The Resurrection of Christ

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

3For I delivered unto you in the first place that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4and that he was buried, and that he arose on the third day according to the Scriptures; 5and that he was seen by Cephas; then by the twelve. 6Then he was seen by more than five hundred brethren at once, of whom the more remain unto this day, but some have fallen asleep. 7Then he was seen by James; then by all the apostles. 8But last of all he was seen by me, as one born out of due time. 9For I am the least of the apostles, who 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 was not vain toward me; but I have labored more abundantly than they all: and not I, but the grace of God with me. 11Then whether I or they, so we preach, and so you believed.

The Resurrection of the Dead

12But if Christ is preached that he is risen from the dead, how do certain ones among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13but if there is no resurrection of the dead, Christ is not risen: 14but if Christ is not risen, then indeed is our preaching vain, and your faith is vain. 15And we are indeed found false witnesses of God; because we testified according to God that he raised Christ: whom he did not raise, if then the dead rise not. 16But if the dead rise not, neither is Christ risen. 17But if Christ is not risen, your faith is vain; you are yet in your sins. 18Then indeed those having fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

The Order of Resurrection

20But now Christ is risen from the dead, the firstfruit of them that slept. 21For since death was through a man, the resurrection of the dead is also through a man. 22For as in Adam all die, so truly in Christ shall all be made alive. 23But each one in his own rank: Christ the first-fruit; then they who are Christ's, at His coming: 24then the end, when he may deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he may destroy all government, all authority and power. 25For it behooves him to reign until he may put all enemies under his feet. 26Death the last enemy is destroyed. 27For, he has subordinated all things beneath his feet. But when he may say, that all things have been subordinated, it is evident that the One having subordinated all things to him is excepted. 28But when he may subordinate all things to him, then the Son himself will also be subordinated to him who hath subordinated all things to Himself, in order that God may be all things in all.

29Then what shall they do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead rise not at all, why are they also baptized for them? 30Why indeed are we in jeopardy every hour? 31I protest by your rejoicing, brethren, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32If after the manner of men I have fought with the wild beasts in Ephesus, what profit is it to me? If the dead rise not, let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die. 33Be not deceived: Evil communications corrupt good manners. 34Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak to your shame.

The Resurrection Body

35But one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what body do they come? 36Thou foolish one, that which thou sowest, is not quickened unless it may die; 37and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not the body that shall be, but naked grain, if it may happen to be of wheat, or of some one of the other grains; 38but God gives it a body as he wished; and to each of the seeds its own body. 39All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is indeed a flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fishes. 40Indeed there are heavenly bodies, and there are earthly bodies: but indeed there is one glory of the heavenlies, and another glory of those upon the earth. 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 a psychical body; it is raised a pneumatical body. If there is a psychical body, there is also a pneumatical (body). 45As indeed it has been written; The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last man Adam, a life-creating spirit. 46But that which is spiritual was not first, but that which is animal; afterward that which is spiritual. 47The first man was from the earth, earthy: the second man from heaven. 48As was the earthy, such are they also who are earthy; and as was the heavenly, such are they also who are heavenly. 49And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we must also bear the image of the heavenly.

Where, O Death, Is Your Victory?

50But I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood are not able to inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption. 51Behold, I speak 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 it behooves this corruptible to put on incorruption, and this mortal to put on immortality. 54But when this corruptible may put on incorruption, and this mortal may put on immorality, then shall the word which has been written be fulfilled, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? 56But the sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be unto God, who gives us our victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58So, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.