I Corinthians 15
15
The Risen Christ, Faith’s Reality
1Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel #Rom. 2:16; (Gal. 1:11)which I preached to you, which also you received and #(Rom. 5:2; 11:20; 2 Cor. 1:24)in which you stand, 2#Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:21by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless #Gal. 3:4you believed in vain.
3For #1 Cor. 11:2, 23I delivered to you first of all that #(Gal. 1:12)which I also received: that Christ died for our sins #Ps. 22:15; Is. 53:5–12; Acts 3:18; 1 Pet. 1:11according to the Scriptures, 4and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day #Gen. 1:9–13; 2 Kin. 20:8; Ps. 16:9–11; 68:18; 110:1; Is. 53:10; Hos. 6:2; Jon. 1:17; 2:10; Matt. 12:39, 40; Mark 8:31; Luke 11:29, 30; 24:26; John 2:19–21; Acts 2:25according to the Scriptures, 5#Luke 24:34and that He was seen by Cephas, then #Matt. 28:17by the twelve. 6After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7After that He was seen by James, then #Luke 24:50; Acts 1:3, 4by all the apostles. 8#(Acts 9:3–8; 22:6–11; 26:12–18); 1 Cor. 9:1Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
9For I am #2 Cor. 12:11; Eph. 3:8; 1 Tim. 1:15the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because #Acts 8:3I persecuted the church of God. 10But #Eph. 3:7, 8by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, #Matt. 10:20; Rom. 15:18; Gal. 2:8; Phil. 2:13yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
The Risen Christ, Our Hope
12Now 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? 13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, #(1 Thess. 4:14)then Christ is not risen. 14And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because #Acts 2:24we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; #(Rom. 4:25)you are still in your sins! 18Then also those who have fallen #Job 14:12; Ps. 13:3asleep in Christ have perished. 19#1 Cor. 4:9; 2 Tim. 3:12If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
The Last Enemy Destroyed
20But now #Acts 2:24; 1 Pet. 1:3Christ is risen from the dead, and has become #Acts 26:23; 1 Cor. 15:23; Rev. 1:5the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For #Gen. 3:19; Ezek. 18:4; Rom. 5:12; 6:23; Heb. 9:27since by man came death, #John 11:25by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall #(John 5:28, 29)be made alive. 23But #(1 Thess. 4:15–17)each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24Then comes the end, when He delivers #(Dan. 2:44; 7:14, 27; 2 Pet. 1:11)the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25For He must reign #Ps. 110:1; Matt. 22:44till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26#(2 Tim. 1:10; Rev. 20:14; 21:4)The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27For #Ps. 8:6“He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28#(Phil. 3:21)Now when all things are made subject to Him, then #1 Cor. 3:23; 11:3; 12:6the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
Effects of Denying the Resurrection
29Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? 30And #2 Cor. 11:26why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? 31I affirm, by #1 Thess. 2:19the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, #Rom. 8:36I die daily. 32If, in the manner of men, #2 Cor. 1:8I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, #Eccl. 2:24; Is. 22:13; 56:12; Luke 12:19“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
33Do not be deceived: #(1 Cor. 5:6)“Evil company corrupts good habits.” 34#Rom. 13:11; Eph. 5:14Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; #(1 Thess. 4:5)for some do not have the knowledge of God. #1 Cor. 6:5I speak this to your shame.
A Glorious Body
35But someone will say, #Ezek. 37:3“How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” 36Foolish one, #John 12:24what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. 38But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.
39All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.
40There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41There 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.
42#(Dan. 12:3; Matt. 13:43)So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43#(Phil. 3:21; Col. 3:4)It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45And so it is written, #Gen. 2:7“The first man Adam became a living being.” #(Rom. 5:14)The last Adam became #John 5:21; 6:57; (Rom. 8:2; Phil. 3:21; Col. 3:4)a life-giving spirit.
46However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47#John 3:31The first man was of the earth, #Gen. 2:7; 3:19made of dust; the second Man is the Lord #John 3:13from heaven. 48As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; #Phil. 3:20and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49And #Gen. 5:3as we have borne the image of the man of dust, #Rom. 8:29; (2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:21; 1 John 3:2)we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.
Our Final Victory
50Now this I say, brethren, that #Matt. 16:17; (John 3:3, 5)flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51Behold, I tell you a mystery: #(1 Thess. 4:15)We shall not all sleep, #(Phil. 3:21)but we shall all be changed— 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. #Zech. 9:14; Matt. 24:31; John 5:25For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and #2 Cor. 5:4this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: #Is. 25:8; (Rev. 20:14)“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55“O#Hos. 13:14 Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
56The sting of death is sin, and #(Rom. 3:20; 4:15; 7:8)the strength of sin is the law. 57#(Rom. 7:25); 2 Cor. 2:14But thanks be to God, who gives us #Rom. 8:37; (Heb. 2:14; 1 John 5:4); Rev. 21:4the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58#2 Pet. 3:14Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing #(1 Cor. 3:8)that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
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I Corinthians 15: NKJV
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
1 Corinthians 15
15
The Good News About Jesus Christ
1Now, brothers and sisters, I want you to remember the Good News I told you. You received that Good News message, and you continue to base your life on it. 2That Good News, the message you heard from me, is God’s way to save you. But you must continue believing it. If you don’t, you believed for nothing.
3I gave you the message that I received. I told you the most important truths: that Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say; 4that he was buried and was raised to life on the third day, as the Scriptures say; 5and that he appeared to Peter and then to the twelve apostles. 6After that Christ appeared to more than 500 other believers at the same time. Most of them are still living today, but some have died. 7Then he appeared to James and later to all the apostles. 8Last of all, he appeared to me. I was different, like a baby born before the normal time.
9All the other apostles are greater than I am. I say this because I persecuted the church of God. That is why I am not even good enough to be called an apostle. 10But, because of God’s grace, that is what I am. And his grace that he gave me was not wasted. I worked harder than all the other apostles. (But I was not really the one working. It was God’s grace that was with me.) 11So then it is not important if I told you God’s message or if it was the other apostles who told you—we all tell people the same message, and this is what you believed.
We Will Be Raised From Death
12We tell everyone that Christ was raised from death. So why do some of you say that people will not be raised from death? 13If no one will ever be raised from death, then Christ has never been raised. 14And if Christ has never been raised, then the message we tell is worth nothing. And your faith is worth nothing. 15And we will also be guilty of lying about God, because we have told people about him, saying that he raised Christ from death. And if no one is raised from death, then God never raised Christ from death. 16If those who have died are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised from death, then your faith is for nothing; you are still guilty of your sins. 18And those in Christ who have already died are lost. 19If our hope in Christ is only for this life here on earth, then people should feel more sorry for us than for anyone else.
20But Christ really has been raised from death—the first one of all those who will be raised. 21Death comes to people because of what one man did. But now there is resurrection from death because of another man. 22I mean that in Adam all of us die. And in the same way, in Christ all of us will be made alive again. 23But everyone will be raised to life in the right order. Christ was first to be raised. Then, when Christ comes again, those who belong to him will be raised to life. 24Then the end will come. Christ will destroy all rulers, authorities, and powers. Then he will give the kingdom to God the Father.
25Christ must rule until God puts all enemies under his control.#15:25 control Literally, “feet.” 26The last enemy to be destroyed will be death. 27As the Scriptures say, “God put everything under his control.”#Quote from Ps. 8:6. When it says that “everything” is put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself. God is the one putting everything under Christ’s control. 28After everything has been put under Christ, then the Son himself will be put under God. God is the one who put everything under Christ. And Christ will be put under God so that God will be the complete ruler over everything.
29If no one will ever be raised from death, then what will the people do who are baptized for those who have died? If the dead are never raised, then why are people baptized for them?
30And what about us? Why do we put ourselves in danger every hour? 31I face death every day. That is true, brothers and sisters, just as it is true that I am proud of what you are because of Christ Jesus our Lord. 32I fought wild animals in Ephesus. If I did that only for human reasons, then I have gained nothing. If we are not raised from death, “Let us eat and drink, because tomorrow we die.”#Quote from Isa. 22:13; 56:12.
33Don’t be fooled: “Bad friends will ruin good habits.” 34Come back to your right way of thinking and stop sinning. Some of you don’t know God. I say this to shame you.
What Kind of Body Will We Have?
35But someone may ask, “How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have?” 36These are stupid questions. When you plant something, it must die in the ground before it can live and grow. 37And when you plant something, what you plant does not have the same “body” that it will have later. What you plant is only a seed, maybe wheat or something else. 38But God gives it the body that he has planned for it, and he gives each kind of seed its own body. 39All things made of flesh are not the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds have another, and fish have yet another kind. 40Also there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. But the beauty of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the beauty of the earthly bodies is another. 41The sun has one kind of beauty, the moon has another kind, and the stars have another. And each star is different in its beauty.
42It will be the same when those who have died are raised to life. The body that is “planted” in the grave will ruin and decay, but it will be raised to a life that cannot be destroyed. 43When the body is “planted,” it is without honor. But when it is raised, it will be great and glorious. When the body is “planted,” it is weak. But when it is raised, it will be full of power. 44The body that is “planted” is a physical body. When it is raised, it will be a spiritual body.
There is a physical body. So there is also a spiritual body. 45As the Scriptures say, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.#15:45 person Literally, “soul.””#Quote from Gen. 2:7. But the last Adam#15:45 Adam The name Adam means “man.” Here, “the last Adam” refers to Christ, the “man of heaven.” is a life-giving spirit. 46The spiritual man did not come first. It was the physical man that came first; then came the spiritual. 47The first man came from the dust of the earth. The second man came from heaven. 48All people belong to the earth. They are like that first man of earth. But those who belong to heaven are like that man of heaven. 49We were made like that man of earth, so we will also be made like that man of heaven.
50I tell you this, brothers and sisters: Our bodies of flesh and blood cannot have a part in God’s kingdom. Something that will ruin cannot have a part in something that never ruins. 51But listen, I tell you this secret: We will not all die, but we will all be changed. 52It will only take the time of a second. We will be changed as quickly as an eye blinks. This will happen when the last trumpet blows. The trumpet will blow and those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we will all be changed. 53This body that ruins must clothe itself with something that will never ruin. And this body that dies must clothe itself with something that will never die. 54So this body that ruins will clothe itself with that which never ruins. And this body that dies will clothe itself with that which never dies. When this happens, the Scriptures will be made true:
“Death is swallowed in victory.” Isaiah 25:8
55“O death, where is your victory?
Where is your power to hurt?” Hosea 13:14
56Death’s power to hurt is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But we thank God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
58So, my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Don’t let anything change you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. You know that your work in the Lord is never wasted.
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