1 Corinthians 15:12-41

English Standard Version

The Resurrection of the Dead

¹² Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, ^(A)how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, ^(B)then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. ¹⁵ We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that ^(C)he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. ¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and ^(D)you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Then those also who ^(E)have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If in Christ we have hope^[a] in this life only, ^(F)we are of all people most to be pitied.

²⁰ But in fact ^(G)Christ has been raised from the dead, ^(H)the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For as ^(I)by a man came death, ^(J)by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. ²² For ^(K)as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. ²³ But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then ^(L)at his coming ^(M)those who belong to Christ. ²⁴ Then comes the end, when he delivers ^(N)the kingdom to God the Father after destroying ^(O)every rule and every authority and power. ²⁵ For he must reign ^(P)until he has put all his enemies under his feet. ²⁶ The last enemy to be ^(Q)destroyed is death. ²⁷ For ^(R)“God^[b] has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. ²⁸ When ^(S)all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that ^(T)God may be all in all.

²⁹ Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? ³⁰ Why are we ^(U)in danger every hour? ³¹ I protest, brothers, by ^(V)my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, ^(W)I die every day! ³² What do I gain if, humanly speaking, ^(X)I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, ^(Y)“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” ^33 (Z)Do not be deceived: ^(AA)“Bad company ruins good morals.”^{[c] 34 (AB)}Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For ^(AC)some have no knowledge of God. ^(AD)I say this to your shame.

The Resurrection Body

³⁵ But someone will ask, ^(AE)“How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” ³⁶ You foolish person! ^(AF)What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. ³⁷ And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. ³⁸ But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. ³⁹ For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. ⁴⁰ There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. ⁴¹ There 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.