²⁰ But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.^[a](A)

⁵ and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed^[a] us from our sins by his blood

²³ But each in its own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

²³ that the Messiah^[a] must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the gentiles.”^(A)

A Living Hope

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead^(A)

¹⁸ He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.^(A)

¹¹ If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus^[a] from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through^[b] his Spirit that dwells in you.^(A)

⁶ Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.^[a]