RESURRECTION ESSENTIAL TO THE FAITH

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead,v how can some of you say, “There is no resurrection of the dead”?w 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.D 15 Moreover, we are found to be false witnessesx about God, because we have testifiedy 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 Christz 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 firstfruitsaa of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since deathab came through a man,ac the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man.ad 22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.ae