1 Corinthians 15:20–49

Christ’s Resurrection Guarantees Ours

²⁰But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits ^sof those who have fallen asleep. ²¹For since death ^tcame through a man, ^uthe resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. ^v22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. ^w23But each in his own order: ^xChrist, the firstfruits; afterward, at His coming, those who belong to Christ. ²⁴Then comes the end, ^ywhen He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, ^zwhen He abolishes all rule and all authority and power. ^a25For He must reign ^buntil He puts all His enemies under His feet. ^c26The last enemy to be abolished is death. ^d27For God has put everything under His feet. ^efBut when it says “everything” is put under Him, it is obvious that He who puts everything under Him is the exception. ²⁸And when everything is subject to Christ, then the Son ^gHimself will also be subject to the One who subjected everything to Him, so that God may be all in all. ^h

Resurrection Supported by Christian Experience

²⁹Otherwise what will they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them? ⁱ³⁰Why are we in danger every hour? ³¹I affirm by the pride in you that I have in Christ Jesus our Lord: I die every day! ^j32If I fought wild animals in Ephesus ^kwith only human hope, ^lwhat good did that do me? ^mnIf the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. ^op33Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” ^q34Come to your senses ^rsand stop sinning, for some people are ignorant about God. I say this to your shame. ^t

The Nature of the Resurrection Body

³⁵But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come?” ³⁶Foolish one! What you sow does not come to life ^uunless it dies. ³⁷And as for what you sow—you are not sowing the future body, but only a seed, ^vperhaps of wheat or another grain. ³⁸But God gives it a body as He wants, ^wand to each of the seeds its own body. ³⁹Not all flesh ^xis the same flesh; there is one flesh for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. ⁴⁰There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the splendor ^yof the heavenly bodies is different from that of the earthly ones. ⁴¹There is a splendor of the sun, another of the moon, and another of the stars; for one star differs from another star in splendor. ⁴²So it is with the resurrection of the dead:

Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption; ^z

⁴³sown in dishonor, ^araised in glory; ^b

sown in weakness, raised in power; ^c

⁴⁴sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body.

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵So it is written: The first man Adam became a living being; ^dethe last Adam ^fbecame a life-giving Spirit. ⁴⁶However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, then the spiritual.

⁴⁷The first man was from the earth

and made of dust; ^g

the second man is ^hfrom heaven.

⁴⁸Like the man made of dust,

so are those who are made of dust;

like the heavenly man,

so are those who are heavenly. ⁱ

⁴⁹And just as we have borne

the image ^jof the man made of dust,

we will also bear

the image of the heavenly man. ^k