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Corinthians Chapter 15: 12-26, 42b-57
The Resurrection of the Dead
12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the
dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If
there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And
if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15More
than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about
God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are
not raised. 16For
if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.17And
if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then
those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If
only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
20But
Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen
asleep. 21For
since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22For
as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23But
each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to
him. 24Then
the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed
all dominion, authority and power. 25For
he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.26The
last enemy to be destroyed is death.
The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43it
is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44it
is sown a natural body, it is 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"; the last Adam, a
life-giving spirit.46The
spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.47The
first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48As
was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so
also are those who are of heaven. 49And
just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.
50I
declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does
the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Listen,
I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed 52in
a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the
dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For
the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54When
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."
55"Where,
O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?" 56The
sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But
thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
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