1 Corinthians 15

1 Now, brothers [fellow believers, brethren], I want to remind you of the gospel [good news, message of salvation] I preached [proclaimed, announced] to you, which you received [accepted, took to heart], and in which you stand firm [remain steadfast, continue to trust]. word study 2 By this gospel [good news of salvation] you are saved [rescued, delivered from sin], if you hold firmly [keep in memory, hold fast] to the word [message, logos] I preached [proclaimed, spoke good news] to you. Otherwise [except, unless], you have believed [trusted, had faith] in vain [without reason, to no purpose]. word study 3 For what I received [as a sacred trust, from the Lord] I passed on to you [delivered, handed down] as of first importance [a message of vital importance]: that Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] died [sacrificed, gave His life] for our sins [transgressions, rebellions] according to the Scriptures [the holy Writings, God’s Word], word study 4 that He was buried [in the place of the dead, put in the grave], that He was raised [brought back to life, caused to arise] on the third [following two nights, after a 24-hour period] day according to [in line with, matching] the Scriptures [holy writings, God’s Word], word study 5 and that He appeared [was seen, became visible] to Cephas [the Rock, Peter] and then [after that, next] to the Twelve [twelve apostles, His special workers]. word study 6 After that [then, afterwards], He appeared [was seen, became visible] to more than [above] five hundred [a large multitude] brothers [fellow believers] at once [simultaneously], most of whom [the greater part] are still living [remain, stay], though some [certain ones] have fallen asleep [died, passed away]. word study 7 Then [afterwards, at a later time] He appeared [was seen by, became visible to] to James [the brother of Jesus, a leader in the church], then [next, afterwards] to all [every one of, the entire group of] the apostles [messengers of Jesus, sent to spread the Gospel]. word study 8 And last [finally, at the end] of all He appeared [was seen, became visible] to me also, as to one [a person, an individual] of untimely birth [born out of due time, prematurely, as the least expected]. word study 9 For I am [the least important, not worthy] the least of the apostles [messengers of Jesus Christ] and am unworthy [not sufficient, lacking] to be called an apostle [delegate, messenger of God], because I persecuted [pursued, harassed] the church [assembly, community] of God [the one true deity]. word study 10 But by the [unmerited favor, divine influence] grace of God [the one true deity] I am what I am, and His [gracious, loving] grace to me was not [empty, without effect] in vain. No, I worked [labored, toiled] harder than all of them—yet not I, but the [divine, spiritual] grace of God [working through me, with me] that was with me. word study 11 Whether [if it were the case], then, it was I [as an apostle] or they [the other preachers], this is what we preach [proclaim, herald the gospel], and this is what you believed [trusted, had faith in, to trust in Jesus Christ]. word study 12 But if [under the condition that, assuming] it is preached [proclaimed, heralded] that Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] has been raised [brought back to life, resurrected] from the dead [those who have physically died], how [in what way, why] can some [certain ones, a few] of you [among your group] say [declare, affirm] that there is [exists, is a reality] no [absolutely not, none] resurrection [a standing up again, rising from death] of the dead [those who have physically died]? word study 13 If [in the event that, assuming] there is [exists, to be] no [none, not any] resurrection [standing up again from death, rising again] of the dead [lifeless, deceased], then [at that time, in that case] not even [nor, neither] Christ [the Anointed, Messiah] has [to exist] been raised [arisen, woke up from the dead]. word study 14 And if Christ [the Messiah, Jesus as the Anointed One] has not been raised [from the dead, to new life], our preaching [proclamation of the gospel, message of salvation] is worthless [empty, without effect], and so is your faith [trust, confidence in God]. word study 15 In that case, we are also exposed as [liars] false witnesses about God [the one true deity]. For we have testified [given witness, borne testimony] about God that He raised [brought back to life, resurrected] Christ [the Messiah, Anointed One] from the dead, but He did not raise Him if in fact the dead [those who have passed away, the lifeless] are not raised [brought back to life, revived]. word study 16 For [as a reason, to explain] if the dead [lifeless, spiritually or physically] are not raised [to arise, to wake up], then not even Christ [the Messiah, anointed one] has been raised [to arise, to be resurrected, brought back to life]. word study 17 And if Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] has not been raised [from the dead, to life again], your faith [trust, confidence in God] is futile [empty, useless, vain]; you are still [yet, ongoing] in your sins [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards]. word study 18 Then those also [who have died, fallen asleep] who have fallen asleep [to sleep, resting in death] in Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] have perished [been lost, gone to destruction, are lost and gone for ever]. word study 19 If our hope [confidence, expectation] in Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] is for this life [physical existence, earthly span] alone [only, merely], we are to be pitied [considered miserable, worthy of sorrow] more than all [every, any] men [human beings, people]. word study 20 But Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] has indeed been raised [brought back to life, resurrected] from the dead [the state of being lifeless, spiritually or physically], the firstfruits [the beginning of a harvest, a pledge of more to come] of those who have fallen asleep [died, passed away, ceased to be among the living]. word study 21 For since [because of, as a result of] death [physical and spiritual separation from God] came through [by means of, as a result of] a man [a human being, Adam], the resurrection [a standing up again from death, restoration to life] of the dead [those who are lifeless, spiritually or physically] comes also [in like manner, similarly] through [by means of, as a result of] a man [a human being, Christ]. word study 22 For as [in the same way, exactly like] in Adam [the first man, humanity’s representative] all [every person, without exception] die [stop living, experience spiritual death], so [in the same manner, thus] in Christ [the anointed Messiah, our Savior] all [every believer, the entire body of Christ] will be made alive [given life, vivified, resurrected]. word study 23 But each [every individual, one by one] in his own [private, personal] turn [order, sequence]: Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] the firstfruits [the beginning of the harvest, the initial offering]; then [afterward, next] at His coming [presence, arrival], those who belong to Him [are Christ’s, His followers]. word study 24 Then [after this, at that time] the end [goal, conclusion] will come, when He hands over [delivers, surrenders] the kingdom [God’s royal power, dominion] to God [supreme deity] the Father [male parent, divine authority] after He has destroyed [abolished, made useless] all [every, complete] dominion [rule], authority [power, freedom to act], and [also, additionally] power [strength, miraculous ability]. word study 25 For He [Christ, the Messiah] must reign [rule with authority, have dominion] until He has put [placed, subdued] all [every, each] His enemies [those who oppose Him, adversaries] under [in subjection to, beneath] His feet [a symbol of power, authority]. word study 26 The [farthest, ultimate] last enemy [hostile power, foe] to be destroyed [abolished, done away with] is death [physical or spiritual, the final foe]. word study 27 For [as it is written, in Scripture] “God [the Father, the supreme authority] has put [subordinated, brought under control] everything [all things, the entire universe] under [in subjection to, under the authority of] His feet [a symbol of power and dominion].” Now when it says [is stated, is written] that everything [all things, the whole creation] has been put [subordinated, subjected] under [in subjection to] Him, this clearly [obviously, evidently] does not include [is excepted, excludes] the One [God, the Father] who put [subordinated, subjected] everything [all things] under [in subjection to] Him. word study 28 And when [at that future time, whenever] all things [everything, the entire universe] have been subjected [put under, obey] to Him, then [at that point, afterwards] the Son [Christ, the Messiah] Himself will be made subject [submit, obey] to Him who [the Father, God] put all things [the universe, everything] under Him, so that [with the result that, in order that] God [the Father, the Almighty] may be [exist as, be recognized as] all [everything, supreme] in all [every aspect, everywhere]. word study 29 If these things [are not true, do not happen] are not so, what will those do [what will they accomplish, what action will they take] who are baptized [immersed, fully wet] for the dead [on behalf of the deceased, for those who have passed away]? If the dead [those who have physically died, the lifeless] are not raised [resurrected, brought back to life] at all [completely, in any way], why are people baptized [immersed, fully wet] for them [on their behalf, in their place]? word study 30 And why do we [also, as well] endanger [put in jeopardy, stand in peril] ourselves [as apostles, in our ministry] every [all, each] hour [specific time, moment of danger]? word study 31 I face death [I die daily] every day, brothers, as surely as [by the glorying, with confidence] I boast [take pride, glory] about you [your faith, your trust] in Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] Jesus [God’s salvation, Joshua] our Lord [Master, God, the supreme authority]. word study 32 If I fought wild beasts [like a gladiator, with fierce people] in Ephesus [a city in Asia Minor] for human [selfish, worldly] motives, what did I gain [profit, benefit]? If the dead [lifeless, spiritually or physically] are not raised [to life again, resurrected], “Let us eat [consume, indulge] and drink [enjoy, savor], for tomorrow [the next day, a future time] we die [pass away, cease to exist].” word study 33 Do not [allow yourselves to be misled] be deceived: “Bad [evil, worthless] company [association, close relationship] corrupts [destroys, ruins] good [kind, morally upright] character [moral habits, customs].” word study 34 Sober up [awake to righteousness, come to your senses] as you ought, and stop sinning [living wrongly, missing the mark]; for some of you are ignorant [without knowledge, unaware] of God [the one true deity]. I say this to your shame [confusion, remorse, a sense of guilt]. word study 35 But [in contrast, on the other hand] someone [a person, an individual] will ask [say, utter], “How [in what manner, by what means] are the dead [lifeless, spiritually or physically] raised [brought back to life, resurrected]? With what kind [sort, manner] of body [physical person, fleshly form] will they come [return, arise]?” word study 36 You [foolish, unwise] fool! What [that which thou sowest] you sow [scatter seed, plant] does not come to life [is not quickened, sprout into life] unless [if, except] it [the seed, itself] dies [to stop living, pass away, undergo death]. word study 37 And what you sow [put into the earth, scatter seed] is not the body [physical person, whole being] that will be [come into existence, become], but just a seed [bare grain, kernel], perhaps [it may chance, it may be] of wheat [grain, corn] or something else [some other kind, another sort of plant]. word study 38 But God [the supreme Creator, divine Author] gives it a body [physical form, literal or figurative] as He has designed [purposed, willed], and to each kind [type, sort] of seed [offspring, descendant] He gives its own [unique, private] body [physical person, whole being]. word study 39 Not all [every kind of] flesh [physical body, human or animal] is the same: Men [human beings, people] have one kind of flesh [body, physical form], animals [beasts, creatures] have another [different, distinct], birds [winged creatures, fowl] another [unique, special], and fish [sea creatures, aquatic animals] another [distinct, separate]. word study 40 There are also [celestial, heavenly] heavenly bodies [physical forms, creations] and [terrestrial, earthly] earthly bodies [human forms, creations]. But the [glory, honor] splendor of the heavenly [celestial] bodies [in heaven, of the spirit] is of one [kind, degree, nature] degree, and the [glory, splendor, honor] splendor of the earthly [terrestrial] bodies [on earth, of the flesh] is of another [a different]. word study 41 The sun [a celestial body, shining with great light] has one degree of splendor [glory, honor, or praise], the moon [a glowing orb, reflecting the sun’s light] another, and the stars [heavenly bodies, twinkling in the sky] another; and star [a celestial wonder, shining with unique light] differs from star [one to another, in varying degrees] in splendor [glory, brilliance, or radiance]. word study 42 So will it be with the resurrection [standing up again from death] of the dead [lifeless, spiritually or physically]: What is sown [scattered like seed, planted] is perishable [corruptible, subject to decay]; it is raised [brought back to life, awakened] imperishable [incorruptible, never to decay]. word study 43 It is sown [in shame, planted in a state of dishonor] in dishonor [a state of shame or disgrace]; it is raised [brought back to life, resurrected] in glory [honor and praise]. It is sown [planted, scattered like seed] in weakness [frailty or lack of strength]; it is raised [lifted up, exalted] in power [miraculous ability or strength]. word study 44 It is sown [planted, scattered as seed] a natural [worldly, fleshly] body; it is raised [resurrected, awakened] a spiritual [non-carnal, supernatural] body. If there is a natural [physical, earthly] body, there is also [equally, in the same way] a spiritual [heavenly, divine] body. word study 45 So it is written: “The first man Adam [the father of humanity] became a living [having life, animate] being;” the last [final, ultimate] Adam a life-giving [quickening, vivifying] spirit [the divine breath]. word study 46 The spiritual [non-carnal, supernatural], however, was not first [before all else, in the beginning], but the natural [worldly, physical], and then [afterward, subsequently] the spiritual [having God’s nature]. word study 47 The first man was of the dust [made of earth] of the earth [the soil, terrestrial], the second man from [ex, originating in] heaven [the celestial realm]. word study 48 As was the earthly [made of dust, terrestrial] man, so also are those who are of the earth [worldly, earthly]; and as is the heavenly [from heaven, celestial] man, so also are those who are of heaven [the spiritual realm, heavenly kingdom]. word study 49 And just as [in the same way, similarly] we have borne [worn, taken on] the likeness [image, representation] of the earthly [made of dust, terrestrial] man, so also shall we bear [wear, have on] the likeness [image, heavenly form] of the heavenly [celestial, from above] man. word study 50 Now I declare [assert, say with confidence] to you, brothers [fellow believers, siblings in Christ], that flesh [the physical body, human nature] and blood [the life force, mortal existence] cannot inherit [receive as a gift, possess] the kingdom [God’s royal power, dominion] of God [the one true deity, Creator], nor does the perishable [corruptible, subject to decay] inherit [possess, have a share in] the imperishable [incorruptible, eternal, lasting forever]. word study 51 Listen [see, behold], I tell [reveal, show] you a mystery [secret, hidden truth]: We will not [certainly not] all sleep [die, fall asleep], but we will [on the other hand] all be changed [transformed, made different]— word study 52 in an instant [a moment, a flash], in the twinkling [shutting, blink] of an eye, at the last [final, extreme] trumpet [a musical instrument used in war and worship]. For the trumpet [salpingi] will sound [to sound a trumpet], the dead [lifeless, physically or spiritually] will be raised [to arise, stand up] imperishable [not decaying, incorruptible], and we [the speaker and their audience] will be changed [allaghesomeqa, to make different, transformed]. word study 53 For the perishable [corruptible, liable to decay] must be clothed with the imperishable [incorruptibility, unable to decay], and the mortal [subject to death, fragile] with immortality [deathlessness, eternal life]. word study 54 When the perishable [corruptible, subject to decay] has been clothed with the imperishable [incorruptibility, unable to decay] and the mortal [liable to die, fragile] with immortality [deathlessness, eternal life], then the saying [divine word, prophecy] that is written will come to pass: “Death [physical and spiritual] has been swallowed up [totally conquered, overcome] in victory [triumph, eternal win].” word study 55 “Where, O Death [the state of being dead, separation from God], is your victory [triumph, conquest]? Where, O Death, is your sting [sharp point, painful wound, causing sorrow]?” word study 56 The sting [sharp point, painful wound] of death [physical or spiritual separation] is sin [missing the mark, falling short], and the power [strength, miraculous ability] of sin [rebellion, disobedience] is the law [set of rules, divine standard]. word study 57 But thanks [praise, gratitude] be to God [the one true deity], who gives [bestows, grants] us the victory [triumph, conquest] through [because of, by means of] our Lord [Master, Savior] Jesus [God is salvation] Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah]! word study 58 Therefore, my beloved [cherished, dearly loved] brothers, be steadfast [firm, unshakeable] and immovable [unwavering, firmly established]. Always [at all times, constantly] excel [abound, superabound] in the work [labor, service] of the Lord [God, Master], because you know [perceive, understand] that your labor [toil, effort] in the Lord [God, Master] is not [never] in vain [empty, without effect]. word study