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”。

The Fact of Christ’s Resurrection

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

For (F)I delivered to you [b]as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died (G)for our sins (H)according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was (I)raised on the third day (J)according to the Scriptures, and that (K)He appeared to (L)Cephas, then (M)to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some (N)have fallen asleep; then He appeared to [c](O)James, then to (P)all the apostles; and last of all, as [d]to one untimely born, (Q)He appeared to me also. For I am (R)the least of the apostles, [e]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, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and (X)if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified [f]against God that He (Y)raised [g]Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, 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 those also who (AA)have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are (AB)of all men most to be pitied.

The Order of Resurrection

20 But now 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 came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For (AG)as in Adam all die, so also in [h]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 the (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 evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. 28 When (AR)all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that (AS)God may be all in all.

29 Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them? 30 Why are we also (AT)in danger every hour? 31 I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, (AU)I die daily. 32 If [i]from human motives I (AV)fought with wild beasts at (AW)Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, (AX)let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. 33 (AY)Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 34 (AZ)Become sober-minded [j]as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have (BA)no knowledge of God. (BB)I speak 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 [k]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 men, and another flesh of beasts, and 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, and 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 [l](BI)a perishable body, it is raised [m](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 soul.” The (BO)last Adam became 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, [n](BR)earthy; the second man is from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, (BS)so also are those who are heavenly. 49 Just as we have (BT)borne the image of the earthy, [o]we (BU)will also bear the image of the heavenly.

The Mystery of Resurrection

50 Now I say this, brethren, that (BV)flesh and blood cannot (BW)inherit the kingdom of God; nor does [p]the perishable inherit [q](BX)the imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a (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 [r]imperishable, and (CC)we will be changed. 53 For this [s]perishable must put on [t](CD)the imperishable, and this (CE)mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this [u]perishable will have put on [v]the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “(CF)Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 (CG)O death, where is your victory? O death, where 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 brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in (CM)the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:2 Lit to what word I
  2. 1 Corinthians 15:3 Lit among the first
  3. 1 Corinthians 15:7 Or Jacob
  4. 1 Corinthians 15:8 Lit to an untimely birth
  5. 1 Corinthians 15:9 Lit who am
  6. 1 Corinthians 15:15 Or concerning
  7. 1 Corinthians 15:15 I.e. the Messiah
  8. 1 Corinthians 15:22 I.e. the Messiah
  9. 1 Corinthians 15:32 Lit according to man
  10. 1 Corinthians 15:34 Lit righteously
  11. 1 Corinthians 15:37 Lit some of the rest
  12. 1 Corinthians 15:42 Lit in corruption
  13. 1 Corinthians 15:42 Lit in incorruption
  14. 1 Corinthians 15:47 Lit made of dust
  15. 1 Corinthians 15:49 Two early mss read let us also
  16. 1 Corinthians 15:50 Lit corruption
  17. 1 Corinthians 15:50 Lit incorruption
  18. 1 Corinthians 15:52 Lit incorruptible
  19. 1 Corinthians 15:53 Lit corruptible
  20. 1 Corinthians 15:53 Lit incorruption
  21. 1 Corinthians 15:54 V 53, note 1
  22. 1 Corinthians 15:54 V 53, note 2

15 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet 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 which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?

31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:

37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:

38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.

40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.

48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.