died.) Next he appeared to James. Then he appeared to all the apostles. Last of all, he also appeared to me.

I’m like an aborted fetus who was given life. I’m the least of the apostles. I’m not even fit to be called an apostle because I persecuted God’s church. 10 But God’s kindness[b] made me what I am, and that kindness was not wasted on me. Instead, I worked harder than all the others. It was not I who did it, but God’s kindness was with me. 11 So, whether it was I or someone else, this is the message we brought you, and this is what you believed.

We Will Come Back to Life

12 If we have told you that Christ has been brought back to life, how can some of you say that coming back from the dead is impossible? 13 If the dead can’t be brought back to life, then Christ hasn’t come back to life. 14 If Christ hasn’t come back to life, our message has no meaning and your faith also has no meaning. 15 In addition, we are obviously witnesses who lied about God because we testified that he brought Christ back to life. But if it’s true that the dead don’t come back to life, then God didn’t bring Christ back to life. 16 Certainly, if the dead don’t come back to life, then Christ hasn’t come back to life either. 17 If Christ hasn’t come back to life, your faith is worthless and sin still has you in its power. 18 Then those who have died as believers in Christ no longer exist. 19 If Christ is our hope in this life only, we deserve more pity than any other people.

20 But now Christ has come back from the dead. He is the very first person of those who have died to come back to life. 21 Since a man brought death, a man also brought life back from death. 22 As everyone dies because of Adam, so also everyone will be made alive because of Christ. 23 This will happen to each person in his own turn. Christ is the first, then at his coming, those who belong to him will be made alive. 24 Then the end will come. Christ will hand over the kingdom to God the Father as he destroys every ruler, authority, and power.

25 Christ must rule until God has put every enemy under his control. 26 The last enemy he will destroy is death. 27 Clearly, God has put everything under Christ’s authority. When God says that everything has been put under Christ’s authority, this clearly excludes God, since God has put everything under Christ’s authority. 28 But when God puts everything under Christ’s authority, the Son will put himself under God’s authority, since God had put everything under the Son’s authority. Then God will be in control of everything.

29 However, people are baptized because the dead will come back to life. What will they do? If the dead can’t come back to life, why do people get baptized as if they can come back to life?

30 Why are we constantly putting ourselves in danger? 31 Brothers and sisters, I swear to you on my pride in you which Christ Yeshua our Lord has given me: I face death every day. 32 If I have fought with wild animals in Ephesus, what have I gained according to the way people look at things? If the dead are not brought back to life, “Let’s eat and drink because tomorrow we’re going to die!” 33 Don’t let anyone deceive you. Associating with bad people will ruin decent people. 34 Come back to the right point of view, and stop sinning. Some people don’t know anything about God. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

We Will Have Bodies That Will Not Decay

35 But someone will ask, “How do the dead come back to life? With what kind of body will they come back?”

36 You fool! The seed you plant doesn’t come to life unless it dies first. 37 What you plant, whether it’s wheat or something else, is only a seed. It doesn’t have the form that the plant will have. 38 God gives the plant the form he wants it to have. Each kind of seed grows into its own form. 39 Not all flesh is the same. Humans have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds have another, and fish have still another. 40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. Heavenly bodies don’t all have the same splendor, neither do earthly bodies. 41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon has another kind of splendor, and the stars have still another kind of splendor. Even one star differs in splendor from another star.

42 That is how it will be when the dead come back to life. When the body is planted, it decays. When it comes back to life, it cannot decay. 43 When the body is planted, it doesn’t have any splendor and is weak. When it comes back to life, it has splendor and is strong. 44 It is planted as a physical body. It comes back to life as a spiritual body. As there is a physical body, so there is also a spiritual body.

45 This is what Scripture says: “The first man, Adam, became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual does not come first, but the physical and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was made from the dust of the earth. He came from the earth. The second man came from heaven. 48 The people on earth are like the man who was made from the dust of the earth. The people in heaven are like the man who came from heaven. 49 As we have worn the likeness of the man who was made from the dust of the earth, we will also wear the likeness of the man who came from heaven. 50 Brothers and sisters, this is what I mean: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. What decays cannot inherit what doesn’t decay.

51 I’m telling you a mystery. Not all of us will die, but we will all be changed. 52 It will happen in an instant, in a split second at the sound of the last trumpet. Indeed, that trumpet will sound, and then the dead will come back to life. They will be changed so that they can live forever. 53 This body that decays must be changed into a body that cannot decay. This mortal body must be changed into a body that will live forever. 54 When this body that decays is changed into a body that cannot decay, and this mortal body is changed into a body that will live forever, then the teaching of Scripture will come true:

“Death is turned into victory!
55 Death, where is your victory?
    Death, where is your sting?”

56 Sin gives death its sting, and God’s standards give sin its power. 57 Thank God that he gives us the victory through our Lord Yeshua Christ.

58 So, then, brothers and sisters, don’t let anyone move you off the foundation of your faith. Always excel in the work you do for the Lord. You know that the hard work you do for the Lord is not pointless.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:5 Cephas is the Aramaic name for the Apostle Peter.
  2. 1 Corinthians 15:10 Or “grace.”

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. 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.

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) that he was buried,(I) that he was raised(J) on the third day(K) according to the Scriptures,(L) and that he appeared to Cephas,[b](M) and then to the Twelve.(N) 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) Then he appeared to James,(P) then to all the apostles,(Q) and last of all he appeared to me also,(R) as to one abnormally born.

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) 27 For he “has put everything under his feet.”[c](AW) 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.(AX) 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him,(AY) so that God may be all in all.(AZ)

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?(BA) 31 I face death every day(BB)—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If I fought wild beasts(BC) in Ephesus(BD) with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,

“Let us eat and drink,
    for tomorrow we die.”[d](BE)

33 Do not be misled:(BF) “Bad company corrupts good character.”[e](BG) 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God(BH)—I say this to your shame.(BI)

The Resurrection Body

35 But someone will ask,(BJ) “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?”(BK) 36 How foolish!(BL) What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.(BM) 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.(BN) 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,(BO) the moon another and the stars another;(BP) and star differs from star in splendor.

42 So will it be(BQ) with the resurrection of the dead.(BR) The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;(BS) 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory;(BT) it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.(BU)

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”[f];(BV) the last Adam,(BW) a life-giving spirit.(BX) 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.(BY) 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth;(BZ) the second man is of heaven.(CA) 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.(CB) 49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man,(CC) so shall we[g] bear the image of the heavenly man.(CD)

50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood(CE) cannot inherit the kingdom of God,(CF) nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.(CG) 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery:(CH) We will not all sleep,(CI) but we will all be changed(CJ) 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound,(CK) the dead(CL) will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable(CM) must clothe itself with the imperishable,(CN) 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.”[h](CO)

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?”[i](CP)

56 The sting of death is sin,(CQ) and the power of sin is the law.(CR) 57 But thanks be to God!(CS) He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.(CT)

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

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:3 Or you at the first
  2. 1 Corinthians 15:5 That is, Peter
  3. 1 Corinthians 15:27 Psalm 8:6
  4. 1 Corinthians 15:32 Isaiah 22:13
  5. 1 Corinthians 15:33 From the Greek poet Menander
  6. 1 Corinthians 15:45 Gen. 2:7
  7. 1 Corinthians 15:49 Some early manuscripts so let us
  8. 1 Corinthians 15:54 Isaiah 25:8
  9. 1 Corinthians 15:55 Hosea 13:14