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)

The Resurrection of the Dead

¹² But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead,^(A) how can some of you say that there is no resurrection^(B) of the dead?^{(C) 13} If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised,^(D) 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.^(E) 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.^{(F) 18} Then those also who have fallen asleep^(G) in Christ are lost. ¹⁹ If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.^(H)

²⁰ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,^(I) the firstfruits^(J) of those who have fallen asleep.^{(K) 21} For since death came through a man,^(L) the resurrection of the dead^(M) comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.^{(N) 23} But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits;^(O) then, when he comes,^(P) those who belong to him.^{(Q) 24} Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom^(R) to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.^{(S) 25} For he must reign^(T) until he has put all his enemies under his feet.^{(U) 26} The last enemy to be destroyed is death.^(V)

The Resurrection Body

³⁵ But someone will ask,^(A) “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?”^{(B) 36} How foolish!^(C) What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.^{(D) 37} When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else.

⁴² So will it be^(A) with the resurrection of the dead.^(B) The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;^{(C) 43} it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory;^(D) it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; ⁴⁴ it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.^(E)

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”^[a];^(F) the last Adam,^(G) a life-giving spirit.^{(H) 46} The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.^{(I) 47} The first man was of the dust of the earth;^(J) the second man is of heaven.^{(K) 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.^{(L) 49} And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man,^(M) so shall we^[b] bear the image of the heavenly man.^(N)

⁵⁰ I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood^(O) cannot inherit the kingdom of God,^(P) nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.^{(Q) 51} Listen, I tell you a mystery:^(R) We will not all sleep,^(S) but we will all be changed^(T)— ⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound,^(U) the dead^(V) will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For the perishable^(W) must clothe itself with the imperishable,^(X) 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.”^[c](Y)