1 Corinthians 15 - New International Version (NIV)

The Resurrection of Christ

15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel^(A) I preached to you,^(B) which you received and on which you have taken your stand. ² By this gospel you are saved,^(C) if you hold firmly^(D) to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

³ For what I received^(E) I passed on to you^(F) as of first importance^[a]: that Christ died for our sins^(G) according to the Scriptures,^{(H) 4} that he was buried,^(I) that he was raised^(J) on the third day^(K) according to the Scriptures,^{(L) 5} and that he appeared to Cephas,^[b](M) and then to the Twelve.^{(N) 6} After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.^{(O) 7} Then he appeared to James,^(P) then to all the apostles,^{(Q) 8} and last of all he appeared to me also,^(R) as to one abnormally born.

⁹ For I am the least of the apostles^(S) and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted^(T) the church of God.^{(U) 10} But by the grace^(V) of God I am what I am, and his grace to me^(W) was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them^(X)—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.^{(Y) 11} Whether, then, it is I or they,^(Z) this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

The Resurrection of the Dead

¹² But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead,^(AA) how can some of you say that there is no resurrection^(AB) of the dead?^{(AC) 13} If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised,^(AD) our preaching is useless and so is your faith. ¹⁵ More 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.^(AE) But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. ¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. ¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.^{(AF) 18} Then those also who have fallen asleep^(AG) in Christ are lost. ¹⁹ If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.^(AH)

²⁰ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,^(AI) the firstfruits^(AJ) of those who have fallen asleep.^{(AK) 21} For since death came through a man,^(AL) the resurrection of the dead^(AM) comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.^{(AN) 23} But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits;^(AO) then, when he comes,^(AP) those who belong to him.^{(AQ) 24} Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom^(AR) to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.^{(AS) 25} For he must reign^(AT) until he has put all his enemies under his feet.^{(AU) 26} The last enemy to be destroyed is death.^{(AV) 27} For he “has put everything under his feet.”^[c](AW) Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.^{(AX) 28} When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him,^(AY) so that God may be all in all.^(AZ)

²⁹ Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? ³⁰ And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?^{(BA) 31} I face death every day^(BB)—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. ³² If I fought wild beasts^(BC) in Ephesus^(BD) with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,

“Let us eat and drink,
for tomorrow we die.”^[d](BE)

³³ Do not be misled:^(BF) “Bad company corrupts good character.”^{[e](BG) 34} Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God^(BH)—I say this to your shame.^(BI)

The Resurrection Body

³⁵ But someone will ask,^(BJ) “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?”^{(BK) 36} How foolish!^(BL) What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.^{(BM) 37} When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. ³⁸ But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body.^{(BN) 39} Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. ⁴⁰ There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. ⁴¹ The sun has one kind of splendor,^(BO) the moon another and the stars another;^(BP) and star differs from star in splendor.

⁴² So will it be^(BQ) with the resurrection of the dead.^(BR) The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;^{(BS) 43} it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory;^(BT) it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; ⁴⁴ it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.^(BU)

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”^[f];^(BV) the last Adam,^(BW) a life-giving spirit.^{(BX) 46} The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.^{(BY) 47} The first man was of the dust of the earth;^(BZ) the second man is of heaven.^{(CA) 48} As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven.^{(CB) 49} And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man,^(CC) so shall we^[g] bear the image of the heavenly man.^(CD)

⁵⁰ I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood^(CE) cannot inherit the kingdom of God,^(CF) nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.^{(CG) 51} Listen, I tell you a mystery:^(CH) We will not all sleep,^(CI) but we will all be changed^(CJ)— ⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound,^(CK) the dead^(CL) will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For the perishable^(CM) must clothe itself with the imperishable,^(CN) and the mortal with immortality. ⁵⁴ When 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.”^[h](CO)

⁵⁵ “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”^[i](CP)

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin,^(CQ) and the power of sin is the law.^{(CR) 57} But thanks be to God!^(CS) He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.^(CT)

⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,^(CU) because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.^(CV)

Footnotes

1. 1 Corinthians 15:3 Or you at the first
2. 1 Corinthians 15:5 That is, Peter
3. 1 Corinthians 15:27 Psalm 8:6
4. 1 Corinthians 15:32 Isaiah 22:13
5. 1 Corinthians 15:33 From the Greek poet Menander
6. 1 Corinthians 15:45 Gen. 2:7
7. 1 Corinthians 15:49 Some early manuscripts so let us
8. 1 Corinthians 15:54 Isaiah 25:8
9. 1 Corinthians 15:55 Hosea 13:14

Cross references

1. 1 Corinthians 15:1 : Isa 40:9; Ro 2:16
2. 1 Corinthians 15:1 : S 1Co 3:6; S Gal 1:8
3. 1 Corinthians 15:2 : Ro 1:16
4. 1 Corinthians 15:2 : S Ro 11:22
5. 1 Corinthians 15:3 : Gal 1:12
6. 1 Corinthians 15:3 : S 1Co 11:2
7. 1 Corinthians 15:3 : Isa 53:5; Jn 1:29; S Gal 1:4; 1Pe 2:24
8. 1 Corinthians 15:3 : S Mt 26:24; S Lk 24:27; S 24:44; Ac 17:2; 26:22, 23
9. 1 Corinthians 15:4 : Mt 27:59, 60
10. 1 Corinthians 15:4 : S Ac 2:24
11. 1 Corinthians 15:4 : S Mt 16:21
12. 1 Corinthians 15:4 : Jn 2:21, 22; Ac 2:25, 30, 31
13. 1 Corinthians 15:5 : Lk 24:34
14. 1 Corinthians 15:5 : Mk 16:14; Lk 24:36-43
15. 1 Corinthians 15:6 : ver 18, 20; S Mt 9:24
16. 1 Corinthians 15:7 : S Ac 15:13
17. 1 Corinthians 15:7 : Lk 24:33, 36, 37; Ac 1:3, 4
18. 1 Corinthians 15:8 : Ac 9:3-6, 17; 1Co 9:1; Gal 1:16
19. 1 Corinthians 15:9 : 2Co 12:11; Eph 3:8; 1Ti 1:15
20. 1 Corinthians 15:9 : S Ac 8:3
21. 1 Corinthians 15:9 : S 1Co 10:32
22. 1 Corinthians 15:10 : S Ro 3:24
23. 1 Corinthians 15:10 : S Ro 12:3
24. 1 Corinthians 15:10 : 2Co 11:23; Col 1:29
25. 1 Corinthians 15:10 : S Php 2:13
26. 1 Corinthians 15:11 : Gal 2:6
27. 1 Corinthians 15:12 : ver 4
28. 1 Corinthians 15:12 : S Jn 11:24
29. 1 Corinthians 15:12 : Ac 17:32; 23:8; 2Ti 2:18
30. 1 Corinthians 15:14 : 1Th 4:14
31. 1 Corinthians 15:15 : S Ac 2:24
32. 1 Corinthians 15:17 : S Ro 4:25
33. 1 Corinthians 15:18 : ver 6, 20; S Mt 9:24
34. 1 Corinthians 15:19 : S 1Co 4:9
35. 1 Corinthians 15:20 : 1Pe 1:3
36. 1 Corinthians 15:20 : ver 23; S Ac 26:23
37. 1 Corinthians 15:20 : ver 6, 18; S Mt 9:24
38. 1 Corinthians 15:21 : S Ro 5:12
39. 1 Corinthians 15:21 : ver 12
40. 1 Corinthians 15:22 : Ro 5:14-18; S 1Co 6:14
41. 1 Corinthians 15:23 : ver 20
42. 1 Corinthians 15:23 : ver 52; S 1Th 2:19
43. 1 Corinthians 15:23 : S 1Co 3:23
44. 1 Corinthians 15:24 : Da 2:44; 7:14, 27; 2Pe 1:11
45. 1 Corinthians 15:24 : Ro 8:38
46. 1 Corinthians 15:25 : Isa 9:7; 52:7
47. 1 Corinthians 15:25 : ver 27; S Mt 22:44
48. 1 Corinthians 15:26 : 2Ti 1:10; Rev 20:14; 21:4
49. 1 Corinthians 15:27 : ver 25; Ps 8:6; S Mt 22:44
50. 1 Corinthians 15:27 : S Mt 28:18
51. 1 Corinthians 15:28 : Php 3:21
52. 1 Corinthians 15:28 : 1Co 3:23
53. 1 Corinthians 15:30 : 2Co 11:26
54. 1 Corinthians 15:31 : S Ro 8:36
55. 1 Corinthians 15:32 : 2Co 1:8
56. 1 Corinthians 15:32 : S Ac 18:19
57. 1 Corinthians 15:32 : Isa 22:13; Lk 12:19
58. 1 Corinthians 15:33 : S 1Co 6:9
59. 1 Corinthians 15:33 : Pr 22:24, 25
60. 1 Corinthians 15:34 : S Gal 4:8
61. 1 Corinthians 15:34 : S 1Co 4:14
62. 1 Corinthians 15:35 : Ro 9:19
63. 1 Corinthians 15:35 : Eze 37:3
64. 1 Corinthians 15:36 : Lk 11:40; 12:20
65. 1 Corinthians 15:36 : Jn 12:24
66. 1 Corinthians 15:38 : Ge 1:11
67. 1 Corinthians 15:41 : Ps 19:4-6
68. 1 Corinthians 15:41 : Ps 8:1, 3
69. 1 Corinthians 15:42 : Da 12:3; Mt 13:43
70. 1 Corinthians 15:42 : ver 12
71. 1 Corinthians 15:42 : ver 50, 53, 54
72. 1 Corinthians 15:43 : Php 3:21; Col 3:4
73. 1 Corinthians 15:44 : ver 50
74. 1 Corinthians 15:45 : Ge 2:7
75. 1 Corinthians 15:45 : Ro 5:14
76. 1 Corinthians 15:45 : Jn 5:21; 6:57, 58; Ro 8:2
77. 1 Corinthians 15:46 : ver 44
78. 1 Corinthians 15:47 : Ge 2:7; 3:19; Ps 90:3
79. 1 Corinthians 15:47 : Jn 3:13, 31
80. 1 Corinthians 15:48 : Php 3:20, 21
81. 1 Corinthians 15:49 : Ge 5:3
82. 1 Corinthians 15:49 : S Ro 8:29
83. 1 Corinthians 15:50 : Eph 6:12; Heb 2:14
84. 1 Corinthians 15:50 : S Mt 25:34
85. 1 Corinthians 15:50 : ver 42, 53, 54
86. 1 Corinthians 15:51 : 1Co 13:2; 14:2
87. 1 Corinthians 15:51 : S Mt 9:24
88. 1 Corinthians 15:51 : 2Co 5:4; Php 3:21
89. 1 Corinthians 15:52 : S Mt 24:31
90. 1 Corinthians 15:52 : Jn 5:25
91. 1 Corinthians 15:53 : ver 42, 50, 54
92. 1 Corinthians 15:53 : 2Co 5:2, 4
93. 1 Corinthians 15:54 : Isa 25:8; Heb 2:14; Rev 20:14
94. 1 Corinthians 15:55 : Hos 13:14
95. 1 Corinthians 15:56 : S Ro 5:12
96. 1 Corinthians 15:56 : S Ro 4:15
97. 1 Corinthians 15:57 : S 2Co 2:14
98. 1 Corinthians 15:57 : Ro 8:37; Heb 2:14, 15
99. 1 Corinthians 15:58 : 1Co 16:10
100. 1 Corinthians 15:58 : Isa 65:23