Psalm 20

Prayer for Victory

To the leader. A Psalm of David.

The Resurrection of Christ

15 Now I want you to understand, brothers and sisters, the good news^[a] that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand,^{(A) 2} through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.^(B)

³ For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures^{(C) 4} and that he was buried and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures^{(D) 5} and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.^{(E) 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.^{[b] 7} Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.^{(F) 8} Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.^{(G) 9} For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.^{(H) 10} But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I but the grace of God that is with me.^{(I) 11} Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you believed.

The Resurrection of the Dead

¹² Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised, ¹⁴ and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain and your faith is in vain. ¹⁵ We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ—whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.^{(J) 16} For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. ¹⁷ If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Then those also who have died^[c] in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

²⁰ But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.^{[d](K) 21} For since death came through a human, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human,^{(L) 22} for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. ²³ But each in its own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. ²⁴ Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power.^{(M) 25} For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.^{(N) 26} The last enemy to be destroyed is death.^{(O) 27} For “God^[e] has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is plain that this does not include the one who put all things in subjection under him.^{(P) 28} When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who put all things in subjection under him, so that God may be all in all.^(Q)

²⁹ Otherwise, what will those people do who receive baptism on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?

³⁰ And why are we putting ourselves in danger every hour?^{(R) 31} I die every day! That is as certain, brothers and sisters, as my boasting of you—a boast that I make in Christ Jesus our Lord.^{(S) 32} If I fought with wild animals at Ephesus with a merely human perspective, what would I have gained by it? If the dead are not raised,

³³ Do not be deceived:

³⁴ Sober up, as you rightly ought to, and sin no more, for some people have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.^(U)

The Resurrection Body

³⁵ But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” ³⁶ Fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.^(V)

⁵¹ Look, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die,^[a] but we will all be changed,^{(A) 52} in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.^{(B) 53} For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ When this perishable body puts on imperishability and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled:

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