Book of Common Prayer

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

¹² But if Christ is being proclaimed^[a] that He has been raised from the dead, how is it some are saying among you that there is no resurrection of dead^[b] 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 ^[c] God, because we testified against^[d] 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^[e]. ¹⁹ If we are ones having hoped in Christ in this life only, we are more pitiable^[f] 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^[g] 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^[h] Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be given-life^[i], ²³ but each in his own order^[j]: Christ the firstfruit; after-that^[k] the ones of ^[l] Christ at His coming. ²⁴ Then^[m] comes the end— when He hands-over the kingdom to His God and Father, when He^[n] has abolished all^[o] rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For He^[p] must reign until which time He^[q] has put all the enemies under His feet. ²⁶ Death, the last enemy, is abolished^[r]— ²⁷ for “He^[s] subjected all things under His^[t] feet” [Ps 8:6]. But when He says^[u] that “All things have been subjected”, it is clear that this is except the One^[v] 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^[w] 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^[x], what will the ones being baptized for^[y] the dead do? If dead ones are not raised at-all, why indeed are they baptized for them?

Jesus Says John The Baptist Is The Fulfillment of The Prophecies of Malachi

⁷ And while these ones were proceeding, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John— “What^[a] did you go out into the wilderness to look-at? A reed being shaken by the wind? ⁸ But what did you go out to see? A man having been dressed in soft garments? Behold— the ones wearing the soft garments are in the houses of kings! ⁹ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This one is about whom it has been written [in Mal 3:1]: ‘Behold— I am sending-forth My messenger ahead of Your presence, who will make Your way ready in front of You’. ¹¹ Truly I say to you, a greater^[b] one than John the Baptist has not arisen among ones born of women. But the least^[c] one in the kingdom of the heavens is greater^[d] than he. ¹² But the kingdom of the heavens is being treated-violently^[e] from the days of John the Baptist until now, and violent ones are snatching it away. ¹³ For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ And if you are willing to accept it, he himself is Elijah— the one going-to^[f] come. ¹⁵ Let the one having ears hear^[g].