1Now I would remind you, brothers,[1] of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, (Ro 5:2; 1Co 3:6; 2Co 1:24; 2Ti 2:8; 1Pe 5:12)2and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (1Co 1:18; 1Co 11:2; Ga 3:4; Heb 3:6; Heb 3:14)3For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, (Da 9:26; Zec 13:7; Joh 1:29; 1Co 11:23; Ga 1:4; Ga 1:12; Heb 5:1; Heb 5:3; 1Pe 1:11; 1Pe 2:24)4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, (Ps 16:10; Isa 53:10; Ho 6:2; Mt 12:40; Joh 2:22; Ac 2:25; Ac 13:33; Ac 26:22)5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. (Mr 16:14; Lu 24:34; Lu 24:36; Joh 20:19; Joh 20:26; Ac 10:41)6Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. (Lu 24:50; Ac 1:3; Ac 12:17)8Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (1Co 9:1)9For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. (Ac 8:3; 2Co 12:11; Eph 3:7; 1Ti 1:13)10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not 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. (Mt 10:20; 1Co 3:6; 2Co 3:5; 2Co 11:23; 2Co 12:11; Php 2:13; Col 1:29)11Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
The Resurrection of the Dead
12Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? (Ac 23:8; 2Ti 2:18)13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. (1Th 4:14)14And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.15We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. (Ac 2:24)16For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. (Ro 4:25)18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. (1Th 4:16; Re 14:13)19If in Christ we have hope[2] in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1Co 4:9; 2Ti 3:12)20But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (Ac 26:23; 1Co 15:23; 2Ti 2:8; 1Pe 1:3)21For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. (Joh 11:25; Ro 5:12; Ro 6:23)22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. (Ro 5:14)23But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. (Lu 14:14; 1Co 15:52; 1Th 2:19; 1Th 4:16)24Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. (Da 7:14; Da 7:27; Eph 1:21)25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. (Ps 110:1)26The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (2Ti 1:10; Re 20:14; Re 21:4)27For “God[3] 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. (Ps 8:6; Mt 11:27; Mt 28:18; Eph 1:22)28When 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 God may be all in all. (1Co 3:23; 1Co 11:3; Php 3:21)29Otherwise, 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?30Why are we in danger every hour? (2Co 11:26)31I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! (Lu 9:23; Ro 8:36; 1Th 2:19)32What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” (Isa 22:13; Isa 56:12; Lu 12:19; 2Co 1:8)33Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”[4] (1Co 5:6; Jas 1:16)34Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. (Ro 13:11; 1Co 4:14; 1Co 6:5; 1Th 4:5)
The Resurrection Body
35But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” (Eze 37:3)36You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. (Joh 12:24)37And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain.38But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body.39For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.40There 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.41There 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.42So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. (Da 12:3; Mt 13:43)43It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. (Php 3:21; Col 3:4)44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.45Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”;[5] the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (Ge 2:7; Joh 5:21; Joh 6:33; Joh 6:39; Joh 6:54; Joh 6:57; Ro 5:14; Ro 8:2; Ro 8:10)46But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual.47The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. (Ge 2:7; Ge 3:19; Joh 3:13; Joh 3:31)48As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. (Php 3:20)49Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall[6] also bear the image of the man of heaven. (Ge 5:3; Ro 8:29)
Mystery and Victory
50I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. (Mt 16:17; Joh 3:3; Joh 3:5)51Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (Php 3:21; 1Th 4:15; 1Th 4:17)52in 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 shall be changed. (Isa 27:13; Zec 9:14; Mt 24:31; Lu 20:36; Joh 5:25; Joh 5:28; 1Th 4:16)53For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. (2Co 5:2)54When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” (Isa 25:8; Heb 2:14; Re 20:14; Re 21:4)55“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (Ho 13:14)56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. (Ro 4:15; Ro 5:13; Ro 7:5; Ro 7:8; Ro 7:13)57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ro 8:37; 1Jo 5:4)58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (Jer 48:10; Joh 6:28; 1Co 3:8; 1Co 16:10; Ga 6:9; 2Pe 3:14)
1 Corinthians 15
King James Version
1Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:5And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:6After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.7After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.9For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.10But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.11Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.12Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?13But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:14And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.15Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.16For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.18Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.21For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.24Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.25For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.26The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.27For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.28And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.29Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?30And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?31I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.32If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.33Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.34Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.35But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?36Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:37And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:38But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.39All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.40There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.41There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.42So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:43It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.45And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.46Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.47The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.48As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.49And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.