The Resurrection of Christ

1NOW I make known unto you, brethren, the gospel which I have preached unto you, and which ye have received, in which also ye have stood fast; 2by which also ye are saved; if ye cleave to that word I have preached to you, except haply ye have believed in vain.

3For I delivered to you among the first things that which I also had received, 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: 6afterwards he appeared before five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater number remain alive unto this hour, but some also are gone to rest. 7Afterwards he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8And last of all he was seen also by me, who am but as an abortion. 9For I am the least of the apostles, who 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 given to 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 I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

The Resurrection of the Dead

12But 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 is no resurrection of the dead, neither is Christ risen: 14and if Christ be not risen, vain indeed is our preaching, and vain also your faith. 15Yea, and we also are found false witnesses for God; because we have testified on the behalf of God, that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if indeed the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, neither is Christ risen: 17and if Christ be not risen, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18Then also they who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are more miserable than all other men.

The Order of Resurrection

20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruit of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all are dead, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23But every one in his own rank: Christ the first-fruit; afterwards those that are Christ?s at his appearing. 24Then cometh the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, and the Father; when he shall have destroyed every dominion and every authority and power. 25For he must reign, until he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy shall be destroyed, death. 27For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, that all things are put under him, it is evident that there is an exception of him, who subjected all things to him. 28But when he shall have put all things under him, then also the Son himself shall be subjected to him who put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

29Else what will they do who are baptised? for the dead, if wholly dead they rise no more. Why are they then baptised for the dead? 30and why do we also expose ourselves to danger every hour? 31I solemnly declare by all the joy over you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32If after the manner of men I have fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, of what advantage would it be to me, if the dead did not rise again? shall we eat and drink; because to-morrow we die? 33Be not deceived: evil conversations corrupt good manners. 34Awake as the righteous, and sin not; for some have an ignorance of God: I speak this to your shame.

The Resurrection Body

35But will any man say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36Thou fool! what thou sowest is not quickened except it die: 37and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not the body which shall be afterwards, but the bare grain, perhaps of wheat, or of some of the other seeds: 38but God giveth it a body as he pleaseth, and to each of the seeds its peculiar body. 39All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, and another flesh of cattle, and another of fishes, and another of birds. 40Also there are celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and that of the terrestrial another. 41There is one glory of the sun; and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for star differeth from 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 an animal body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is an animal body, and there is a spiritual body. 45And so it is written, There was a first man Adam a living soul; a last Adam a quickening spirit. 46But that which is spiritual was not first, but that which is animal; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47The first man was of the earth, earthly; the second man was the Lord from heaven. 48As is the earthly, so are they also that are earthly: and as is the heavenly, such also are they that are heavenly. 49And as we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Where, O Death, Is Your Victory?

50But 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 indeed 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 that which is corruptible must put on incorruption, and that which is mortal must put on immortality. 54So when that which is corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and that which is mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying which 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, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.