Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

²⁰ But Christ really has been raised from death. He was the first one to rise of all who have died.

²¹ It was a man who first brought death. So it was also a man who was first raised from death.

²² All people who are of Adam die. And so also, all people who belong to Christ will live.

²³ But each one has his turn. Christ rose first. Then those who belong to Christ will rise when he comes again.

²⁴ After that the end will come. Christ will hand over the ruling power to God the Father. Christ will stop all other rulers, and everyone who has any rights and power.

²⁵ Christ must rule until God has all power over all his enemies.

²⁶ Death is the last enemy to be destroyed.

²⁷ The holy writings say, `God has put all things under Christ.' But it does not mean that God is under Christ. God is the one who put all things under him.

²⁸ One day the Son will be over all things. And God will be over the Son. So in the end God will be over all things.

²⁹ Another thing, what good is it for people to be baptized for dead people? If dead people are not raised, why are some people baptized for them?

³⁰ And why are we in trouble all the time?

³¹ I face death every day! That is true. Just the way it is true that I am proud of you, my brothers. I am proud that you belong to Christ Jesus.

³² I fought against wild animals at Ephesus. If I was thinking only of life on earth, why did I do this? If dead people do not rise, then we might just as well say, `Let us eat and drink because we will die tomorrow.'

³³ Do not be fooled. `If good people keep company with bad people, the good people will become bad too.'

³⁴ Wake up! Do what is right. Stop doing wrong things. Some of you do not know God at all. I say these things to you to make you ashamed.