The gospel
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 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. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them — yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
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.
After 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.
Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them — yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
But 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.
Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
The resurrection is real
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 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. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he has put everything under his feet. 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. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
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. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.
Yea, 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.
For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.
For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.
Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.
But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.
Then 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.
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
For he has put everything under his feet. 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.
For 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.
When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
And 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.
The resurrection body
Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptised for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptised for them? And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I face death every day — yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus 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. Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character. Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God — I say this to your shame. But someone will ask, How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come? How foolish. What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendour of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendour of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendour, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendour. So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. 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. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.
Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptised for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptised for them?
Else 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?
And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?
And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
I face death every day — yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our LORD, I die daily.
If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus 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.
If 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.
Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God — I say this to your shame.
Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
But someone will ask, How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?
But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
How foolish. What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.
Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else.
And 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:
But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body.
But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another.
All 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.
There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendour of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendour of the earthly bodies is another.
There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
The sun has one kind of splendour, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendour.
There 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.
So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;
It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
So it is written: The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.
Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven.
The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
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.
As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.
And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Death swallowed up
I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — in a flash, 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. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 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. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God. He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.
I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed —
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
in a flash, 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.
In 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.
For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
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.
So 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.
Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God. He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.