For what I received(A) I passed on to you(B) as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins(C) according to the Scriptures,(D) that he was buried,(E) that he was raised(F) on the third day(G) according to the Scriptures,(H) and that he appeared to Cephas,[b](I) and then to the Twelve.(J) After 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.(K) Then he appeared to James,(L) then to all the apostles,(M) and last of all he appeared to me also,(N) as to one abnormally born.

For I am the least of the apostles(O) and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted(P) the church of God.(Q) 10 But by the grace(R) of God I am what I am, and his grace to me(S) was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them(T)—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.(U) 11 Whether, then, it is I or they,(V) this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

The Resurrection of the Dead

12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead,(W) how can some of you say that there is no resurrection(X) of the dead?(Y) 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised,(Z) our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 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.(AA) But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.(AB) 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep(AC) in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.(AD)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:3 Or you at the first
  2. 1 Corinthians 15:5 That is, Peter

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