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」。

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.