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1 Corinthians 15
Complete Jewish Bible

15 Now, brothers, I must remind you of the Good News which I proclaimed to you, and which you received, and on which you have taken your stand, 2 and by which you are being saved — provided you keep holding fast to the message I proclaimed to you. For if you don’t, your trust will have been in vain. 3 For among the first things I passed on to you was what I also received, namely this: the Messiah died for our sins, in accordance with what the Tanakh says; 4 and he was buried; and he was raised on the third day, in accordance with what the Tanakh says; 5 and he was seen by Kefa, then by the Twelve; 6 and afterwards he was seen by more than five hundred brothers at one time, the majority of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Later he was seen by Ya‘akov, then by all the emissaries; 8 and last of all he was seen by me, even though I was born at the wrong time. 9 For I am the least of all the emissaries, unfit to be called an emissary, because I persecuted the Messianic Community of God. 10 But by God’s grace I am what I am, and his grace towards me was not in vain; on the contrary, I have worked harder than all of them, although it was not I but the grace of God with me. 11 Anyhow, whether I or they, this is what we proclaim, and this is what you believed.

12 But if it has been proclaimed that the Messiah has been raised from the dead, how is it that some of you are saying there is no such thing as a resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then the Messiah has not been raised; 14 and if the Messiah has not been raised, then what we have proclaimed is in vain; also your trust is in vain; 15 furthermore, we are shown up as false witnesses for God in having testified that God raised up the Messiah, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then the Messiah has not been raised either; 17 and if the Messiah has not been raised, your trust is useless, and you are still in your sins. 18 Also, if this is the case, those who died in union with the Messiah are lost. 19 If it is only for this life that we have put our hope in the Messiah, we are more pitiable than anyone.

20 But the fact is that the Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have died. 21 For since death came through a man, also the resurrection of the dead has come through a man. 22 For just as in connection with Adam all die, so in connection with the Messiah all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: the Messiah is the firstfruits; then those who belong to the Messiah, at the time of his coming; 24 then the culmination, when he hands over the Kingdom to God the Father, after having put an end to every rulership, yes, to every authority and power. 25 For he has to rule until he puts all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be done away with will be death, 27 for “He put everything in subjection under his feet.”[a] But when it says that “everything” has been subjected, obviously the word does not include God, who is himself the one subjecting everything to the Messiah. 28 Now when everything has been subjected to the Son, then he will subject himself to God, who subjected everything to him; so that God may be everything in everyone.

29 Were it otherwise, what would the people accomplish who are immersed on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not actually raised, why are people immersed for them? 30 For that matter, we ourselves — why do we keep facing danger hour by hour? 31 Brothers, by the right to be proud which the Messiah Yeshua our Lord gives me, I solemnly tell you that I die every day. 32 If my fighting with “wild beasts” in Ephesus was done merely on a human basis, what do I gain by it? If dead people are not raised, we might as well live by the saying, “Let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”[b] 33 Don’t be fooled. “Bad company ruins good character.” 34 Come to your senses! Live righteously and stop sinning! There are some people who lack knowledge of God — I say this to your shame.

35 But someone will ask, “In what manner are the dead raised? What sort of body do they have?” 36 Stupid! When you sow a seed, it doesn’t come alive unless it first dies. 37 Also, what you sow is not the body that will be, but a bare seed of, say, wheat or something else; 38 but God gives it the body he intended for it; and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39 Not all living matter is the same living matter; on the contrary, there is one kind for human beings, another kind of living matter for animals, another for birds and another for fish. 40 Further, there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies; but the beauty of heavenly bodies is one thing, while the beauty of earthly bodies is something else. 41 The sun has one kind of beauty, the moon another, the stars yet another; indeed, each star has its own individual kind of beauty.

42 So it is with the resurrection of the dead. When the body is “sown,” it decays; when it is raised, it cannot decay. 43 When sown, it is without dignity; when raised, it will be beautiful. When sown, it is weak; when raised, it will be strong. 44 When sown, it is an ordinary human body; when raised, it will be a body controlled by the Spirit. If there is an ordinary human body, there is also a body controlled by the Spirit. 45 In fact, the Tanakh says so: Adam, the first man, became a living human being;[c] but the last “Adam” has become a life-giving Spirit. 46 Note, however, that the body from the Spirit did not come first, but the ordinary human one; the one from the Spirit comes afterwards. 47 The first man is from the earth, made of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 People born of dust are like the man of dust, and people born from heaven are like the man from heaven; 49 and just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, so also we will bear the image of the man from heaven.

50 Let me say this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot share in the Kingdom of God, nor can something that decays share in what does not decay. 51 Look, I will tell you a secret — not all of us will die! But we will all be changed! 52 It will take but a moment, the blink of an eye, at the final shofar. For the shofar will sound, and the dead will be raised to live forever, and we too will be changed. 53 For this material which can decay must be clothed with imperishability, this which is mortal must be clothed with immortality. 54 When what decays puts on imperishability and what is mortal puts on immortality, then this passage in the Tanakh will be fulfilled:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.[d]

55 “Death, where is your victory?
Death, where is your sting?”[e]

56 The sting of death is sin; and sin draws its power from the Torah; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah!

58 So, my dear brothers, stand firm and immovable, always doing the Lord’s work as vigorously as you can, knowing that united with the Lord your efforts are not in vain.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:27 Psalm 8:7(6)
  2. 1 Corinthians 15:32 Isaiah 22:13, 56:12
  3. 1 Corinthians 15:45 Genesis 2:7
  4. 1 Corinthians 15:54 Isaiah 25:8
  5. 1 Corinthians 15:55 Hosea 13:14
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1 Corinthians 15
New King James Version

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, 2 (D)by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless (E)you believed in vain.

3 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, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day (I)according to the Scriptures, 5 (J)and that He was seen by [a]Cephas, then (K)by the twelve. 6 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. 7 After that He was seen by James, then (L)by all the apostles. 8 (M)Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

9 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?
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1 Corinthians 15
Disciples’ Literal New Testament

Concerning The Resurrection: Christ Was Raised From The Dead And Seen By Many

15 Now I make-known to you, brothers, the good-news which I announced-as-good-news to you, which you also received, in which you also stand, 2 through which you also are being saved— if [a] you are holding-on in that message I announced-as-good-news to you, unless[b] you believed in-vain. 3 For I delivered to you among the first[c] things what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He has been raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to over five-hundred brothers at-one-time, of whom the majority are remaining until now. But some fell-asleep. 7 After that He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 And last of all, as-if-indeed[d] to the untimely-born[e] one, He appeared to me also. 9 For I am the least of the apostles— who am not fit 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 toward me did not become[f] empty[g]. But I labored even more than them all— yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 11 So whether it was I or those, thus we are proclaiming, and thus you believed.

So If Christ Was Raised, Why Do Some of You Say There Is No Resurrection?

12 But if Christ is being proclaimed[h] that He has been raised from the dead, how is it some are saying among you that there is no resurrection of dead[i] ones?

If The Dead Are Not Raised, Christ Was Not Raised, And Your Faith Is Futile

13 Now if there is no resurrection of dead ones, neither has Christ been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is also empty; your faith is also empty; 15 and we are even found to be false-witnesses of [j] God, because we testified against[k] God that He did raise Christ— Whom He did not raise if-indeed then dead ones are not raised. 16 For if dead ones are not raised, neither has Christ been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile. You are still in your sins. 18 Then also the ones having fallen-asleep in Christ perished[l]. 19 If we are ones having hoped in Christ in this life only, we are more pitiable[m] than all people.

But Christ Has Been Raised As The Firstfruit of Those Yet To Be Raised

20 But now, Christ has been raised from the dead— the firstfruit[n] of the ones having fallen-asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of dead ones also came through a man. 22 For just as in[o] Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be given-life[p], 23 but each in his own order[q]: Christ the firstfruit; after-that[r] the ones of [s] Christ at His coming. 24 Then[t] comes the end— when He hands-over the kingdom to His God and Father, when He[u] has abolished all[v] rule and all authority and power. 25 For He[w] must reign until which time He[x] has put all the enemies under His feet. 26 Death, the last enemy, is abolished[y]— 27 for “He[z] subjected all things under His[aa] feet” [Ps 8:6]. But when He says[ab] that “All things have been subjected”, it is clear that this is except the One[ac] having subjected all things to Him. 28 But when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One[ad] having subjected all things to Him, in order that God may be all things in all.

Otherwise, Why Be Concerned About The Dead Or Risk Our Lives?

29 Otherwise[ae], what will the ones being baptized for[af] the dead do? If dead ones are not raised at-all, why indeed are they baptized for them? 30 Why indeed[ag] are we in danger every hour? 31 I die[ah] daily— by[ai] your boasting, brothers, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If in accordance with human[aj] thinking I fought-wild-animals[ak] at Ephesus, what is the profit to me? If dead ones are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” [Isa 22:13].

Don’t Be Deceived. Sober Up

33 Do not be deceived: bad companionships[al] corrupt good habits[am]. 34 Sober-up[an] righteously[ao] and do not be[ap] sinning, for some have an ignorance of God. I speak to your shame.

How Are The Dead Raised, And With What Kind of Body?

35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?”

What You Sow Must Die, And Then God Gives It New Life In a Different Body

36 Foolish one! What you sow is not given-life unless it dies. 37 And as to what you sow— you do not sow the body which will come, but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or of some of the rest. 38 And God gives it a body just as He willed— indeed, to each of the seeds its own body[aq]. 39 Not all flesh is the same flesh. But there is one of humans, and another flesh of livestock, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. 40 And there are heavenly[ar] bodies and earthly bodies. But the glory of the heavenly is one kind, and the glory of the earthly is different. 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.

So Also Is The Resurrection of The Dead. We Are Raised In a Heavenly Body

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in decay[as]; it is raised in undecayability[at]. 43 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[au] body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is[av] a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So also it has been written [in Gen 2:7], “The first man, Adam, became a living soul”. The Last Adam[aw] became a life-giving[ax] spirit. 46 But the spiritual body is not first— but the natural body, then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from earth, made-of-dust. The second Man is from heaven[ay]. 48 Such[az] as was the one made-of-dust— such ones also are the ones made-of-dust. And such as is the heavenly One— such ones also are the heavenly ones. 49 And just as we bore[ba] the image[bb] of the one made of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly One.

Behold, I Tell You a Mystery: We Will Not All Die, But We Will All Conquer Death

50 Now I say this, brothers: that flesh and blood are not able to inherit the kingdom of God, nor does decay inherit undecayability. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery[bc]: we will not all fall-asleep. But we will all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For it will trumpet, and the dead will be raised undecayable[bd], and we will be changed. 53 For this decayable body must put-on undecayability, and this mortal body must put on immortality[be]. 54 And when this decayable body puts-on undecayability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying having been written will come-about[bf]: “Death was swallowed-up in victory” [Isa 25:8]. 55 “Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your stinger?” [Hos 13:14]. 56 Now the stinger[bg] of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law[bh]. 57 But thanks be to God, the One giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

So Abound In The Work of The Lord; Your Labor Is Not In Vain

58 So then my beloved brothers, be[bi] steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not empty[bj] in the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:2 That is, assuming that. The uncertainty arises because of the issue of the resurrection addressed in this chapter.
  2. 1 Corinthians 15:2 This would indeed be the case if Christ was not raised, v 17.
  3. 1 Corinthians 15:3 Or, foremost.
  4. 1 Corinthians 15:8 Or, as-it-were. Paul adds this word because he was not in fact born late in God’s plan, but was separated from his mother’s womb, Gal 1:15.
  5. 1 Corinthians 15:8 Or, abnormally-born.
  6. 1 Corinthians 15:10 Or, prove-to-be.
  7. 1 Corinthians 15:10 Or, without result.
  8. 1 Corinthians 15:12 That is, by all these witnesses in v 5-8, and others.
  9. 1 Corinthians 15:12 That is, that their bodies will not be raised, but they will live as spirits.
  10. 1 Corinthians 15:15 That is, concerning.
  11. 1 Corinthians 15:15 That is, against the truth of God. Or, by; that is, under oath.
  12. 1 Corinthians 15:18 Or, were lost.
  13. 1 Corinthians 15:19 That is, deserving of pity.
  14. 1 Corinthians 15:20 Or, first-portion, representative.
  15. 1 Corinthians 15:22 That is, in the sphere of, in connection with.
  16. 1 Corinthians 15:22 That is, all bodies will be raised from the dead. This includes unbelievers, but they are not in view here. Or, just as all in Adam die, so also all in Christ will be given-life. In this case, Paul is comparing all humanity to all Christians, and ‘given-life’ has its full meaning.
  17. 1 Corinthians 15:23 Or, group, class, division, turn.
  18. 1 Corinthians 15:23 Or, then, next-in-order.
  19. 1 Corinthians 15:23 That is, belonging to.
  20. 1 Corinthians 15:24 Or, Next.
  21. 1 Corinthians 15:24 That is, the Son (continuing from ‘He hands-over’); or, the Father (as described in v 26-28).
  22. 1 Corinthians 15:24 Or, every ruler and every authority.
  23. 1 Corinthians 15:25 That is, the Son.
  24. 1 Corinthians 15:25 That is, the Son; or, the Father.
  25. 1 Corinthians 15:26 Or, done away with, put to an end, nullified.
  26. 1 Corinthians 15:27 That is, the Father, as in the psalm.
  27. 1 Corinthians 15:27 That is, the Son.
  28. 1 Corinthians 15:27 That is, when God says in the psalm; or, when God says at the end of time (note the change of tense to ‘have been subjected’).
  29. 1 Corinthians 15:27 That is, the Father... to the Son.
  30. 1 Corinthians 15:28 That is, the Father.
  31. 1 Corinthians 15:29 That is, if v 20-28 is not the case.
  32. 1 Corinthians 15:29 Or, on behalf of, with reference to, for the sake of, because of. Paul’s meaning is uncertain. Some think he is sarcastically referring to some pagan practice of proxy baptism familiar to the Corinthians, but otherwise unknown to us. Others think he means ‘because of the dead’, because of the influence of their lives, or to be with them.
  33. 1 Corinthians 15:30 Or, also.
  34. 1 Corinthians 15:31 That is, face death.
  35. 1 Corinthians 15:31 Paul swears with an oath. I swear by the boasting I do concerning you.
  36. 1 Corinthians 15:32 Or, with mankind.
  37. 1 Corinthians 15:32 It was illegal to throw a Roman citizen like Paul to the animals. So this was either a mob action, or Paul is speaking of his enemies metaphorically.
  38. 1 Corinthians 15:33 Or, associations. Paul is referring to those influencing ‘some’ in v 12.
  39. 1 Corinthians 15:33 Or, customs, character.
  40. 1 Corinthians 15:34 Or, Come-to-your-senses.
  41. 1 Corinthians 15:34 Or, rightly.
  42. 1 Corinthians 15:34 Or, stop sinning.
  43. 1 Corinthians 15:38 These bodies God gives take many forms and have many degrees of glory, as seen by the following examples.
  44. 1 Corinthians 15:40 That is, angelic; or, celestial.
  45. 1 Corinthians 15:42 Or, corruption, ruin, destruction.
  46. 1 Corinthians 15:42 Or, incorruptibility.
  47. 1 Corinthians 15:44 Or, material, physical.
  48. 1 Corinthians 15:44 Or, exists.
  49. 1 Corinthians 15:45 Christ is the last progenitor or head of a race.
  50. 1 Corinthians 15:45 That is, one giving resurrection life.
  51. 1 Corinthians 15:47 That is, from the spiritual realm, even though He took a body like Adam’s.
  52. 1 Corinthians 15:48 That is, as to the composition and nature of their bodies, Adam’s family takes after him, Christ’s takes after Him.
  53. 1 Corinthians 15:49 bore... bear. Or, wore... wear.
  54. 1 Corinthians 15:49 Or, likeness.
  55. 1 Corinthians 15:51 That is, a truth formerly hidden, but now revealed.
  56. 1 Corinthians 15:52 Or, imperishable, not-subject-to-decay, incorruptible.
  57. 1 Corinthians 15:53 Or, deathlessness.
  58. 1 Corinthians 15:54 Or, take-place, come-to-pass, happen.
  59. 1 Corinthians 15:56 Death delivers its poison through sin. Sin is what brings separation from God in death. Apart from sin, death is powerless.
  60. 1 Corinthians 15:56 The Law establishes the line to cross, and the penalty for doing so.
  61. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Or, become.
  62. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Or, in vain.
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1 Corinthians 15
New International Version

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. 2 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.

3 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) 4 that he was buried,(I) that he was raised(J) on the third day(K) according to the Scriptures,(L) 5 and that he appeared to Cephas,[b](M) and then to the Twelve.(N) 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.(O) 7 Then he appeared to James,(P) then to all the apostles,(Q) 8 and last of all he appeared to me also,(R) as to one abnormally born.

9 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
Next
1 Corinthians 14
1 Corinthians 16
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