1 Corinthians

Addresses issues in the Corinthian church, teaching on unity, love, and resurrection.

Chapter 15

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

*Furthermore, friends, I tell you the good news I shared with you, which you accepted and on which you firmly stand.

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

*By remembering what I taught you, you are saved; unless your belief is false.

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

*For I first told you what I was taught: that Christ died for our mistakes, just like the writings said.

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

*He was buried and then rose again on the third day as written in the holy books.

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

*And he appeared to Peter, then to the twelve apostles.

6 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.

*Afterward, he was seen by over 500 people at the same time; many of them are still around today, but some have passed away.

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

*Next, he appeared to James, followed by all the apostles.

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

*And finally, I saw him too, as if he was born too early.

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

*I am the smallest among the helpers of Jesus, not good enough to be called a helper, because I hurt God's people.

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.

*Because of God's kindness, I am who I am. His kindness to me wasn't wasted. I worked harder than anyone else. But it wasn't because of me; it was because of God's kindness and power in me.

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

*So, whether it was me or them, we teach the same thing, and that's why you believe.

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?

*If they talk about Christ rising from the dead, why do some of you say there's no coming back to life for those who have died?

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

*But if people don't come back to life after they die, then Jesus didn't really rise either.

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

*If Jesus didn't rise, our teachings are pointless, and so is your belief.

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.

*Yes, we are wrong about God because we said He brought back Christ, but if people don't come back to life, then He didn't really bring Christ back.

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

*If people don't come back to life, then Jesus wasn't brought back either.

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

*If Jesus wasn't raised, your belief is pointless; you're still in your wrongdoings.

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

*Then those who have died in Christ are lost.

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

*If we only hope in Christ during our lives, we are the most unhappy people among everyone.

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

*But now, Jesus has risen from the dead and is the first to come back to life among those who have died.

21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

*Because death came through people, resurrection of the dead also came through people.

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

*Just like everyone dies because of Adam, everyone will also come to life through Christ.

23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

*But each person in their turn: Christ as the first one; then those who belong to him when he returns.

24 Then 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.

*Then comes the end, when he gives the kingdom to God, the Father. He stops all rules, authority, and power.

25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

*He needs to rule until he has defeated all his enemies.

26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

*The next foe we'll defeat forever is the one called death.

27 For 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.

*For he has control over everything. But when he says everything is under control, it's clear that he himself isn't included, as he's the one who put everything under control in the first place.

28 And 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.

*When everything is under his control, the Son will also obey the one who controls everything. This way, God will be everything for everyone.

29 Else 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?

*If people are baptizing others for the dead, and the dead don't come back to life, then why do they do it? What is the point of baptizing for the dead?

30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?

*And why do we face danger all the time?

31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our LORD, I die daily.

*I object to your happiness in Christ Jesus that I have, because I die every day.

32 If 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.

*If I've acted like a man by fighting against beasts in Ephesus, what good does it do if people don't come back to life after death? So, let's enjoy food and drinks because we will die tomorrow anyway.

33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

*Don't be fooled: being around bad things will ruin good behavior.

34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

*Wake up to doing what is right and don't do wrong things; some people don't know about God, and this makes you feel bad.

35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

*Someone might ask, "How do the deceased return to life?, and what kind of body do they have when they come back?"

36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:

*You foolish person, what you plant won't grow unless it first dies.

37 And 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:

*What you plant, you don't plant the final body, but a simple seed, maybe it's wheat or another type of seed.

38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

*But God gives each thing a shape based on what he wants, and to every living thing its own unique form.

39 All 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.

*Not all flesh is alike. There's human flesh, beast flesh, fish flesh, and bird flesh - each is different.

40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

*There are both heavenly and earthly bodies, but the shine of heavenly ones is different from that of earthly ones.

41 There 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.

*The sun, moon, and stars each have their own beauty. Each star has its own unique brightness.

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

*So, just like the resurrection of the dead, what is planted in decay will be raised without decay.

43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

*It starts as disgrace, becomes honorable; begins weak, ends strong.

44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

*This means: A physical body is planted (dies); a spiritual body is raised (lives again). There's a physical body and there's a spiritual body.

45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

*And thus it says, the first human Adam became a living soul; the final Adam became a giving-life spirit.

46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

*However, the natural part came first, not the spiritual part; then later, the spiritual part was added.

47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

*The first person comes from Earth and is like the Earth: the second person comes from Heaven and is the Lord.

48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

*Just like those who are worldly, their actions and mindset reflect it; similarly, those who are spiritual show it through their actions and thoughts.

49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

*And since we've been like the earth, we will also be like the heaven.

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

*I'm saying, friends, that people can't inherit God's kingdom with their physical bodies. Decay doesn't inherit what is pure and unchanging.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

*Look, I'm telling you a secret: Not everyone will die, but everyone will change.

52 In 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.

*In an instant, faster than blink, when the final trumpet plays: because it will ring out loud, the deceased will rise without decay, and we'll transform too.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

*This decaying self needs to gain eternal life, and this temporary being must obtain everlasting existence.

54 So 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.

*When decay ends and true life begins, and mortality turns into immortality, then the saying comes true: Death is defeated by victory.

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

*O death, where is your pain? O grave, where is your win?

56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

*The pain of dying comes from doing wrong; and the power of doing wrong comes from rules.

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

*But thank you, God, for giving us the win through Jesus Christ our Lord.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

*So, dear brothers and sisters, stay strong, steady, and constantly busy doing God's work because you understand that your efforts won't be wasted with Him.

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