1 Corinthians 15

1 Now I make known to you, brothers, the good news that I brought to you as good news, which you also received, in which you also stand, 2 through which you are also being saved — by what word I brought the good news to you, if you hold it fast — unless you trusted to no purpose. [a]

3 For I handed on to you among the first things what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, [b] 4 and that he was buried, and that he has been raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, [c] 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve; [d] 6 then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, of whom the greater number remain until now, but some fell asleep; 7 then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles; [e] 8 and last of all, as to the miscarriage, he appeared also to me. [f]

9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the gathering of God; 10 but by the favor of God I am what I am, and his favor toward me did not turn out empty, but I labored more than all of them — yet not I, but the favor of God that is with me. [g] 11 So whether I or they, this is how we proclaim and this is how you trusted.

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as having been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is empty, and your faith is empty; 15 and we are found to be false witnesses of God as well, because we testified against God that he raised the Christ — whom he did not raise, if indeed then the dead are not raised.

16 For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then also those who fell asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable of all people. [h]

20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruit of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since through a man came death, through a man also came resurrection of the dead. 22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruit, then those who are Christ’s at his coming; 24 then the end, when he hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when he does away with every rule and every authority and power. [i]

25 For he must reign until he puts all the enemies under his feet. [j] 26 The last enemy is done away with — death; 27 for [k]

But when he says that everything has been made subject, it is clear that this is apart from the one who made everything subject to him. 28 And when everything has been made subject to him, then the Son himself will also be made subject to the one who made everything subject to him, so that God may be all in all.

29 Otherwise, what will they do who are immersed for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why indeed are they immersed for them? [m] 30 Why do we also stand in danger every hour? 31 Day by day I die — by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord. [n] 32 If in a human way I fought wild beasts at Ephesus, what benefit is it to me? If the dead are not raised, [o]

33 Do not be led astray: bad company ruins good habits. [p] 34 Sober up, as is right, and do not sin; for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. [q]

35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” 36 Foolish one! What you sow is not made alive unless it dies; 37 and what you sow — you do not sow the body that is going to be, but a bare grain, it may be of wheat or of some of the rest; † 38 but God gives it a body just as he willed, and to each of the seeds its own body.

39 Not all flesh is the same flesh, but one is of human beings, and another flesh of animals, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. 40 And there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies; but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly of another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of stars; for star differs from star in glory.

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in decay, it is raised in imperishability; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a soulish body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a soulish body, there is also a spiritual one. [r] 45 So it is also written: [s] †

46 But the spiritual is not first; rather the soulish, then the spiritual. 47 The first man is from earth, made of dust; the second man is from heaven. [t] 48 As is the one made of dust, so also are those made of dust; and as is the heavenly one, so also are the heavenly ones; 49 and just as we wore the image of the one made of dust, we will also wear the image of the heavenly one. [u]

50 But this I say, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does decay inherit imperishability. † 51 Look, I tell you a secret: we will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, [v] 52 in an instant, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet; for it will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. [w] 53 For this perishable must put on imperishability, and this mortal must put on immortality. † 54 And when this perishable puts on imperishability and this mortal puts on immortality, then the word that is written will come about: [x]

56 And the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 So then, my beloved brothers, become settled, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not empty in the Lord.