The Sadducees and the Resurrection

²⁷ Some^(A) of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection,^(B) came up and questioned him: ²⁸ “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother has a wife, and dies childless, his brother should take the wife and produce offspring for his brother.^{[a](C) 29} Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife and died without children. ³⁰ Also the second^{[b] 31} and the third took her. In the same way, all seven died and left no children. ³² Finally, the woman died too. ³³ In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For all seven had married her.”

³⁴ Jesus told them, “The children of this age^(D) marry and are given in marriage.^{(E) 35} But those who are counted worthy^(F) to take part in that age^(G) and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. ³⁶ For they can no longer die,^(H) because they are like angels and are children of God,^(I) since they are children of the resurrection. ³⁷ Moses even indicated in the passage about the burning bush that the dead are raised, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.^{[c](J) 38} He is not the God of the dead but of the living, because all are living to^[d] him.”^(K)

From Groans to Glory

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing^(A) with the glory^(B) that is going to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation^(C) for God’s sons^(D) to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected^(E) to futility^(F)—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it^(G)—in the hope ²¹ that the creation itself^(H) will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. ²² For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains^(I) until now. ²³ Not only that,^(J) but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits^(K)—we also groan within ourselves,^(L) eagerly waiting for adoption,^(M) the redemption of our bodies.^{(N) 24} Now in this hope^(O) we were saved, but hope^(P) that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ Now if we hope for what we do not see,^(Q) we eagerly wait for it with patience.

Resurrection Essential to the Faith

¹² Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead,^(A) how can some of you say, “There is no resurrection of the dead”?^{(B) 13} 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 proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith.^{[a] 15} Moreover, we are found to be false witnesses^(C) about God, because we have testified^(D) wrongly about God that he raised up Christ—whom he did not raise up, if in fact 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 worthless; you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Those, then, who have fallen asleep in Christ^(E) have also perished. ¹⁹ If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.

Christ’s Resurrection Guarantees Ours

²⁰ But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits^(F) of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since death^(G) came through a man,^(H) the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man.^{(I) 22} For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.^(J)

²³ But each in his own order:^(K) Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ. ²⁴ Then comes the end,^(L) when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father,^(M) when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power.^{(N) 25} For he must reign^(O) until he puts all his enemies under his feet.^{(P) 26} The last enemy to be abolished is death.^(Q)