1Cor.15.1

Friends, let me go over the Message with you one final time--this Message that I proclaimed and that you made your own; this Message on which you took your stand

1Cor.15.1

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.

1Cor.15.1

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,

1Cor.15.1

Now let me remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then and still do now, for your faith is built on this wonderful message.

1Cor.15.2

and by which your life has been saved. (I'm assuming, now, that your belief was the real thing and not a passing fancy, that you're in this for good and holding fast.)

1Cor.15.2

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

1Cor.15.2

by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain.

1Cor.15.2

And it is this Good News that saves you if you firmly believe it--unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.

1Cor.15.3

The first thing I did was place before you what was placed so emphatically before me: that the Messiah died for our sins, exactly as Scripture tells it;

1Cor.15.3

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

1Cor.15.3

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

1Cor.15.3

I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me--that Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.

1Cor.15.4

that he was buried; that he was raised from death on the third day, again exactly as Scripture says;

1Cor.15.4

that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

1Cor.15.4

and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

1Cor.15.4

He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, as the Scriptures said.

1Cor.15.5

that he presented himself alive to Peter, then to his closest followers,

1Cor.15.5

and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.

1Cor.15.5

and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.

1Cor.15.5

He was seen by Peter and then by the twelve apostles.

1Cor.15.6

and later to more than five hundred of his followers all at the same time, most of them still around (although a few have since died);

1Cor.15.6

After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

1Cor.15.6

After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.

1Cor.15.6

After that, he was seen by more than five hundred of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died by now.

1Cor.15.7

that he then spent time with James and the rest of those he commissioned to represent him;

1Cor.15.7

Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,

1Cor.15.7

After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.

1Cor.15.7

Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.

1Cor.15.8

and that he finally presented himself alive to me.

1Cor.15.8

and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

1Cor.15.8

Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

1Cor.15.8

Last of all, I saw him, too, long after the others, as though I had been born at the wrong time.

1Cor.15.9

It was fitting that I bring up the rear. I don't deserve to be included in that inner circle, as you well know, having spent all those early years trying my best to stamp God's church right out of existence.

1Cor.15.9

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

1Cor.15.9

For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

1Cor.15.9

For I am the least of all the apostles, and I am not worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted the church of God.

1Cor.15.10

But because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am. And I'm not about to let his grace go to waste. Haven't I worked hard trying to do more than any of the others? Even then, my work didn't amount to all that much. It was God giving me the work to do, God giving me the energy to do it.

1Cor.15.10

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

1Cor.15.10

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

1Cor.15.10

But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me--and not without results. For I have worked harder than all the other apostles, yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.

1Cor.15.11

So whether you heard it from me or from those others, it's all the same: We spoke God's truth and you entrusted your lives.

1Cor.15.11

Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

1Cor.15.11

Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

1Cor.15.11

So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach. The important thing is that you believed what we preached to you.

1Cor.15.12

Now, let me ask you something profound yet troubling. If you became believers because you trusted the proclamation that Christ is alive, risen from the dead, how can you let people say that there is no such thing as a resurrection?

1Cor.15.12

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?

1Cor.15.12

Now 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?

1Cor.15.12

But tell me this--since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead?

1Cor.15.13

If there's no resurrection, there's no living Christ.

1Cor.15.13

If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

1Cor.15.13

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.

1Cor.15.13

For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either.

1Cor.15.14

And face it--if there's no resurrection for Christ, everything we've told you is smoke and mirrors, and everything you've staked your life on is smoke and mirrors.

1Cor.15.14

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

1Cor.15.14

And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.

1Cor.15.14

And if Christ was not raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your trust in God is useless.

1Cor.15.15

Not only that, but we would be guilty of telling a string of barefaced lies about God, all these affidavits we passed on to you verifying that God raised up Christ--sheer fabrications, if there's no resurrection.

1Cor.15.15

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. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.

1Cor.15.15

Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise.

1Cor.15.15

And we apostles would all be lying about God, for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave, but that can't be true if there is no resurrection of the dead.

1Cor.15.16

If corpses can't be raised, then Christ wasn't, because he was indeed dead.

1Cor.15.16

For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.

1Cor.15.16

For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.

1Cor.15.16

If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised.

1Cor.15.17

And if Christ wasn't raised, then all you're doing is wandering about in the dark, as lost as ever.

1Cor.15.17

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

1Cor.15.17

And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!

1Cor.15.17

And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless, and you are still under condemnation for your sins.

1Cor.15.18

It's even worse for those who died hoping in Christ and resurrection, because they're already in their graves.

1Cor.15.18

Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.

1Cor.15.18

Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

1Cor.15.18

In that case, all who have died believing in Christ have perished!

1Cor.15.19

If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration for a few short years, we're a pretty sorry lot.

1Cor.15.19

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

1Cor.15.19

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

1Cor.15.19

And if we have hope in Christ only for this life, we are the most miserable people in the world.

1Cor.15.20

But the truth is that Christ has been raised up, the first in a long legacy of those who are going to leave the cemeteries.

1Cor.15.20

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

1Cor.15.20

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

1Cor.15.20

But the fact is that Christ has been raised from the dead. He has become the first of a great harvest of those who will be raised to life again.

1Cor.15.21

There is a nice symmetry in this: Death initially came by a man, and resurrection from death came by a man.

1Cor.15.21

For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

1Cor.15.21

For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.

1Cor.15.21

So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, Adam, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man, Christ.

1Cor.15.22

Everybody dies in Adam; everybody comes alive in Christ.

1Cor.15.22

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

1Cor.15.22

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

1Cor.15.22

Everyone dies because all of us are related to Adam, the first man. But all who are related to Christ, the other man, will be given new life.

1Cor.15.23

But we have to wait our turn: Christ is first, then those with him at his Coming,

1Cor.15.23

But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

1Cor.15.23

But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.

1Cor.15.23

But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised first; then when Christ comes back, all his people will be raised.

1Cor.15.24

the grand consummation when, after crushing the opposition, he hands over his kingdom to God the Father.

1Cor.15.24

Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.

1Cor.15.24

Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

1Cor.15.24

After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having put down all enemies of every kind.

1Cor.15.25

He won't let up until the last enemy is down--

1Cor.15.25

For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

1Cor.15.25

For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.

1Cor.15.25

For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet.

1Cor.15.26

and the very last enemy is death!

1Cor.15.26

The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

1Cor.15.26

The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.

1Cor.15.26

And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.

1Cor.15.27

As the psalmist said, "He laid them low, one and all; he walked all over them." When Scripture says that "he walked all over them," it's obvious that he couldn't at the same time be walked on.

1Cor.15.27

For he "has put everything under his feet." 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.

1Cor.15.27

For "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted.

1Cor.15.27

For the Scriptures say, "God has given him authority over all things." (Of course, when it says "authority over all things," it does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.)

1Cor.15.28

When everything and everyone is finally under God's rule, the Son will step down, taking his place with everyone else, showing that God's rule is absolutely comprehensive--a perfect ending!

1Cor.15.28

When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.

1Cor.15.28

Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

1Cor.15.28

Then, when he has conquered all things, the Son will present himself to God, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.

1Cor.15.29

Why do you think people offer themselves to be baptized for those already in the grave? If there's no chance of resurrection for a corpse, if God's power stops at the cemetery gates, why do we keep doing things that suggest he's going to clean the place out someday, pulling everyone up on their feet alive?

1Cor.15.29

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?

1Cor.15.29

Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?

1Cor.15.29

If the dead will not be raised, then what point is there in people being baptized for those who are dead? Why do it unless the dead will someday rise again?

1Cor.15.30

And why do you think I keep risking my neck in this dangerous work?

1Cor.15.30

And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?

1Cor.15.30

And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour?

1Cor.15.30

And why should we ourselves be continually risking our lives, facing death hour by hour?

1Cor.15.31

I look death in the face practically every day I live. Do you think I'd do this if I wasn't convinced of your resurrection and mine as guaranteed by the resurrected Messiah Jesus?

1Cor.15.31

I die every day--I mean that, brothers--just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1Cor.15.31

I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

1Cor.15.31

For I swear, dear brothers and sisters, I face death daily. This is as certain as my pride in what the Lord Jesus Christ has done in you.

1Cor.15.32

Do you think I was just trying to act heroic when I fought the wild beasts at Ephesus, hoping it wouldn't be the end of me? Not on your life! It's resurrection, resurrection, always resurrection, that undergirds what I do and say, the way I live. If there's no resurrection, "We eat, we drink, the next day we die," and that's all there is to it.

1Cor.15.32

If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

1Cor.15.32

If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!"

1Cor.15.32

And what value was there in fighting wild beasts--those men of Ephesus--if there will be no resurrection from the dead? If there is no resurrection, "Let's feast and get drunk, for tomorrow we die!"

1Cor.15.33

But don't fool yourselves. Don't let yourselves be poisoned by this anti-resurrection loose talk. "Bad company ruins good manners."

1Cor.15.33

Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

1Cor.15.33

Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

1Cor.15.33

Don't be fooled by those who say such things, for "bad company corrupts good character."

1Cor.15.34

Think straight. Awaken to the holiness of life. No more playing fast and loose with resurrection facts. Ignorance of God is a luxury you can't afford in times like these. Aren't you embarrassed that you've let this kind of thing go on as long as you have?

1Cor.15.34

Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God--I say this to your shame.

1Cor.15.34

Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

1Cor.15.34

Come to your senses and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don't even know God.