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15 But I make known to you, brethren, the glad tidings which I announced to you, which also ye received, in which also ye stand,

by which also ye are saved, (if ye hold fast the word which I announced to you as the glad tidings,) unless indeed ye have believed in vain.

For I delivered to you, in the first place, what also I had received, that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures;

and that he was buried; and that he was raised the third day, according to the scriptures;

and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

Then he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the most remain until now, but some also have fallen asleep.

Then he appeared to James; then to all the apostles;

and last of all, as to an abortion, he appeared to *me* also.

For *I* am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called apostle, because I have persecuted the assembly of God.

10 But by God's grace I am what I am; and his grace, which [was] towards me, has not been vain; but I have laboured more abundantly than they all, but not *I*, but the grace of God which [was] with me.

11 Whether, therefore, I or they, thus we preach, and thus ye have believed.

12 Now if Christ is preached that he is raised from among [the] dead, how say some among you that there is not a resurrection of [those that are] dead?

13 But if there is not a resurrection of [those that are] dead, neither is Christ raised:

14 but if Christ is not raised, then, indeed, vain also [is] our preaching, and vain also your faith.

15 And we are found also false witnesses of God; for we have witnessed concerning God that he raised the Christ, whom he has not raised if indeed [those that are] dead are not raised.

16 For if [those that are] dead are not raised, neither is Christ raised;

17 but if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins.

18 Then indeed also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are [the] most miserable of all men.

20 (But now Christ is raised from among [the] dead, first-fruits of those fallen asleep.

21 For since by man [came] death, by man also resurrection of [those that are] dead.

22 For as in the Adam all die, thus also in the Christ all shall be made alive.

23 But each in his own rank: [the] first-fruits, Christ; then those that are the Christ's at his coming.

24 Then the end, when he gives up the kingdom to him [who is] God and Father; when he shall have annulled all rule and all authority and power.

25 For he must reign until he put all enemies under his feet.

26 [The] last enemy [that] is annulled [is] death.

27 For he has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he says that all things are put in subjection, [it is] evident that [it is] except him who put all things in subjection to him.

28 But when all things shall have been brought into subjection to him, then the Son also himself shall be placed in subjection to him who put all things in subjection to him, that God may be all in all.)

29 Since what shall the baptised for the dead do if [those that are] dead rise not at all? why also are they baptised for them?

30 Why do *we* also endanger ourselves every hour?

31 Daily I die, by your boasting which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord.

32 If, [to speak] after the manner of man, I have fought with beasts in Ephesus, what is the profit to me if [those that are] dead do not rise? let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we die.

33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

34 Awake up righteously, and sin not; for some are ignorant of God: I speak to you as a matter of shame.

35 But some one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what body do they come?

36 Fool; what *thou* sowest is not quickened unless it die.

37 And what thou sowest, thou sowest not the body that shall be, but a bare grain: it may be of wheat, or some one of the rest:

38 and God gives to it a body as he has pleased, and to each of the seeds its own body.

39 Every flesh [is] not the same flesh, but one [is] of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another [flesh] of birds, and another of fishes.

40 And [there are] heavenly bodies, and earthly bodies: but different is the glory of the heavenly, different that of the earthly:

41 one [the] sun's glory, and another [the] moon's glory, and another [the] stars' glory; for star differs from star in glory.

42 Thus also [is] the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruptibility.

43 It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.

44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body: if there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual [one].

45 Thus also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul; the last Adam a quickening spirit.

46 But that which is spiritual [was] not first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual:

47 the first man out of [the] earth, made of dust; the second man, out of heaven.

48 Such as he made of dust, such also those made of dust; and such as the heavenly [one], such also the heavenly [ones].

49 And as we have borne the image of the [one] made of dust, we shall bear also the image of the heavenly [one].

50 But this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit God's kingdom, nor does corruption inherit incorruptibility.

51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 in an instant, in [the] twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and *we* shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must needs put on incorruptibility, and this mortal put on immortality.

54 But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruptibility, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the word written: Death has been swallowed up in victory.

55 Where, O death, [is] thy sting? where, O death, thy victory?

56 Now the sting of death [is] sin, and the power of sin the law;

57 but thanks to God, who gives us the victory by our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 So then, my beloved brethren, be firm, immovable, abounding always in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in [the] Lord.

16 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the assemblies of Galatia, so do *ye* do also.

On [the] first of [the] week let each of you put by at home, laying up [in] whatever [degree] he may have prospered, that there may be no collections when I come.

And when I am arrived, whomsoever ye shall approve, these I will send with letters to carry your bounty to Jerusalem:

and if it be suitable that *I* also should go, they shall go with me.

But I will come to you when I shall have gone through Macedonia; for I do go through Macedonia.

But perhaps I will stay with you, or even winter with you, that *ye* may set me forward wheresoever I may go.

For I will not see you now in passing, for I hope to remain a certain time with you, if the Lord permit.

But I remain in Ephesus until Pentecost.

For a great door is opened to me and an effectual [one], and [the] adversaries many.

10 Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear; for he works the work of the Lord, even as I.

11 Let not therefore any one despise him; but set him forward in peace, that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brethren.

12 Now concerning the brother Apollos, I begged him much that he would go to you with the brethren; but it was not at all [his] will to go now; but he will come when he shall have good opportunity.

13 Be vigilant; stand fast in the faith; quit yourselves like men; be strong.

14 Let all things ye do be done in love.

15 But I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first-fruits of Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the saints for service,)

16 that *ye* should also be subject to such, and to every one joined in the work and labouring.

17 But I rejoice in the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus; because *they* have supplied what was lacking on your part.

18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: own therefore such.

19 The assemblies of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla, with the assembly in their house, salute you much in [the] Lord.

20 All the brethren salute you. Salute one another with a holy kiss.

21 The salutation of [me] Paul with my own hand.

22 If any one love not the Lord [Jesus Christ] let him be Anathema Maranatha.

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you.

24 My love [be] with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

The Resurrection of Christ

15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel(A) I preached to you,(B) which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved,(C) if you hold firmly(D) to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

For what I received(E) I passed on to you(F) as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins(G) according to the Scriptures,(H) that he was buried,(I) that he was raised(J) on the third day(K) according to the Scriptures,(L) and that he appeared to Cephas,[b](M) and then to the Twelve.(N) After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.(O) Then he appeared to James,(P) then to all the apostles,(Q) and last of all he appeared to me also,(R) as to one abnormally born.

For I am the least of the apostles(S) and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted(T) the church of God.(U) 10 But by the grace(V) of God I am what I am, and his grace to me(W) was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them(X)—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.(Y) 11 Whether, then, it is I or they,(Z) this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

The Resurrection of the Dead

12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead,(AA) how can some of you say that there is no resurrection(AB) of the dead?(AC) 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised,(AD) our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead.(AE) But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.(AF) 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep(AG) in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.(AH)

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,(AI) the firstfruits(AJ) of those who have fallen asleep.(AK) 21 For since death came through a man,(AL) the resurrection of the dead(AM) comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.(AN) 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits;(AO) then, when he comes,(AP) those who belong to him.(AQ) 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom(AR) to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.(AS) 25 For he must reign(AT) until he has put all his enemies under his feet.(AU) 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.(AV) 27 For he “has put everything under his feet.”[c](AW) Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.(AX) 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him,(AY) so that God may be all in all.(AZ)

29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? 30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?(BA) 31 I face death every day(BB)—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If I fought wild beasts(BC) in Ephesus(BD) with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,

“Let us eat and drink,
    for tomorrow we die.”[d](BE)

33 Do not be misled:(BF) “Bad company corrupts good character.”[e](BG) 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God(BH)—I say this to your shame.(BI)

The Resurrection Body

35 But someone will ask,(BJ) “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?”(BK) 36 How foolish!(BL) What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.(BM) 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body.(BN) 39 Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. 41 The sun has one kind of splendor,(BO) the moon another and the stars another;(BP) and star differs from star in splendor.

42 So will it be(BQ) with the resurrection of the dead.(BR) The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;(BS) 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory;(BT) it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.(BU)

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”[f];(BV) the last Adam,(BW) a life-giving spirit.(BX) 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.(BY) 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth;(BZ) the second man is of heaven.(CA) 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven.(CB) 49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man,(CC) so shall we[g] bear the image of the heavenly man.(CD)

50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood(CE) cannot inherit the kingdom of God,(CF) nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.(CG) 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery:(CH) We will not all sleep,(CI) but we will all be changed(CJ) 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound,(CK) the dead(CL) will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable(CM) must clothe itself with the imperishable,(CN) and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”[h](CO)

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?”[i](CP)

56 The sting of death is sin,(CQ) and the power of sin is the law.(CR) 57 But thanks be to God!(CS) He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.(CT)

58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,(CU) because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.(CV)

The Collection for the Lord’s People

16 Now about the collection(CW) for the Lord’s people:(CX) Do what I told the Galatian(CY) churches to do. On the first day of every week,(CZ) each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.(DA) Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve(DB) and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.

Personal Requests

After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you(DC)—for I will be going through Macedonia.(DD) Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey,(DE) wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.(DF) But I will stay on at Ephesus(DG) until Pentecost,(DH) because a great door for effective work has opened to me,(DI) and there are many who oppose me.

10 When Timothy(DJ) comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord,(DK) just as I am. 11 No one, then, should treat him with contempt.(DL) Send him on his way(DM) in peace(DN) so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.

12 Now about our brother Apollos:(DO) I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.

13 Be on your guard; stand firm(DP) in the faith; be courageous; be strong.(DQ) 14 Do everything in love.(DR)

15 You know that the household of Stephanas(DS) were the first converts(DT) in Achaia,(DU) and they have devoted themselves to the service(DV) of the Lord’s people.(DW) I urge you, brothers and sisters, 16 to submit(DX) to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. 17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.(DY) 18 For they refreshed(DZ) my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.(EA)

Final Greetings

19 The churches in the province of Asia(EB) send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla[j](EC) greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.(ED) 20 All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.(EE)

21 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.(EF)

22 If anyone does not love the Lord,(EG) let that person be cursed!(EH) Come, Lord[k]!(EI)

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.(EJ)

24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.[l]

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:3 Or you at the first
  2. 1 Corinthians 15:5 That is, Peter
  3. 1 Corinthians 15:27 Psalm 8:6
  4. 1 Corinthians 15:32 Isaiah 22:13
  5. 1 Corinthians 15:33 From the Greek poet Menander
  6. 1 Corinthians 15:45 Gen. 2:7
  7. 1 Corinthians 15:49 Some early manuscripts so let us
  8. 1 Corinthians 15:54 Isaiah 25:8
  9. 1 Corinthians 15:55 Hosea 13:14
  10. 1 Corinthians 16:19 Greek Prisca, a variant of Priscilla
  11. 1 Corinthians 16:22 The Greek for Come, Lord reproduces an Aramaic expression (Marana tha) used by early Christians.
  12. 1 Corinthians 16:24 Some manuscripts do not have Amen.