1Kære venner, jeg vil minde jer om det budskab om Jesus, som jeg forkyndte for jer, som I tog imod, og som nu er grundlaget for jeres tro.2Det er på grund af det budskab, I får lov at gå ind til det evige liv, hvis I da holder fast ved det ord, jeg forkyndte for jer—ellers var det forgæves, at I kom til tro.3Kernen i det budskab, jeg gav jer, sådan som jeg selv hørte det og tog imod det, er, at Kristus døde for vores synder i overensstemmelse med, hvad der står i Skrifterne,4at han blev begravet, og at han på den tredje dag blev oprejst fra de døde, som der står i Skrifterne.5Efter at være genopstået blev han set af Peter og senere af de Tolv samtidigt.6Derefter blev han set af mere end 500 kristne på én gang, og selvom nogle af dem nu er sovet ind, lever de fleste.7Siden blev han set af Jakob og derefter af alle apostlene.8Sidst af alle fik også jeg lov at se ham, jeg, der er lige så lidt værd som et dødfødt barn.9Jeg er jo den ringeste af alle apostlene—ja, jeg burde ikke engang kaldes apostel, for jeg har forfulgt Guds menighed.10Men af Guds nåde er jeg blevet det, jeg er. Hans nåde over mig har heller ikke været forgæves, for jeg har arbejdet hårdere end nogen af de andre apostle. Dog er det ikke min fortjeneste, men det skyldes alene den nåde og kraft, som Gud har velsignet mig med.11Uanset hvem, der bragte jer budskabet, jeg eller de andre, så er det det samme budskab om Jesus, vi forkynder, og det er det, I er kommet til tro på.
Alle menneskers opstandelse
12Når I nu har fået at vide, at Kristus opstod fra de døde, hvordan kan så nogle af jer påstå, at det slet ikke er muligt at genopstå?13Hvis det ikke er muligt, så kan Kristus jo heller ikke være genopstået.14Men hvis han ikke er genopstået, så er vores forkyndelse tom snak og jeres tro til ingen nytte.15I så fald har vi afgivet falsk vidnesbyrd om Gud, for vi har sagt, at han oprejste Kristus fra de døde. Men det kan han ikke have gjort, hvis det ikke er muligt at opstå fra de døde.16Altså, hvis døde ikke kan genopstå, så er Kristus heller ikke genopstået.17I så fald er jeres tro værdiløs, og I har ikke fået tilgivelse for jeres synder.18Desuden er alle de, som er sovet ind i troen på Kristus, gået fortabt,19og vi, som har satset vores største forventninger i dette liv på Kristus, er så de ynkværdigste af alle mennesker.20Men nu er Kristus opstået fra de døde. Han er den første, og han skal følges af de mange hensovede, der en dag vil genopstå.21Døden kom ind i verden på grund af ét menneske, nemlig Adam. Ligeledes blev opstandelsen fra de døde en realitet på grund af ét menneske, nemlig Kristus.22Ligesom alle, der er af Adams slægt, skal dø, sådan skal alle, der hører Kristus til, oprejses til nyt liv.23Det sker i en bestemt rækkefølge: Først af alle er Kristus genopstået, og når han kommer igen, skal alle de, der hører ham til, genopstå.24Derefter kommer verdens ende, når han har fjernet enhver fjendtlig øvrighed, myndighed og magt, og når han overgiver herredømmet til Gud, Faderen.25Det er nemlig nødvendigt, at Kristus sidder på tronen, indtil han har overvundet alle sine fjender.26Den sidste fjende, som bliver besejret, er døden.27Der står skrevet: „Han blev sat som hersker over alle ting.”[1] Men når der står „alle ting”, så er Gud selv naturligvis undtaget, for det er ham, der vil gøre Kristus til Herre over alle ting. (Salm 8,7)28Når således alt er blevet underlagt Kristi herredømme, vil Sønnen selv blive underlagt Faderens herredømme. Da vil Gud være den øverste hersker over alt og alle.29Hvis de døde ikke genopstår, hvorfor lader nogle sig så døbe på vegne af dem, som er døde?30Og hvorfor skulle vi udsætte os selv for fare hver eneste dag?31Jeg har gang på gang stået ansigt til ansigt med døden, men jeg er virkelig stolt over det, som vores Herre, Jesus Kristus, har udrettet iblandt jer.32Hvis jeg kun havde et menneskeligt håb at støtte mig til, ville jeg så have fortsat kampen mod de bæster i Efesos? Hvis der ikke var nogen opstandelse fra de døde, kunne vi lige så godt gøre, som der står skrevet: „Lad os spise og drikke, for i morgen skal vi dø!”[2] (Es 22,13)33Lad jer ikke føre vild. Husk på, at „Gode vaner forsvinder i dårligt selskab.”34Kom nu til fornuft og forlad det vildspor, I er slået ind på. Det er jo en skændsel for jer, at nogle af jer er så uvidende om Gud.
Det fysiske og det åndelige legeme
35Nogen vil sikkert indvende: „En død kan da umuligt genopstå? Hvad for en krop vil han stille med?”36Prøv at tænke dig om! Det sædekorn, du lægger i jorden, må dø, før det kan blive til en ny plante.37Og den nye plante, der vokser op, er jo ikke det samme som det nøgne sædekorn, du lagde i jorden, hvad enten det nu var et hvedekorn eller et andet korn.38Når sæden er lagt i jorden, får Gud en plante til at vokse frem efter sit design, og de forskellige slags sædekorn bliver til forskellige planter.39Ikke alle levende væsener har den samme form. Mennesker, dyr, fugle og fisk er alle forskellige.40Desuden er der himmelske legemer og jordiske legemer. De himmelske legemer har en anden energi og udstråling end de jordiske.41Solen har sin særlige udstråling, og månen og stjernerne deres, og den ene stjerne adskiller sig fra den anden i energi og udstråling.42Det, der sker i naturen, kan sammenlignes med det, der sker, når de døde genopstår. Det, der lægges i jorden, er forgængeligt; det, der opstår, er uforgængeligt.43Det, der lægges i jorden, er værdiløst; det, der opstår, er herligt. Det, der lægges i jorden, er magtesløst; det, der opstår, er fuldt af kraft.44Der lægges et fysisk legeme ned, men der opstår et åndeligt legeme. Når der findes et fysisk legeme, må der også findes et åndeligt.45Skriften siger jo også, at den første mand, Adam, blev et levende væsen og gav det fysiske liv videre. Men den sidste Adam, Kristus, giver åndeligt liv.46Det fysiske liv kommer først, derefter det åndelige.47Adam blev skabt af jordens muld, men Kristus kom ovenfra—fra Himlen.48Alle mennesker har den samme slags legeme som Adam, et jordisk legeme, men alle, der hører Kristus til, vil få samme slags legeme som ham, et himmelsk legeme.49Ligesom vi fik et jordisk legeme, skal vi også få et himmelsk legeme.50Hør godt efter, venner: Et almindeligt menneske af kød og blod kan ikke få del i det kommende Guds rige. Det forgængelige kan ikke få del i det uforgængelige.
Døden er besejret
51-52Lad mig fortælle jer en åbenbaring, jeg har fået med hensyn til, hvad der vil ske, når den sidste trompet lyder, og Jesus kommer igen: Vi skal ikke alle sove ind, men alle vil få et nyt legeme. Det vil ske i et nu, i et øjeblik. Når trompeten lyder, vil alle de døde kristne opstå med nye uforgængelige legemer, og vi andre, som stadig lever, vil blive totalt forvandlet.53Det her forgængelige legeme må nødvendigvis forvandles til et uforgængeligt legeme.54Når det sker, vil det være en opfyldelse af følgende to skriftord: „Truslen om død er vendt til sejr!”[3] og (Es 25,8)55„Oh, død, hvad blev der af din sejr? Oh, død, hvor er din brod?”[4] (Hos 13,14)56Døden bruger synden som sin dræbende brod, og synden får sin styrke fra loven.57Men vi priser Gud, som giver os sejren over disse magter gennem Jesus Kristus, vores Herre.58Derfor, mine elskede venner: Stå urokkeligt fast og gør altid jeres yderste i tjenesten for Herren. I ved jo, at jeres arbejde for ham ikke er forgæves.
1. Korint 15
King James Version
1Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:5And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:6After 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.7After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.9For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.10But 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.11Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.12Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?13But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:14And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.15Yea, 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.16For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.18Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.21For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.24Then 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.25For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.26The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.27For 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.28And 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.29Else 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?30And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?31I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.32If 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.33Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.34Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.35But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?36Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:37And 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:38But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.39All 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.40There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.41There 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.42So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:43It is sown in dishonour; 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. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.45And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.46Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.47The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.48As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.49And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,52In 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.53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.54So 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.55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[1]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,5and that he appeared to Cephas,[2] and then to the Twelve.6After 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.7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.9For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.10But 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.11Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
The resurrection of the dead
12But 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 of all people most to be pitied.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 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.27For 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. (Salm 8,6)28When 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.29Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptised for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptised for them?30And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?31I face death every day – yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.32If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus 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.’ (Es 22,13)33Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’[3]34Come 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.
The resurrection body
35But someone will ask, ‘How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?’36How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.37When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else.38But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body.39Not all flesh is the same: people have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another.40There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendour of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendour of the earthly bodies is another.41The sun has one kind of splendour, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendour.42So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;43it is sown in dishonour, 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. (1.Mos 2,7)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 is of heaven.48As 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.49And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we[4] bear the image of the heavenly man.50I declare to you, brothers and sisters, 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.’ (Es 25,8)55‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ (Hos 13,14)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.58Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.
1Brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the good news I preached to you. You received it and have put your faith in it.2Because you believed the good news, you are saved. But you must hold firmly to the message I preached to you. If you don’t, you have believed it for nothing.3What I received I passed on to you. And it is the most important of all. Here is what it is. Christ died for our sins, just as Scripture said he would.4He was buried. He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as Scripture said he would be.5He appeared to Peter. Then he appeared to the 12 apostles.6After that, he appeared to more than 500 brothers and sisters at the same time. Most of them are still living. But some have died.7He appeared to James. Then he appeared to all the apostles.8Last of all, he also appeared to me. I was like someone who wasn’t born at the right time.9I am the least important of the apostles. I’m not even fit to be called an apostle. I tried to destroy God’s church.10But because of God’s grace I am what I am. And his grace was not wasted on me. No, I have worked harder than all the other apostles. But I didn’t do the work. God’s grace was with me.11So this is what we preach, whether I or the other apostles who preached to you. And that is what you believed.
Believers will rise from the dead
12We have preached that Christ has been raised from the dead. So how can some of you say that no one rises from the dead?13If no one rises from the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.14And if Christ has not been raised, what we preach doesn’t mean anything. Your faith doesn’t mean anything either.15More than that, we would be lying about God. We are witnesses that God raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if the dead are not raised.16If the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith doesn’t mean anything. Your sins have not been forgiven.18Those who have died believing in Christ are also lost.19Do we have hope in Christ only for this life? Then people should pity us more than anyone else.20But Christ really has been raised from the dead. He is the first of all those who will rise from the dead.21Death came because of what a man did. Rising from the dead also comes because of what a man did.22Because of Adam, all people die. So because of Christ, all will be made alive.23But here is the order of events. Christ is the first of those who rise from the dead. When he comes back, those who belong to him will be raised.24Then the end will come after Christ destroys all rule, authority and power. Then he will hand over the kingdom to God the Father.25Christ must rule until he has put all his enemies under his control.26The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.27Scripture says that God ‘has put everything under his control.’ It says that ‘everything’ has been put under him. But it is clear that this does not include God himself. That’s because God put everything under Christ. (Salm 8,6)28When he has done that, the Son also will be under God’s rule. God put everything under the Son. In that way, God will be all in all.29Suppose no one rises from the dead. Then what will people do who are baptised for the dead? Suppose the dead are not raised at all. Then why are people baptised for them?30And why would we put ourselves in danger every hour?31I face death every day. That’s the truth. And here is something you can be just as sure of. I take pride in what Christ Jesus our Lord has done for you through my work.32Did I fight wild animals in Ephesus with nothing more than human hopes? Then what have I gained by it? If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, because tomorrow we will die.’ (Es 22,13)33Don’t let anyone fool you. ‘Bad companions make a good person bad.’34You should come back to your senses and stop sinning. Some of you don’t know anything about God. I say this to make you ashamed.
The body that rises from the dead
35But someone will ask, ‘How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have?’36How foolish! What you plant doesn’t come to life unless it dies.37When you plant something, it isn’t a completely grown plant that you put in the ground. You only plant a seed. Maybe it’s wheat or something else.38But God gives the seed a body just as he has planned. And to each kind of seed he gives its own body.39Not all earthly creatures are the same. People have one kind of body. Animals have another. Birds have another kind. Fish have still another.40There are also heavenly bodies as well as earthly bodies. Heavenly bodies have one kind of glory. Earthly bodies have another.41The sun has one kind of glory. The moon has another kind. The stars have still another. And one star’s glory is different from that of another star.42It will be like that with bodies that are raised from the dead. The body that is planted does not last for ever. The body that is raised from the dead lasts for ever.43It is planted without honour. But it is raised in glory. It is planted in weakness. But it is raised in power.44It is planted as an earthly body. But it is raised as a spiritual body. Just as there is an earthly body, there is also a spiritual body.45It is written, ‘The first man Adam became a living person.’ The last Adam became a spirit that gives life. (1.Mos 2,7)46What is spiritual did not come first. What is earthly came first. What is spiritual came after that.47The first man came from the dust of the earth. The second man came from heaven.48Those who belong to the earth are like the one who came from the earth. And those who are spiritual are like the heavenly man.49We are like the earthly man. And we will be like the heavenly man.50Brothers and sisters, here is what I’m telling you. Bodies made of flesh and blood can’t share in the kingdom of God. And what dies can’t share in what never dies.51Listen! I am telling you a mystery. We will not all die. But we will all be changed.52That will happen in a flash, as quickly as you can wink an eye. It will happen at the blast of the last trumpet. Then the dead will be raised to live for ever. And we will be changed.53Our natural bodies don’t last for ever. They must be dressed with what does last for ever. What dies must be dressed with what does not die.54In fact, that is going to happen. What does not last will be dressed with what lasts for ever. What dies will be dressed with what does not die. Then what is written will come true. It says, ‘Death has been swallowed up. It has lost the battle.’ (Es 25,8)55‘Death, where is the victory you thought you had? Death, where is your sting?’ (Hos 13,14)56The sting of death is sin. And the power of sin is the law.57But let us give thanks to God! He gives us the victory because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done.58My dear brothers and sisters, remain strong in the faith. Don’t let anything move you. Always give yourselves completely to the work of the Lord. Because you belong to the Lord, you know that your work is not worthless.
12Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? (Ap G 23,8; 2.Tim 2,18)13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. (1.Thess 4,14)14And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.15We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. (Ap G 2,24)16For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. (Rom 4,25)18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. (1.Thess 4,16; Åb 14,13)19If in Christ we have hope[2] in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1.Kor 4,9; 2.Tim 3,12)20But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (Ap G 26,23; 1.Kor 15,23; 2.Tim 2,8; 1.Pet 1,3)21For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. (Joh 11,25; Rom 5,12; Rom 6,23)22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. (Rom 5,14)23But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. (Luk 14,14; 1.Kor 15,52; 1.Thess 2,19; 1.Thess 4,16)24Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. (Dan 7,14; Dan 7,27; Ef 1,21)25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. (Salm 110,1)26The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (2.Tim 1,10; Åb 20,14; Åb 21,4)27For “God[3] has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. (Salm 8,6; Matt 11,27; Matt 28,18; Ef 1,22)28When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. (1.Kor 3,23; 1.Kor 11,3; Filip 3,21)29Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?30Why are we in danger every hour? (2.Kor 11,26)31I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! (Luk 9,23; Rom 8,36; 1.Thess 2,19)32What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” (Es 22,13; Es 56,12; Luk 12,19; 2.Kor 1,8)33Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”[4] (1.Kor 5,6; Jak 1,16)34Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. (Rom 13,11; 1.Kor 4,14; 1.Kor 6,5; 1.Thess 4,5)
The Resurrection Body
35But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” (Ez 37,3)36You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. (Joh 12,24)37And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain.38But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body.39For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.40There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another.41There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.42So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. (Dan 12,3; Matt 13,43)43It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. (Filip 3,21; Kol 3,4)44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.45Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”;[5] the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (1.Mos 2,7; Joh 5,21; Joh 6,33; Joh 6,39; Joh 6,54; Joh 6,57; Rom 5,14; Rom 8,2; Rom 8,10)46But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual.47The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. (1.Mos 2,7; 1.Mos 3,19; Joh 3,13; Joh 3,31)48As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. (Filip 3,20)49Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall[6] also bear the image of the man of heaven. (1.Mos 5,3; Rom 8,29)
Mystery and Victory
50I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. (Matt 16,17; Joh 3,3; Joh 3,5)51Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (Filip 3,21; 1.Thess 4,15; 1.Thess 4,17)52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. (Es 27,13; Zak 9,14; Matt 24,31; Luk 20,36; Joh 5,25; Joh 5,28; 1.Thess 4,16)53For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. (2.Kor 5,2)54When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” (Es 25,8; Heb 2,14; Åb 20,14; Åb 21,4)55“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (Hos 13,14)56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. (Rom 4,15; Rom 5,13; Rom 7,5; Rom 7,8; Rom 7,13)57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom 8,37; 1.Joh 5,4)58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (Jer 48,10; Joh 6,28; 1.Kor 3,8; 1.Kor 16,10; Gal 6,9; 2.Pet 3,14)