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

Síntesis del evangelio

15 Ahora les hago saber, hermanos, el evangelio que les prediqué[a](A), el cual también ustedes recibieron, en el cual también están firmes(B), por el cual también son salvos, si retienen(C) la palabra[b] que les prediqué, a no ser que hayan creído en vano(D).

Porque yo les entregué en primer lugar lo mismo que recibí(E): que Cristo[c] murió por nuestros pecados(F), conforme a las Escrituras(G); que fue sepultado y que resucitó al tercer día(H), conforme a las Escrituras(I); que se apareció a Cefas[d](J) y después a los doce(K).

Luego se apareció a más de 500 hermanos a la vez, la mayoría de los cuales viven aún, pero algunos ya duermen[e](L). Después se apareció a Jacobo[f](M), luego a todos los apóstoles(N). Y al último de todos, como a uno nacido fuera de tiempo[g], se me apareció también a mí(O).

Porque yo soy el más insignificante de los apóstoles(P), que no soy digno de ser llamado apóstol, pues perseguí a la iglesia de Dios(Q). 10 Pero por la gracia de Dios(R) soy lo que soy, y Su gracia para conmigo no resultó vana. Antes bien he trabajado mucho más que todos ellos(S), aunque no yo, sino la gracia de Dios en mí(T). 11 Sin embargo, haya sido yo o ellos, así predicamos y así creyeron ustedes.

Si Cristo no ha resucitado

12 Ahora bien, si se predica que Cristo[h] ha resucitado de entre los muertos, ¿cómo dicen algunos entre ustedes que no hay resurrección de muertos(U)? 13 Y si no hay resurrección de muertos, entonces ni siquiera Cristo ha resucitado; 14 y si Cristo no ha resucitado, vana es entonces nuestra predicación, y vana también la fe de ustedes(V). 15 Aún más, somos hallados testigos falsos de Dios, porque hemos testificado contra[i] Dios que Él resucitó a Cristo(W), a quien no resucitó, si en verdad los muertos no resucitan.

16 Porque si los muertos no resucitan, entonces ni siquiera Cristo ha resucitado; 17 y si Cristo no ha resucitado, la fe de ustedes es falsa[j]; todavía están en sus pecados(X). 18 Entonces también los que han dormido[k] en Cristo están perdidos(Y). 19 Si hemos esperado en Cristo para[l] esta vida solamente, somos, de todos los hombres, los más dignos de lástima(Z).

Cristo, garantía de la resurrección

20 Pero ahora Cristo ha resucitado de entre los muertos(AA), primicias(AB) de los que durmieron[m](AC). 21 Porque ya que la muerte entró por un hombre(AD), también por un hombre vino la resurrección de los muertos. 22 Porque así como en Adán todos mueren, también en Cristo todos serán vivificados(AE).

23 Pero cada uno en su debido orden[n]: Cristo, las primicias(AF); luego los que son de Cristo(AG) en Su venida(AH). 24 Entonces vendrá el fin, cuando Él entregue el reino(AI) al Dios y Padre(AJ), después que haya terminado[o] con todo dominio y toda autoridad y poder(AK). 25 Pues Cristo debe reinar hasta que haya puesto a todos Sus enemigos debajo de Sus pies(AL). 26 Y el último enemigo que será eliminado[p] es la muerte(AM).

27 Porque Dios ha puesto todo en sujeción bajo Sus pies(AN). Pero cuando dice que todas las cosas están sujetas a Él(AO), es evidente que se exceptúa a Aquel que ha sometido a Él todas las cosas. 28 Y cuando todo haya sido sometido a Él(AP), entonces también el Hijo mismo se sujetará a Aquel que sujetó a Él todas las cosas, para que Dios sea todo en todos(AQ).

29 De no ser así, ¿qué harán los que se bautizan por los muertos? Si de ninguna manera los muertos resucitan, ¿por qué, entonces, se bautizan por ellos? 30 Y también, ¿por qué estamos en peligro a toda hora(AR)? 31 Les aseguro, hermanos, por la satisfacción[q] que siento por ustedes en Cristo Jesús nuestro Señor, que cada día estoy en peligro de muerte[r](AS).

32 Si por motivos humanos[s] luché contra fieras(AT) en Éfeso(AU), ¿de qué me aprovecha? Si los muertos no resucitan, comamos y bebamos, que mañana moriremos(AV). 33 No se dejen engañar(AW): «Las malas compañías corrompen las buenas costumbres». 34 Sean sobrios(AX), como conviene[t], y dejen de pecar; porque algunos no tienen conocimiento de Dios(AY). Para vergüenza de ustedes lo digo(AZ).

La gloria del cuerpo resucitado

35 Pero alguien dirá(BA): «¿Cómo resucitan los muertos(BB)? ¿Y con qué clase de cuerpo vienen?». 36 ¡Necio(BC)! Lo que tú siembras no llega a tener vida si antes no muere(BD). 37 Y lo que siembras, no siembras el cuerpo que nacerá[u], sino el grano desnudo, quizás de trigo o de alguna otra especie[v]. 38 Pero Dios le da un cuerpo como Él quiso, y a cada semilla su propio cuerpo(BE).

39 No toda carne es la misma carne, sino que una es la de los hombres, otra la[w] de las bestias, otra la[x] de las aves y otra la de los peces. 40 Hay, asimismo, cuerpos celestiales y cuerpos terrestres, pero la gloria del celestial es una, y la del terrestre es otra. 41 Hay una gloria del sol, y otra gloria de la luna, y otra gloria de las estrellas; pues una estrella es distinta de otra estrella en gloria.

42 Así es también la resurrección de los muertos. Se siembra un cuerpo corruptible[y](BF), se resucita un cuerpo incorruptible[z](BG); 43 se siembra en deshonra, se resucita en gloria(BH); se siembra en debilidad, se resucita en poder; 44 se siembra un cuerpo natural(BI), se resucita un cuerpo espiritual(BJ). Si hay un cuerpo natural, hay también un cuerpo espiritual.

45 Así también está escrito: «El primer hombre, Adán, fue hecho alma viviente(BK)». El último Adán(BL), espíritu que da vida(BM). 46 Sin embargo, el espiritual no es primero, sino el natural; luego el espiritual. 47 El primer hombre es de la tierra(BN), terrenal[aa](BO); el segundo hombre es del cielo.

48 Como es el terrenal, así son también los que son terrenales; y como es el celestial, así son también los que son celestiales(BP). 49 Y tal como hemos traído la imagen del terrenal(BQ), traeremos[ab] también la imagen del celestial(BR).

La victoria final sobre la muerte

50 Esto digo, hermanos: que la carne y la sangre(BS) no pueden heredar el reino de Dios(BT); ni lo que se corrompe[ac] hereda lo incorruptible[ad](BU). 51 Así que les digo un misterio(BV): no todos dormiremos[ae], pero todos seremos transformados(BW) 52 en un momento, en un abrir y cerrar de ojos, a la trompeta final. Pues la trompeta sonará(BX) y los muertos resucitarán(BY) incorruptibles, y nosotros seremos transformados(BZ).

53 Porque es necesario que esto corruptible se vista de incorrupción, y esto mortal se vista de inmortalidad(CA). 54 Pero cuando esto corruptible se haya vestido de incorrupción, y esto mortal se haya vestido de inmortalidad, entonces se cumplirá la palabra que está escrita: «Devorada ha sido la muerte en victoria(CB). 55 ¿Dónde está, oh muerte, tu victoria? ¿Dónde, oh sepulcro[af], tu aguijón(CC)?».

56 El aguijón de la muerte es el pecado(CD), y el poder del pecado es la ley(CE); 57 pero a Dios gracias(CF), que nos da la victoria por medio de nuestro Señor Jesucristo(CG). 58 Por tanto, mis amados hermanos(CH), estén firmes, constantes[ag], abundando siempre en la obra del Señor(CI), sabiendo que su trabajo en el Señor no es en vano.

Footnotes

  1. 15:1 O anuncié.
  2. 15:2 O si se aferran a la palabra.
  3. 15:3 I.e. el Mesías.
  4. 15:5 O Pedro.
  5. 15:6 O murieron.
  6. 15:7 O Santiago.
  7. 15:8 Lit. en un nacimiento a destiempo.
  8. 15:12 I.e. el Mesías.
  9. 15:15 O de.
  10. 15:17 O sin valor.
  11. 15:18 O muerto.
  12. 15:19 Lit. en.
  13. 15:20 O murieron.
  14. 15:23 O rango.
  15. 15:24 O destruido.
  16. 15:26 O destruido.
  17. 15:31 O gloria.
  18. 15:31 Lit. muero diariamente.
  19. 15:32 Lit. según el hombre.
  20. 15:34 Lit. justamente.
  21. 15:37 Lit. que será.
  22. 15:37 Lit. de algo de lo demás.
  23. 15:39 Lit. carne.
  24. 15:39 Lit. carne.
  25. 15:42 Lit. en corrupción.
  26. 15:42 Lit. en incorrupción.
  27. 15:47 Lit. hecho del polvo.
  28. 15:49 Muchos mss. dicen: traigamos.
  29. 15:50 Lit. la corrupción.
  30. 15:50 Lit. la incorrupción.
  31. 15:51 O moriremos.
  32. 15:55 Lit. muerte.
  33. 15:58 O inmóviles.

The Risen Christ, Faith’s Reality(A)

15 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel (B)which I preached to you, which also you received and (C)in which you stand, (D)by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless (E)you believed in vain.

For (F)I delivered to you first of all that (G)which I also received: that Christ died for our sins (H)according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day (I)according to the Scriptures, (J)and that He was seen by [a]Cephas, then (K)by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have [b]fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then (L)by all the apostles. (M)Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

For I am (N)the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because (O)I persecuted the church of God. 10 But (P)by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, (Q)yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

The Risen Christ, Our Hope(R)

12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, (S)then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because (T)we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; (U)you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have [c]fallen (V)asleep in Christ have perished. 19 (W)If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

The Last Enemy Destroyed

20 But now (X)Christ is risen from the dead, and has become (Y)the firstfruits of those who have [d]fallen asleep. 21 For (Z)since by man came death, (AA)by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall (AB)be made alive. 23 But (AC)each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers (AD)the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign (AE)till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 (AF)The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For (AG)“He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 (AH)Now when all things are made subject to Him, then (AI)the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

Effects of Denying the Resurrection

29 Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? 30 And (AJ)why do we stand in [e]jeopardy every hour? 31 I affirm, by (AK)the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, (AL)I die daily. 32 If, in the manner of men, (AM)I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, (AN)“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

33 Do not be deceived: (AO)“Evil company corrupts good habits.” 34 (AP)Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; (AQ)for some do not have the knowledge of God. (AR)I speak this to your shame.

A Glorious Body

35 But someone will say, (AS)“How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” 36 Foolish one, (AT)what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.

39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind [f]of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.

40 There are also [g]celestial bodies and [h]terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.

42 (AU)So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 (AV)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 body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, (AW)“The first man Adam became a living being.” (AX)The last Adam became (AY)a life-giving spirit.

46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 (AZ)The first man was of the earth, (BA)made[i] of dust; the second Man is [j]the Lord (BB)from heaven. 48 As was the [k]man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; (BC)and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And (BD)as we have borne the image of the man of dust, (BE)we[l] shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

Our Final Victory

50 Now this I say, brethren, that (BF)flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a [m]mystery: (BG)We shall not all sleep, (BH)but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. (BI)For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and (BJ)this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: (BK)“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

55 “O(BL)[n] Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and (BM)the strength of sin is the law. 57 (BN)But thanks be to God, who gives us (BO)the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 (BP)Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing (BQ)that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:5 Peter
  2. 1 Corinthians 15:6 Died
  3. 1 Corinthians 15:18 Died
  4. 1 Corinthians 15:20 Died
  5. 1 Corinthians 15:30 danger
  6. 1 Corinthians 15:39 NU, M omit of flesh
  7. 1 Corinthians 15:40 heavenly
  8. 1 Corinthians 15:40 earthly
  9. 1 Corinthians 15:47 earthy
  10. 1 Corinthians 15:47 NU omits the Lord
  11. 1 Corinthians 15:48 earthy
  12. 1 Corinthians 15:49 M let us also bear
  13. 1 Corinthians 15:51 hidden truth
  14. 1 Corinthians 15:55 NU O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?