Dec 4 - 1 Corinthians 15-16
1 Corinthians
1And so I make known to you, brothers, the Gospel that I preached to you, which you also received, and on which you stand2By the Gospel, too, you are being saved, if you hold to the understanding that I preached to you, lest you believe in vain3For I handed on to you, first of all, what I also received: that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures4and that he was buried; and that he rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures5and that he was seen by Cephas, and after that by the eleven6Next he was seen by more than five hundred brothers at one time, many of whom remain, even to the present time, although some have fallen asleep7Next, he was seen by James, then by all the Apostles8And last of all, he was seen also by me, as if I were someone born at the wrong time9For I am the least of the Apostles. I am not worthy to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God10But, by the grace of God, I am what I am. And his grace in me has not been empty, since I have labored more abundantly than all of them. Yet it is not I, but the grace of God within me11For whether it is I or they: so we preach, and so you have believed12Now if Christ is preached, that he rose again from the dead, how is it that some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead13For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not risen14And if Christ has not risen, then our preaching is useless, and your faith is also useless15Then, too, we would be found to be false witnesses of God, because we would have given testimony against God, saying that he had raised up Christ, when he had not raised him up, if, indeed, the dead do not rise again16For if the dead do not rise again, then neither has Christ risen again17But if Christ has not risen, then your faith is vain; for you would still be in your sins18Then, too, those who have fallen asleep in Christ would have perished19If we have hope in Christ for this life only, then we are more miserable than all men20But now Christ has risen again from the dead, as the first-fruits of those who sleep21For certainly, death came through a man. And so, the resurrection of the dead came through a ma22And just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be brought to life23but each one in his proper order: Christ, as the first-fruits, and next, those who are of Christ, who have believed in his advent24Afterwards is the end, when he will have handed over the kingdom to God the Father, when he will have emptied all principality, and authority, and power25For it is necessary for him to reign, until he has set all his enemies under his feet26Lastly, the enemy called death shall be destroyed. For he has subjected all things under his feet. And although he says27"All things have been subjected to him," without doubt he does not include the One who has subjected all things to him28And when all things will have been subjected to him, then even the Son himself will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to him, so that God may be all in all29Otherwise, what will those who are being baptized for the dead do, if the dead do not rise again at all? Why then are they being baptized for them30Why also do we endure trials every hour31Daily I die, by means of your boasting, brothers: you whom I have in Christ Jesus our Lord32If, according to man, I fought with the beasts at Ephesus, how would that benefit me, if the dead do not rise again? "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die.33Do not be led astray. Evil communication corrupts good morals34Be vigilant, you just ones, and do not be willing to sin. For certain persons have an ignorance of God. I say this to you with respect35But someone may say, "How do the dead rise again?" or, "What type of body do they return with?36How foolish! What you sow cannot be brought back to life, unless it first dies37And what you sow is not the body that will be in the future, but a bare grain, such as of wheat, or of some other grain38For God gives it a body according to his will, and according to each seed’s proper body39Not all flesh is the same flesh. But one is indeed of men, another truly is of beasts, another is of birds, and another is of fish40Also, there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. But while the one, certainly, has the glory of heaven, the other has the glory of earth41One has the brightness of the sun, another the brightness of the moon, and another the brightness of the stars. For even star differs from star in brightness42So it is also with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown in corruption shall rise to incorruption43What is sown in dishonor shall rise to glory. What is sown in weakness shall rise to power44What is sown with an animal body shall rise with a spiritual body. If there is an animal body, there is also a spiritual one.45Just as it was written that the first man, Adam, was made with a living soul, so shall the last Adam be made with a spirit brought back to life46So what is, at first, not spiritual, but animal, next becomes spiritual47The first man, being earthly, was of the earth; the second man, being heavenly, will be of heaven48Such things as are like the earth are earthly; and such things as are like the heavens are heavenly49And so, just as we have carried the image of what is earthly, let us also carry the image of what is heavenly50Now I say this, brothers, because flesh and blood is not able to possess the kingdom of God; neither will what is corrupt possess what is incorrupt51Behold, I tell you a mystery. Certainly, we shall all rise again, but we shall not all be transformed52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will rise up, incorruptible. And we shall be transformed53Thus, it is necessary for this corruptibility to be clothed with incorruptibility, and for this mortality to be clothed with immortality54And when this mortality has been clothed with immortality, then the word that was written shall occur: "Death is swallowed up in victory.55"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?56Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law57But thanks be to God, who has given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ58And so, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and unmovable, abounding always in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not useless in the Lord
1Now concerning the collections which are made for the saints: just as I have arranged for the churches of Galatia, so should it also be done with you2On the first day of the week, the Sabbath, let each one of you take from himself, setting aside what will be well-pleasing to him, so that when I arrive, the collections will not have to be made then3And when I am present, whomever you shall approve through letters, these I shall send to bear your gifts to Jerusalem4And if it is fitting for me to go too, they shall go with me5Now I will visit you after I have passed through Macedonia. For I will pass through Macedonia6And perhaps I will stay with you, and even spend the winter, so that you may lead me on my way, whenever I depart7For I am not willing to see you now only in passing, since I hope that I may remain with you for some length of time, if the Lord permits8But I must remain at Ephesus, even until Pentecost9For a door, great and unavoidable, has opened to me, as well as many adversaries10Now if Timothy arrives, see to it that he may be among you without fear. For he is doing the work of the Lord, just as I also do11Therefore, let no one despise him. Instead, lead him on his way in peace, so that he may come to me. For I am awaiting him with the brothers12But concerning our brother, Apollo, I am letting you know that I pleaded with him greatly to go to you with the brothers, and clearly it was not his will to go at this time. But he will arrive when there is a space of time for him13Be vigilant. Stand with faith. Act manfully and be strengthened14Let all that is yours be immersed in charity15And I beg you, brothers: You know the house of Stephanus, and of Fortunatus, and of Achaicus, that they are the first-fruits of Achaia, and that they have dedicated themselves to the ministry of the saints16So you should be subject also to persons such as this, as well as to all who are cooperating and working with them17Now I rejoice in the presence of Stephanus and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because what was lacking in you, they have supplied18For they have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore, recognize persons such as this19The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you greatly in the Lord, with the church of their household, where I also am a guest20All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss21This is a greeting from my own hand, Paul22If anyone does not love our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema! Maran Atha23May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all24My charity is with all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen