³ For what I received^(A) I passed on to you^(B) as of first importance^[a]: that Christ died for our sins^(C) according to the Scriptures,^{(D) 4} that he was buried,^(E) that he was raised^(F) on the third day^(G) according to the Scriptures,^{(H) 5} and that he appeared to Cephas,^[b](I) and then to the Twelve.^{(J) 6} 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.^{(K) 7} Then he appeared to James,^(L) then to all the apostles,^{(M) 8} and last of all he appeared to me also,^(N) as to one abnormally born.

⁹ For I am the least of the apostles^(O) and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted^(P) the church of God.^{(Q) 10} But by the grace^(R) of God I am what I am, and his grace to me^(S) was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them^(T)—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.^{(U) 11} Whether, then, it is I or they,^(V) this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.