1 Corinthians 15:20-57

New International Version

²⁰ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,^(A) the firstfruits^(B) of those who have fallen asleep.^{(C) 21} For since death came through a man,^(D) the resurrection of the dead^(E) comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.^{(F) 23} But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits;^(G) then, when he comes,^(H) those who belong to him.^{(I) 24} Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom^(J) to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.^{(K) 25} For he must reign^(L) until he has put all his enemies under his feet.^{(M) 26} The last enemy to be destroyed is death.^{(N) 27} For he “has put everything under his feet.”^[a](O) 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.^{(P) 28} When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him,^(Q) so that God may be all in all.^(R)

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?^{(S) 31} I face death every day^(T)—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. ³² If I fought wild beasts^(U) in Ephesus^(V) with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,

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

The Resurrection Body

³⁵ But someone will ask,^(AB) “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?”^{(AC) 36} How foolish!^(AD) What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.^{(AE) 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.^{(AF) 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,^(AG) the moon another and the stars another;^(AH) and star differs from star in splendor.

⁴² So will it be^(AI) with the resurrection of the dead.^(AJ) The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;^{(AK) 43} it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory;^(AL) it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; ⁴⁴ it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.^(AM)

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];^(AN) the last Adam,^(AO) a life-giving spirit.^{(AP) 46} The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.^{(AQ) 47} The first man was of the dust of the earth;^(AR) the second man is of heaven.^{(AS) 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.^{(AT) 49} And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man,^(AU) so shall we^[e] bear the image of the heavenly man.^(AV)

⁵⁰ I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood^(AW) cannot inherit the kingdom of God,^(AX) nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.^{(AY) 51} Listen, I tell you a mystery:^(AZ) We will not all sleep,^(BA) but we will all be changed^(BB)— ⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound,^(BC) the dead^(BD) will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For the perishable^(BE) must clothe itself with the imperishable,^(BF) and the mortal with immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”^[f](BG)

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin,^(BI) and the power of sin is the law.^{(BJ) 57} But thanks be to God!^(BK) He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.^(BL)