The Evidence of Christ Coming to Life Again
15[1-11] Besides this, Christians, I tell you the New Word, which I preached to you, and which you’ve accepted, and in which you take your stand; And you’ll be saved by it, if you keep in mind what I preached to you, unless you really didn’t believe it. And I’ve given you only what I was given first of all, how that Christ died for our sins as the Word says; And Who was buried, and rose again on the third day, as the Word says: And that the Christ was seen by Peter, then by the twelve: After that, the Christ was seen by more than five hundred Christians at once; of whom most are still with us today, though some are now dead. After that, the Christ was seen by James; then by all the followers. And last of all, I saw the Christ myself, at just the right time. And I am the least important of the followers, who has no right to even be called a follower, because I abused the church of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am: and the grace which was given to me wasn’t meaningless; because I have worked more than all of them: still not I, but by the grace of God, who was with me. So, whether it was me or them, we preached, and you believed.
Our Hope is in Christ
[12] Now, if it’s preached that the Christ rose from the dead, how do some of you say that there’s no coming to life again from the dead? If there is no coming to life again from the dead, then is Christ not risen? And if Christ isn’t risen, then our preaching is meaningless, and your faith is also meaningless. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we’ve told you that God brought Christ back to life: whom God hasn’t raised up, if it is true that the dead don’t come to life again. If the dead don’t come to life again, then Christ hasn’t been raised: And if Christ hasn’t been raised, your faith is meaningless and you’re still in your sins. Then those who have died in Christ have been destroyed forever. If our hope is in Christ for this life only, we are the saddest of all people. But Christ has come back to life, and is the first fruits of those who died. Since death came by one human being, new life came by a human being for the dead. Just as all die in Adam, everyone who is in Christ will live. But everyone in their own time: Christ the first fruits; Later, those who are in Christ at the Christ's coming.
[24-34] Then the end will come, when Christ will give up the realm to Yahweh God; when the Christ puts down all right, rule, and power. And Christ must reign, till all enemies are in Christ’s control. Then, the last enemy that the Christ will put an end to is death itself. Because God has put everything in Christ’s control. But when God said, everything is in Christ’s control, it’s plain that God isn’t included in this, who put everything in Christ’s control. And when everything is under Christ’s control, then the Christ will be responsible also to the One who put everything in the Christ’s control, so that God may be Ruler over everything. Or else why would some be baptized for the dead, if the dead don’t come to life again at all? Why are they then baptized in the place of those who are dead? And why do we put ourselves in danger all the time? I say by the joy which I have in Yeshua our Christ, I die daily. If I follow after the way of a human being only, and I fight with beasts at Ephesus, how does that help me, if the dead don’t come to life again? Let’s just eat and drink, because tomorrow we die. Don’t be misled: evil people make good people do bad things. Awake and be good, and don’t sin, because some of you don’t really know God: I say this to your shame.
The New Body
[35-44] But some are saying, “How are the dead brought back? And what kind of body will they have?” You idiot, what you plant isn’t brought back to life again, unless it dies: And what you plant, isn’t the body that will be, but it’s like bare grain, maybe wheat, or some other grain: But it is given a body as it pleases God, and every seed will have its own body. Every physical body isn’t the same: but the human body is of one kind, the body of beasts is another kind, fish have another, and birds have another. There are also heavenly bodies, and earthly bodies: but the light of the heavenly is one kind, and the light of the earthly is another. The sun has one kind of light, and the moon has another, and the stars have another kind, because one star differs from another in its strength. So is the new life also of those who come to life again from the dead. Though it’s sown in sinfulness; when it’s raised it will be sinless: It’s sown in disgrace; but will be raised in victory: it’s sown in the weakness of death; but will be raised in the power of eternal life: It’s sown a natural body; but will be raised a spiritual body. So there’s a natural body, and there’s a spiritual body.
