1 Corinthians 15:12–23

The Risen Christ, Our Hope

¹²Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³But if there is no resurrection of the dead, ^qthen Christ is not risen. ¹⁴And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. ¹⁵Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because ^rwe have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. ¹⁶For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. ¹⁷And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; ^syou are still in your sins! ¹⁸Then also those who have ³fallen ^tasleep in Christ have perished. ^19uIf in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

The Last Enemy Destroyed

²⁰But now ^vChrist is risen from the dead, and has become ^wthe firstfruits of those who have ⁴fallen asleep. ²¹For ^xsince by man came death, ^yby Man also came the resurrection of the dead. ²²For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall ^zbe made alive. ²³But ^aeach one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.