1 Corinthians 15:12-20

New English Translation

No Resurrection?

¹² Now if Christ is being preached as raised from the dead,^[a] how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty. ¹⁵ Also, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified against God that he raised Christ from the dead, when in reality he did not raise him, if indeed the dead are not raised. ¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Furthermore, those who have fallen asleep^[b] in Christ have also perished. ¹⁹ For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone.

²⁰ But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.