The Resurrection of Christ

1Now, brothers (and sisters), I want to remind you⁺ of the gospel (good news) I preached to you⁺, which you⁺ received, and in which you⁺ stand firm. 2By this gospel you⁺ are saved, if you⁺ hold firmly to the word I preached to you⁺. Otherwise, you⁺ have believed (had faith) in vain.

3For what I received I passed on to you⁺ as of first importance: that Christ (the Anointed One) died for our sins according to the Scriptures (Writings), 4that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (Writings), 5and that He appeared to Cephas (Peter)a and then to the Twelve. 6After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then He appeared to James (supplanter / follower), then to all the apostles (sent ones). 8And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth.

9For I am the least of the apostles (sent ones) and am unworthy to be called an apostle (sent one), because I persecuted the church {ekklēsian} of God {Theou}. 10But by the grace of God {Theou} I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you⁺ believed (had faith).

The Resurrection of the Dead

12But if it is preached that Christ (the Anointed One) has been raised from the dead, how can some of you⁺ say that there is no resurrection (rising again) of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection (rising again) of the dead, then not even Christ (the Anointed One) has been raised. 14And if Christ (the Anointed One) has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your⁺ faith. 15In that case, we are also exposed as false witnesses about God {Theou}. For we have testified about God that He raised Christ from the dead, but He did not raise Him if in fact the dead are not raised.

16For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ (the Anointed One) has been raised. 17And if Christ (the Anointed One) has not been raised, your⁺ faith is futile; you⁺ are still in your⁺ sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ (the Anointed One) have perished. 19If our hope in Christ (the Anointed One) is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men.

The Order of Resurrection

20But Christ (the Anointed One) has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since death came through a man, the resurrection (rising again) of the dead comes also through a man. 22For as in Adam (man) all die, so in Christ (the Anointed One) all will be made alive. 23But each in his own turn: Christ (the Anointed One) the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him.

24Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God {Theō} the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power {dynamin}. 25For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27For “God has put everything under His feet <Psa 8:6>.”b Now when it says that everything has been put under Him, this clearly does not include the One who put everything under Him. 28And when all things have been subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put all things under Him, so that God {Theos} may be all in all.

29If these things are not so, what will those do who are baptized (submerged) for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? 30And why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31I face death every day, brothers (and sisters), as surely as I boast about you⁺ in Christ (the Anointed One) Jesus (YHWH saves) our Lord {Kyriō}. 32If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus (appealing) for human motives, what did I gain? If the dead are not raised,

“Let us eat and drink,

for tomorrow we die <Isa 22:13>.”c

33Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”d 34Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God {Theou}. I say this to your⁺ shame.

The Resurrection Body

35But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36You fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37And what you sow is not the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or something else. 38But God {Theos} gives it a body as He has designed, and to each kind of seed He gives its own body.

39Not all flesh is the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another, and fish another. 40There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. But the splendor {doxa} of the heavenly bodies is of one degree, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is of another. 41The sun has one degree of splendor {doxa}, the moon another, and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor {doxē}.

42So will it be with the resurrection (rising again) of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable. 43It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory {doxē}. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power {dynamei}. 44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45So it is written: “The first man Adam (man) became a living being <Gen 2:7>”;e the last Adam a life-giving spirit {pneuma}.

46The spiritual, however, was not first, but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48As was the earthly man, so also are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. 49And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so also shall we bear the likeness of the heavenly man.

Where, O Death, Is Your Victory?
(Hosea 13:9–14)

50Now I declare to you, brothers (and sisters), that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God {Theou}, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

51Listen, I tell you⁺ a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must be clothed (clothe itself)f with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality,g then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory <Isa 25:8>.”h

55“Where, O Death, is your victory?

Where, O Death, is your sting?”i

56The sting of death is sin, and the power {dynamis} of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God {Theō}, who gives us the victory through our Lord {Kyriou} Jesus (YHWH saves) Christ (the Anointed One)!

58Therefore, my beloved {agapētoi} brothers (and sisters), be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord {Kyriou}, because you know that your⁺ labor in the Lord {Kyriō} is not in vain.