The Resurrection of Christ

1But I make known to you, brethren, the gospel that I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.

3For I delivered to you among the first things, that which I also 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 by Cephas, then by the twelve; 6after that, he was seen by more than five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain till this day; but some have fallen asleep. 7After that, he was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8Last of all, he was seen by me also, as one untimely born. 9For I am the least of the apostles, and I am not worthy 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 bestowed on me, has not been bestowed in vain: but I have labored more abundantly than they all; not I, how ever, but the grace of God which was with me. 11Whether, therefore, I or they, so we preached, and so you believed.

The Resurrection of the Dead

12But if Christ is preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you, that a resurrection of the dead is impossible? 13But if a resurrection of the dead is impossible, Christ has not been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, then vain is our preaching, and vain also your faith. 15We are, indeed, also found false witnesses of God; for we have testified against God, that he raised the Christ, whom he did not raise, if, indeed, the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised; 17and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are yet in your sins. 18Then, also, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most miserable.

The Order of Resurrection

20But now, Christ has risen from the dead, the first-fruits of those who slept. 21For, since through man came death, through man comes also the resurrection of the dead. 22For, as in Adam all die, so, also, in Christ shall all be made alive: 23but each in his own order; Christ the first-fruit, afterward, those who are Christ's at his coming. 24Then comes the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down every principality and authority and power: 25for he must reign till he has put all enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy, Death, shall be destroyed. 27For he has put all things under his feet. But when the scripture says, that all things are put under him, it is evident that he is excepted, who did put all things under him. 28And when all things shall have been put under him, then, also, shall the Son himself be subjected to him that did put all things under him, that God may be the all in all.

29For else, what shall those do, who are immersed for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why, then, are they immersed for the dead? 30And why are we in danger every hour? 31I protest, by the joy which I have over you in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32If, to speak as a man, I have fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me, if the dead rise not? Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. 33Be not deceived: Evil communications corrupt good manners. 34Awake, as you should, to soberness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

The Resurrection Body

35But some one will say: How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36Thoughtless man! That which you sow is not made alive, unless it die; 37and as to that which you sow, you sow not the body that shall be produced, but the naked grain, it may be of wheat, or of some other grain: 38but God gives it a body, as it pleases him; and to every seed, its proper body. 39All flesh is not the same flesh; but there is one flesh of men, another of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40There are also bodies celestial, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and that of the terrestrial is another. 41There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs 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 dishonor, 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. 45So, also, it is written: The first man Adam became a living soul, the last Adam a life-giving spirit. 46But that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is animal; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man, the Lord from heaven. 48As the earthy man was, such also are the earthy; and as the heavenly man is, such also shall the heavenly be. 49And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Where, O Death, Is Your Victory?

50But this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51Behold, I declare to you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed 52in a moment, 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. 53For this corruptible body must put on incorruptibility; and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54And when this corruptible body shall have put on incorruptibility, and this mortal body shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the word that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. 55Death, where is thy sting? Hades, where is thy victory? 56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; for you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.