1 Corinthians 15

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

Dear friends, I'm reminding you of the good news I shared with you, which you accepted and firmly believe in.

By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

You'll find salvation if you remember and live by the teachings I've shared with you, unless your belief was insincere.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

I shared with you the most important truth I've ever received: Christ sacrificed His life for our wrongdoings, just as the scriptures foretold.

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

He was laid to rest, but on the third day, as foretold, he miraculously returned to life.

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

Cephas first witnessed him, followed by the twelve disciples.

After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

Following his resurrection, over five hundred people witnessed him at the same time. Most of them are still alive today, though some have passed away.

After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

Following this, James was graced with his presence; soon after, all the apostles experienced the same.

And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

Finally, even I, like an unexpected child, was graced with the sight of him.

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

I feel unworthy to be called an apostle, as I am the least among them, especially because I once harmed God's church.

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

God's love has shaped me into who I am today. His blessings weren't wasted on me; I worked harder than anyone else. But it wasn't just me, it was God's love guiding me.

Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

Regardless of who it was, myself or others, we passionately shared the message, and you wholeheartedly believed.

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

If we're proclaiming that Christ was raised from the dead, how can some of you deny the possibility of resurrection?

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

If there's no resurrection of the dead, then Christ himself did not rise.

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

If Christ didn't rise, then our teachings are pointless and your belief is meaningless.

Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

Indeed, we would be exposed as liars about God, because we've testified that He raised Christ from the dead, which He did not do if the dead are not raised.

For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

If the dead cannot be resurrected, then Christ himself was not resurrected either.

And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

If Christ hasn't risen, your belief is pointless; you're still trapped in your sins.

Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

Then those who have passed away believing in Christ are lost forever.

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

If our faith in Christ brings us hope only for this life, then we are truly the most pitiful among all people.

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

Christ has now triumphantly risen from death, leading the way for all who have passed away.

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

Death came to us through a man, and the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man.

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

Just as everyone faces death because of Adam, in the same way, through Christ, everyone will be given life.

But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

Each person in their own time: First, Christ, like the first ripe fruit; then, when He returns, those who belong to Him.

Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

When the end arrives, He will surrender the kingdom to God, His Father. He will dismantle every reign, every authority, and every power.

For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

He must rule until all his foes bow before him.

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

The last enemy to be destroyed is death itself.

For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

God has put everything under Christ's feet. But when it says everything is under him, it's clear that this doesn't include God Himself, who put everything under him.

And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

When everything is finally under His control, the Son will also humbly submit to God, who has authority over everything. This is so that God can be the ultimate power in the universe.

Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

Otherwise, why would people get baptized for those who've passed away, if the dead are not raised at all? What's the point of such baptism then?

And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?

Why do we constantly risk our lives every moment?

I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our LORD, I die daily.

As surely as I take pride in you in Christ Jesus our Lord, I declare that I face death every day.

If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

If I've battled wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what did I gain, if the dead are not raised? Might as well eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Don't be fooled: bad influences can ruin good character.

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

Wake up to the truth, stop doing wrong; some people are unaware of God's existence, and it's shameful that I have to point this out.

But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

Someone might ask, "How can the dead come back to life? And what kind of body will they have?"

Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:

You silly soul, what you plant won't come to life unless it first dies.

And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:

What you plant, you don't plant the full-grown plant, but just a simple seed - perhaps wheat or something else.

But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

God lovingly shapes each creation as He desires, and each seed is blessed with its unique form.

All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.

Not all bodies are alike: humans, animals, fish, and birds each have their unique physical forms.

There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

Heavenly bodies and earthly bodies exist, each with their own unique beauty. The splendor of the celestial is different from the earthly, yet both are glorious in their own way.

There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

The sun shines brilliantly, the moon glows softly, and the stars twinkle uniquely; each celestial body radiates its own unique beauty and majesty.

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

It's the same with the resurrection of the dead. What is buried perishable rises imperishable.

It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

Planted in shame, it blossoms in honor; sown in frailty, it rises in strength.

It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

It is buried a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

The scriptures tell us, the first man, Adam, became a living soul; the final Adam became a life-giving spirit.

Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

First comes the physical, the tangible, the natural. Only after this, comes the spiritual, the divine.

The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.

The first man, born of the earth, is earthly; the second man, the Lord, comes from heaven.

As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

Just as earthly people reflect the world, heavenly people mirror the divine.

And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Just as we reflect the nature of the earthly world, we will also mirror the divine beauty of the heavenly realm.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Dear brothers and sisters, understand this: our mortal bodies of flesh and blood can't inherit God's kingdom, and what perishes can't inherit what never perishes.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

Listen, I reveal to you a secret; not all of us will die, but we will all be transformed.

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

In an instant, as quick as a blink, when the final trumpet call echoes, the dead will rise, never to perish again, and we will be transformed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Our perishable bodies must put on what never perishes, and our mortal bodies must clothe themselves with eternal life.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

When our perishable bodies have put on what never perishes, and our mortal bodies gain immortality, then the words of Scripture will come true: "Death is swallowed up in victory."

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Death, where is your pain? Grave, where is your triumph?

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

Death hurts because of our wrongdoings, and what gives our wrongdoings their power is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Gratitude fills our hearts for God, who gifts us triumph through our beloved Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Dear loved ones, stay strong and unwavering, always pouring your heart into God's work, knowing that your efforts are never wasted when done for the Lord.