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1 Corinthians 15
Expanded Bible

The Good News About Christ

15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want you to ·remember [or be clear about] the ·Good News [Gospel] I brought to you. You received this ·Good News [Gospel] ·and continue strong in it [or and have based your faith on it; L in which you stand]. 2 And you are being saved by it if you ·continue believing [L hold firm to] ·what I told you [L the Gospel message I proclaimed to you], unless you believed ·for nothing [in vain; or superficially; or in something of no value].

3 [L For] I passed on to you what I received, which is ·of greatest importance [or the first thing I told you]: that Christ died for our sins, ·as the Scriptures say [L according to the Scripture; Is. 53:5–6]; 4 that he was buried and was raised to life on the third day ·as the Scriptures say [L according to the Scripture; Ps. 16:8–11]; 5 and that he was seen by ·Peter [L Cephas; C Peter’s name in Aramaic; see 1:12] and then by ·the twelve apostles [L the Twelve; Luke 24:33–36]. 6 After that, Jesus was seen by more than five hundred of the ·believers [L brothers (and sisters)] at the same time. Most of them ·are still living today [L remain until now], but some have ·died [L fallen asleep; C a euphemism for death]. 7 Then he was seen by ·James [Jesus’ brother; Mark 6:3; Acts 15:13; Gal. 1:19] and later by all the apostles [Acts 1:6–11]. 8 Last of all he was seen by me [Acts 9]—as by a person ·not born at the normal time [prematurely/abnormally born; C Christ’s appearance to Paul was unique, occurring after Jesus’ ascension]. 9 For I am the least of the apostles. I am not even ·good enough [worthy] to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But God’s grace has made me what I am, and his grace to me was not ·wasted [in vain; without effect]. [L On the contrary; Indeed] I worked harder than all ·the other apostles [of them]. (But it was not I really; it was God’s grace that was with me.) 11 So whether I preached to you or ·the other apostles [L they] preached to you, ·we all preach the same thing [this is what we preach; C the message of Christ’s death and resurrection; vv. 3–8], and this is what you believed.

We Will Be Raised from the Dead

12 Now ·since we preached that Christ was [L if Christ is preached as] raised from the dead, why do some of you say that people will not be raised from the dead [C some Corinthians denied the resurrection of the body]? 13 If ·no one is ever raised [L there is no resurrection] from the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is ·worth nothing [futile; useless; empty], and your faith is ·worth nothing [futile; useless; empty]. 15 And also, we are ·guilty of lying [L found to be false witnesses] about God, because we testified ·of him [L against God] that he raised Christ from the dead. But if people are not raised from the dead, then God never raised Christ. 16 If the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith ·has nothing to it [is futile/useless/empty]; you are still ·guilty of [or a slave to; L in] your sins. 18 ·And [Consequently; Therefore] those in Christ who have ·already died [L fallen asleep; v. 6] ·are lost [have perished]. 19 If our hope in Christ is for this life only, we should be pitied more than ·anyone else in the world [L all people].

20 But Christ has truly been raised from the dead—the ·first one and proof that those who sleep in death will also be raised [L firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep; C unlike others who had been raised to mortal life, Christ was the first to be raised to everlasting life]. 21 Death has come ·because of what one man did [through a man/human being], but the rising from death also comes ·because of one man [through a man/human being]. 22 In Adam all of us die. In the same way, in Christ all of us will be made alive again [Rom. 5:12–21]. 23 But ·everyone [each] will be raised to life in the right order. Christ was ·first to be raised [L the firstfruits]. When Christ comes again, those who belong to him will be raised to life, 24 and then the end will come. At that time Christ will ·destroy [abolish] all rulers, authorities, and powers, and he will hand over the kingdom to God the Father. 25 [L For] Christ must ·rule [reign] until he puts all enemies under his ·control [L feet; Ps. 110:1]. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed will be death. 27 ·The Scripture says that God put [L For he has subjected] all things under his ·control [L feet; Ps. 8:6]. When it says “all things” are ·under [subjected to] him, it is clear this does not include the One [C God the father] who put everything under his control. 28 After everything has been ·put under [subjected to] the Son, then he will ·put himself under [be subjected to] ·God [L the One…], who had put all things under him. ·Then [or …so that] God will be ·the complete ruler over everything [or supreme in every place and in every way; L all in all].

29 If the dead are never raised, what will people do who are being baptized for the dead [C it is unclear what this practice was or whether Paul approves or disapproves]? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people being baptized for them?

30 And what about us? Why do we put ourselves in danger every hour? 31 I ·die [face death] every day. ·That is true, brothers and sisters, just as it is true that I brag about you [L (I swear) by my boasting in you, brothers (and sisters), which I have] in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If I fought wild animals in Ephesus [C probably a metaphor for human opponents, though possibly beasts in the arena (Acts 19; 2 Cor. 1:8–11; 2 Tim. 4:16–18)] ·only with human hopes [or from a human point of view; L according to man], I have gained nothing. If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, because tomorrow we will die [Is. 22:13; 56:12].”

33 Do not be ·fooled [deceived; misled]: “Bad ·friends [company] will ruin good ·habits [or character; morals; C a quote from the Greek poet Menander (c. 342–291 bc)].” 34 ·Come back to your right way of thinking [Come to your senses; or Sober up as you should] and stop sinning. Some of you ·do not know [or are ignorant about] God—I say this to shame you.

What Kind of Body Will We Have?

35 But someone may ask, “How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have?” 36 Foolish person! When you sow a seed, it must die in the ground before it can ·live and grow [come to life]. 37 And when you sow it, it does not have the same “body” it will have later. [L But; On the contrary] What you sow is only a bare seed, maybe wheat or something else. 38 But God gives it a body that he ·has planned [wants; has chosen] for it, and God gives each kind of seed its own body. 39 All things made of flesh are not the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds have another, and fish have another. 40 Also there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. But the ·beauty [splendor; glory] of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the ·beauty [splendor; glory] of the earthly bodies is another. 41 The sun has one kind of ·beauty [splendor; glory], the moon has another ·beauty [splendor; glory], and the stars have another. And each star is different in its ·beauty [splendor; glory].

42 It is the same with the dead who are raised to life. ·The body that is “planted” will ruin and decay [L It is sown/buried in corruption], but it is raised ·to a life that cannot be destroyed [imperishable; L in incorruption]. 43 ·When the body is “planted,” it is without honor [L It is sown/buried in dishonor], but it is raised in glory. ·When the body is “planted,” it is weak [L It is sown/buried in weakness], but ·when it is raised, it is powerful [L it is raised in power]. 44 ·The body that is “planted” is a physical body [L It is sown/buried a natural/physical/soulish body]. ·When it is raised, it is [L It is raised] a spiritual body.

There is a ·physical [natural; soulish] body, and there is also a spiritual body. 45 [L So also] It is written in the Scriptures: “The first man, Adam, became a living ·person [soul; Gen. 2:7].” But the last Adam [C Christ] became a spirit that gives life. 46 [L But] The spiritual did not come first, but the ·physical [natural; soulish] and then the spiritual. 47 The first man came from the dust of the earth. The second man came from heaven. 48 People who ·belong to the earth [or are of dust] are like the first man of ·earth [dust]. But those people who belong to heaven are like the man of heaven. 49 Just as we ·were made like [L have borne the image of] the man of earth, so we will[a] also ·be made like [bear the image of] the man of heaven.

50 I tell you this, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot ·have a part in [inherit] the kingdom of God. ·Something that will ruin cannot […nor can the perishable/corruptible] ·have a part in something that never ruins [inherit the imperishable/incorruptible]. 51 But look! I tell you ·this secret [a mystery; 2:1]: We will not all ·sleep in death [L sleep; C a euphemism for death], but we will all be changed. 52 It will ·take only a second [happen in a flash]—as quickly as an eye ·blinks [or twinkles]—when the last trumpet sounds. The trumpet will sound, and those who have died will be raised ·to live forever [imperishable; incorruptible], and we will be changed [1 Thess. 4:13–17]. 53 [L For] This body that ·can be destroyed [is perishable/corruptible] must clothe itself with ·something that can never be destroyed [the imperishable/incorruptible]. And this ·body that dies [L mortal] must clothe itself with ·something that can never die [immortality]. 54 So when this body that ·can be destroyed [is perishable/corruptible] will clothe itself with that which ·can never be destroyed [is imperishable/incorruptible], and this ·body that dies [L mortal] will clothe itself with ·that which can never die [immortality], then this Scripture will ·be made true [come to pass]:

“Death is ·destroyed forever [L swallowed up] in victory [Is. 25:8].”
55 “[L O] Death, where is your victory?
    Death, where is your ·pain [L sting; Hos. 13:14]?”

56 Death’s ·power to hurt [L sting] is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But we thank God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 So my ·dear [beloved] brothers and sisters, stand strong. Do not let anything move you. Always ·give yourselves fully to [excel in] the work of the Lord, because you know that your work in the Lord is ·never wasted [not useless/in vain].

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:49 so we will Some Greek copies read “so let us.”
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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
English Standard Version

The Resurrection of Christ

15 Now I would remind you, brothers,[a] of the gospel (A)I preached to you, which you received, (B)in which you stand, 2 and by which (C)you are being saved, if you (D)hold fast to the word I preached to you—(E)unless you believed in vain.

3 For (F)I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died (G)for our sins (H)in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised (I)on the third day (J)in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that (K)he appeared to Cephas, then (L)to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to (M)James, then (N)to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, (O)he appeared also to me. 9 For (P)I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because (Q)I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, (R)I worked harder than any of them, (S)though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

The Resurrection of the Dead

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, (T)how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, (U)then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that (V)he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and (W)you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who (X)have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope[b] in this life only, (Y)we are of all people most to be pitied.

20 But in fact (Z)Christ has been raised from the dead, (AA)the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as (AB)by a man came death, (AC)by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For (AD)as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then (AE)at his coming (AF)those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers (AG)the kingdom to God the Father after destroying (AH)every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign (AI)until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be (AJ)destroyed is death. 27 For (AK)“God[c] has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When (AL)all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that (AM)God may be all in all.

29 Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? 30 Why are we (AN)in danger every hour? 31 I protest, brothers, by (AO)my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, (AP)I die every day! 32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, (AQ)I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, (AR)“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33 (AS)Do not be deceived: (AT)“Bad company ruins good morals.”[d] 34 (AU)Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For (AV)some have no knowledge of God. (AW)I say this to your shame.

The Resurrection Body

35 But someone will ask, (AX)“How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36 You foolish person! (AY)What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 39 For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. 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.

42 (AZ)So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; (BA)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. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, (BB)“The first man Adam became a living being”;[e] (BC)the last Adam became a (BD)life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 (BE)The first man was from the earth, (BF)a man of dust; (BG)the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, (BH)so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just (BI)as we have borne the image of the man of dust, (BJ)we shall[f] also bear the image of the man of heaven.

Mystery and Victory

50 I tell you this, brothers: (BK)flesh and blood (BL)cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. (BM)We shall not all sleep, (BN)but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For (BO)the trumpet will sound, and (BP)the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and (BQ)this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

(BR)“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 (BS)“O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where is your sting?”

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

58 (BV)Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in (BW)the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord (BX)your labor is not in vain.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 6, 31, 50, 58
  2. 1 Corinthians 15:19 Or we have hoped
  3. 1 Corinthians 15:27 Greek he
  4. 1 Corinthians 15:33 Probably from Menander's comedy Thais
  5. 1 Corinthians 15:45 Greek a living soul
  6. 1 Corinthians 15:49 Some manuscripts let us
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1 Corinthians 15
International Standard Version

The Resurrection of the Messiah

15 Now I’m making known to you, brothers, the gospel that I proclaimed to you, which you accepted, on which you have taken your stand, 2 and by which you are also being saved if you hold firmly to the message I proclaimed to you—unless, of course, your faith was worthless.

3 For I passed on to you the most important points that[a] I received: The Messiah[b] died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 he was buried, he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures—and is still alive!— 5 and he was seen by Cephas,[c] and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.[d] 7 Next he was seen by James, then by all the apostles, 8 and finally he was seen by me, as though I were born abnormally late.

9 For I am the least of the apostles and not even fit to be called an apostle because I persecuted God’s church. 10 But by God’s grace I am what I am, and his grace shown to me was not wasted. Instead, I worked harder than all the others—not I, of course, but God’s grace that was with me. 11 So, whether it was I or the others, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

The Resurrection of the Dead

12 Now if we preach that the Messiah[e] has been raised from the dead, how can some of you keep claiming there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then the Messiah[f] has not been raised, 14 and if the Messiah[g] has not been raised, then our message means nothing and your[h] faith means nothing. 15 In addition, we are found to be false witnesses about God because we testified on God’s behalf that he raised the Messiah[i]—whom he did not raise if in fact it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then the Messiah[j] has not been raised, 17 and if the Messiah[k] has not been raised, your faith is worthless and you are still imprisoned by your sins. 18 Yes, even those who have died[l] believing[m] in the Messiah[n] are lost. 19 If we have set our hopes on the Messiah[o] in this life only, we deserve more pity than any other people.

20 But at this moment the Messiah[p] stands risen from the dead, the first one offered in the harvest[q] of those who have died.[r] 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in the Messiah[s] will all be made alive. 23 However, this will happen to each person in the proper order: first the Messiah,[t] then those who belong to the Messiah[u] when he comes. 24 Then the end will come, when after he has done away with every ruler and every authority and power, the Messiah[v] hands over the kingdom to God the Father. 25 For he must rule until God[w] puts all the Messiah’s[x] enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be done away with is death, 27 for “God[y] has put everything under his feet.”[z] Now when he says, “Everything has been put under him,” this clearly excludes the one who put everything under him. 28 But when everything has been put under him, then the Son himself will also become subject to the one who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.

29 Otherwise, what will those people do who are being baptized because of those who have died? If the dead are not raised at all, why are they being baptized because of them? 30 And why in fact are we being endangered every hour? 31 I face death every day! That is as certain, brothers,[aa] as it is that I am proud of you in the Messiah,[ab] Jesus our Lord. 32 If I have fought with wild animals in Ephesus from merely human motives, what do I get out of it? If the dead are not raised,

“Let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”[ac]

33 Stop being deceived:

“Wicked friends lead to evil ends.”[ad]

34 Come back to your senses as you should, and stop sinning! For some of you—I say this to your shame—don’t fully know God.

The Resurrection Body

35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come back?” 36 You fool! The seed you plant does not come to life unless it dies, 37 and what you plant is not the form that it will be, but a bare kernel, whether it is wheat or something else. 38 But God gives the plant[ae] the form he wants it to have, and to each kind of seed its own form. 39 Not all flesh is the same.[af] Humans have one kind of flesh,[ag] animals in general have another,[ah] birds have another,[ai] and fish have still another. 40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the splendor of those in heaven is of one kind, and that of those on earth is of another. 41 One kind of splendor belongs to the sun, another[aj] to the moon, and still another[ak] to the stars. In fact, one star differs from another star in splendor.

42 This is how it will be at the resurrection of the dead. What is planted is decaying, what is raised cannot decay. 43 The body[al] is planted in a state of dishonor but is raised in a state of splendor. It is planted in weakness but is raised in power. 44 It is planted a physical body but is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body.[am]

45 This, indeed, is what is written: “The first man, Adam, became a living being.”[an] The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual does not come first, but the physical does, and then comes the spiritual. 47 The first man came from the dust of the earth; the second man came from heaven. 48 Those who are made of the dust are like the man from the dust; those who are heavenly are like the man who is from heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the likeness of the man who was made from dust, we will[ao] also bear the likeness of the man from heaven.

50 Brothers, this is what I mean: Mortal bodies[ap] cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and what decays cannot inherit what does not decay. 51 Let me tell you a secret. Not all of us will die,[aq] but all of us will be changed— 52 in a moment, faster than an eye can blink, at the sound of the last trumpet. Indeed, that trumpet[ar] will sound, and then the dead will be raised never to decay, and we will be changed. 53 For what is decaying must be clothed with what cannot decay, and what is dying must be clothed with what cannot die. 54 Now, when what is decaying is clothed with what cannot decay, and what is dying is clothed with what cannot die, then the written word will be fulfilled: “Death has been swallowed up by victory!”[as]

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?”[at]

56 Now death’s stinger is sin, and sin’s power is the Law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus the Messiah![au]

58 Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, unmovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that the work that you do for the Lord isn’t wasted.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:3 Or to you as matters of great importance what
  2. 1 Corinthians 15:3 Or Christ
  3. 1 Corinthians 15:5 I.e. Peter
  4. 1 Corinthians 15:6 Lit. have fallen asleep
  5. 1 Corinthians 15:12 Or Christ
  6. 1 Corinthians 15:13 Or Christ
  7. 1 Corinthians 15:14 Or Christ
  8. 1 Corinthians 15:14 Other mss. read our
  9. 1 Corinthians 15:15 Or Christ
  10. 1 Corinthians 15:16 Or Christ
  11. 1 Corinthians 15:17 Or Christ
  12. 1 Corinthians 15:18 Lit. have fallen asleep
  13. 1 Corinthians 15:18 The Gk. lacks believing
  14. 1 Corinthians 15:18 Or Christ
  15. 1 Corinthians 15:19 Or Christ
  16. 1 Corinthians 15:20 Or Christ
  17. 1 Corinthians 15:20 Lit. the first fruits
  18. 1 Corinthians 15:20 Lit. have fallen asleep
  19. 1 Corinthians 15:22 Or Christ
  20. 1 Corinthians 15:23 Or Christ; lit. Messiah the first fruits
  21. 1 Corinthians 15:23 Or Christ
  22. 1 Corinthians 15:24 Lit. power, when he
  23. 1 Corinthians 15:25 Lit. he
  24. 1 Corinthians 15:25 Lit. his
  25. 1 Corinthians 15:27 Lit. he
  26. 1 Corinthians 15:27 Ps 8:6
  27. 1 Corinthians 15:31 Other mss. lack brothers
  28. 1 Corinthians 15:31 Or Christ
  29. 1 Corinthians 15:32 Isa 22:13
  30. 1 Corinthians 15:33 Menander, Thais (218)
  31. 1 Corinthians 15:38 The Gk. lacks the plant
  32. 1 Corinthians 15:39 Lit. the same flesh
  33. 1 Corinthians 15:39 The Gk. lacks of flesh
  34. 1 Corinthians 15:39 Lit. another kind of flesh
  35. 1 Corinthians 15:39 Lit. another kind of flesh
  36. 1 Corinthians 15:41 Lit. another kind of splendor
  37. 1 Corinthians 15:41 Lit. another kind of splendor
  38. 1 Corinthians 15:43 Lit. It
  39. 1 Corinthians 15:44 The Gk. lacks body
  40. 1 Corinthians 15:45 Gen 2:7
  41. 1 Corinthians 15:49 Other mss. read we should
  42. 1 Corinthians 15:50 Lit. mean: Flesh and blood
  43. 1 Corinthians 15:51 Lit. will fall asleep
  44. 1 Corinthians 15:52 Lit. it
  45. 1 Corinthians 15:54 Isa 25:8
  46. 1 Corinthians 15:55 Hos 13:14
  47. 1 Corinthians 15:57 Or Christ
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1 Corinthians 14
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