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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

10 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.

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

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

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

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

15 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.

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

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

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

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

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