1 Corinthians 15:12-50

New International Version

The Resurrection of the Dead

¹² But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead,^(A) how can some of you say that there is no resurrection^(B) of the dead?^{(C) 13} If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised,^(D) our preaching is useless and so is your faith. ¹⁵ More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead.^(E) But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. ¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. ¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.^{(F) 18} Then those also who have fallen asleep^(G) in Christ are lost. ¹⁹ If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.^(H)

²⁰ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,^(I) the firstfruits^(J) of those who have fallen asleep.^{(K) 21} For since death came through a man,^(L) the resurrection of the dead^(M) comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.^{(N) 23} But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits;^(O) then, when he comes,^(P) those who belong to him.^{(Q) 24} Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom^(R) to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.^{(S) 25} For he must reign^(T) until he has put all his enemies under his feet.^{(U) 26} The last enemy to be destroyed is death.^{(V) 27} For he “has put everything under his feet.”^[a](W) Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.^{(X) 28} When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him,^(Y) so that God may be all in all.^(Z)

²⁹ Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? ³⁰ And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?^{(AA) 31} I face death every day^(AB)—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. ³² If I fought wild beasts^(AC) in Ephesus^(AD) with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,

³³ Do not be misled:^(AF) “Bad company corrupts good character.”^{[c](AG) 34} Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God^(AH)—I say this to your shame.^(AI)

The Resurrection Body

³⁵ But someone will ask,^(AJ) “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?”^{(AK) 36} How foolish!^(AL) What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.^{(AM) 37} When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. ³⁸ But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body.^{(AN) 39} Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. ⁴⁰ There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. ⁴¹ The sun has one kind of splendor,^(AO) the moon another and the stars another;^(AP) and star differs from star in splendor.

⁴² So will it be^(AQ) with the resurrection of the dead.^(AR) The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;^{(AS) 43} it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory;^(AT) it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; ⁴⁴ it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.^(AU)

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”^[d];^(AV) the last Adam,^(AW) a life-giving spirit.^{(AX) 46} The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.^{(AY) 47} The first man was of the dust of the earth;^(AZ) the second man is of heaven.^{(BA) 48} As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven.^{(BB) 49} And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man,^(BC) so shall we^[e] bear the image of the heavenly man.^(BD)

⁵⁰ I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood^(BE) cannot inherit the kingdom of God,^(BF) nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.^(BG)