1 Corinthians 15

The Resurrection of Christ 1 Corinthians 15:3–11

³Verse 3. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴Verse 4. that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵Verse 5. and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. ⁶Verse 6. Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep. ⁷Verse 7. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, ⁸Verse 8. and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.

⁹Verse 9. For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God. ¹⁰Verse 10. But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was given to me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. ¹¹Verse 11. Whether then it is I or they, so we preach, and so you believed.

Consequences of Denying Resurrection 1 Corinthians 15:12–19

¹²Verse 12. Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³Verse 13. But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised. ¹⁴Verse 14. If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is in vain. ¹⁵Verse 15. Yes, we are also found false witnesses of God, because we testified about God that he raised up Christ, whom he didn’t raise up, if it is so that the dead are not raised. ¹⁶Verse 16. For if the dead aren’t raised, neither has Christ been raised.

¹⁷Verse 17. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. ¹⁸Verse 18. Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹Verse 19. If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.

Christ as the First Fruits 1 Corinthians 15:20–28

²⁰Verse 20. But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep. ²¹Verse 21. For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man. ²²Verse 22. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. ²³Verse 23. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s, at his coming. ²⁴Verse 24. Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵Verse 25. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

²⁶Verse 26. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. ²⁷Verse 27. For, “He put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when he says, “All things are put in subjection”, it is evident that he is excepted who subjected all things to him. ²⁸Verse 28. When all things have been subjected to him, then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all.

Arguments for the Resurrection 1 Corinthians 15:29–34

²⁹Verse 29. Or else what will they do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead aren’t raised at all, why then are they baptized for the dead? ³⁰Verse 30. Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour? ³¹Verse 31. I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. ³²Verse 32. If I fought with animals at Ephesus for human purposes, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, then “let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” ³³Verse 33. Don’t be deceived! “Evil companionships corrupt good morals.” ³⁴Verse 34. Wake up righteously, and don’t sin, for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

Nature of Resurrection Bodies 1 Corinthians 15:35–49

³⁵Verse 35. But someone will say, “How are the dead raised?” and, “With what kind of body do they come?” ³⁶Verse 36. You foolish one, that which you yourself sow is not made alive unless it dies. ³⁷Verse 37. That which you sow, you don’t sow the body that will be, but a bare grain, maybe of wheat, or of some other kind. ³⁸Verse 38. But God gives it a body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own. ³⁹Verse 39. All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.

⁴⁰Verse 40. There are also celestial bodies, and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial differs from that of the terrestrial. ⁴¹Verse 41. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. ⁴²Verse 42. So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown perishable; it is raised imperishable. ⁴³Verse 43. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. ⁴⁴Verse 44. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body.

⁴⁵Verse 45. So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶Verse 46. However that which is spiritual isn’t first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual. ⁴⁷Verse 47. The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven. ⁴⁸Verse 48. As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. ⁴⁹Verse 49. As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let’s also bear the image of the heavenly.

Victory Over Death 1 Corinthians 15:50–58

⁵⁰Verse 50. Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood can’t inherit God’s Kingdom; neither does the perishable inherit imperishable. ⁵¹Verse 51. Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, ⁵²Verse 52. in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. ⁵³Verse 53. For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴Verse 54. But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

⁵⁵Verse 55. “Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?” ⁵⁶Verse 56. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷Verse 57. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸Verse 58. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.