Christ Was Raised to Life
1 My friends, I want you to remember the message I preached and that you believed and trusted. 2 You will be saved by this message, if you hold firmly to it. But if you don't, your faith was all for nothing.
3 I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me. This part is:
Christ died for our sins,
as the Scriptures say.
4 He was buried,
and three days later
he was raised to life,
as the Scriptures say.
5 Christ appeared to Peter,
then to the twelve.
6 After this, he appeared
to more than five hundred
other followers.
Most of them are still alive,
but some have died.
7 He also appeared to James,
then to all of the apostles.
8 Finally, he appeared to me, even though I am like someone who was born at the wrong time.
9 I am the least important of all the apostles. In fact, I caused so much trouble for God's church that I don't even deserve to be called an apostle. 10 But God treated me with undeserved grace! He made me what I am, and his grace wasn't wasted. I worked much harder than any of the other apostles, although it was really God's grace at work and not me. 11 But it doesn't matter if I preached or if they preached. All of you believed the message just the same.
God's People Will Be Raised to Life
12 If we preach that Christ was raised from death, how can some of you say the dead will not be raised to life? 13 If they won't be raised to life, Christ himself wasn't raised to life. 14 And if Christ wasn't raised to life, our message is worthless, and so is your faith. 15 If the dead won't be raised to life, we have told lies about God by saying he raised Christ to life, when he really did not.
16 So if the dead won't be raised to life, Christ wasn't raised to life. 17 Unless Christ was raised to life, your faith is useless, and you are still living in your sins. 18 And those people who died after putting their faith in him are completely lost. 19 If our hope in Christ is good only for this life, we are worse off than anyone else.
20 But Christ has been raised to life! And he makes us certain that others will also be raised to life. 21 Just as we will die because of Adam, we will be raised to life because of Christ. 22 Adam brought death to all of us, and Christ will bring life to all of us. 23 But we must each wait our turn. Christ was the first to be raised to life, and his people will be raised to life when he returns. 24 Then after Christ has destroyed all powers and forces, the end will come, and he will give the kingdom to God the Father.
25 Christ will rule until he puts all his enemies under his power, 26 and the last enemy he destroys will be death. 27 When the Scriptures say he will put everything under his power, they don't include God. It was God who put everything under the power of Christ. 28 After everything is under the power of God's Son, he will put himself under the power of God, who put everything under his Son's power. Then God will mean everything to everyone.
29 If the dead are not going to be raised to life, what will people do who are being baptized for them? Why are they being baptized for those dead people? 30 And why do we always risk our lives 31 and face death every day? The pride that I have in you because of Christ Jesus our Lord is what makes me say this. 32 What do you think I gained by fighting wild animals in Ephesus? If the dead are not raised to life,
“Let's eat and drink.
Tomorrow we die.”
33 Don't fool yourselves. Bad friends will destroy you. 34 Be sensible and stop sinning. You should be embarrassed that some people still don't know about God.
What Our Bodies Will Be Like
35 Some of you have asked, “How will the dead be raised to life? What kind of bodies will they have?” 36 Don't be foolish. A seed must die before it can sprout from the ground. 37 Wheat seeds and all other seeds look different from the sprouts that come up. 38 This is because God gives everything the kind of body he wants it to have. 39 People, animals, birds, and fish are each made of flesh, but none of them are alike. 40 Everything in the heavens has a body, and so does everything on earth. But each one is very different from all the others. 41 The sun isn't like the moon, the moon isn't like the stars, and each star is different.
42 That's how it will be when our bodies are raised to life. These bodies will die, but the bodies that are raised will live forever. 43 These ugly and weak bodies will become beautiful and strong. 44 As surely as there are physical bodies, there are spiritual bodies. And our physical bodies will be changed into spiritual bodies.
45 The first man was named Adam, and the Scriptures tell us that he was a living person. But Jesus, who may be called the last Adam, is a life-giving spirit. 46 We see that the one with a spiritual body did not come first. He came after the one who had a physical body. 47 The first man was made from the dust of the earth, but the second man came from heaven. 48 Everyone on earth has a body like the body of the one who was made from the dust of the earth. And everyone in heaven has a body like the body of the one who came from heaven. 49 Just as we are like the one who was made out of earth, we will be like the one who came from heaven.
50 My friends, I want you to know that our bodies of flesh and blood will decay. This means they cannot share in God's kingdom, which lasts forever. 51 I will explain a mystery to you. Not every one of us will die, but we will all be changed. 52 It will happen suddenly, quicker than the blink of an eye. At the sound of the last trumpet the dead will be raised. We will all be changed, so we will never die again. 53 Our dead and decaying bodies will be changed into bodies that won't die or decay. 54 The bodies we now have are weak and can die. But they will be changed into bodies that are eternal. Then the Scriptures will come true,
“Death has lost the battle!
55 Where is its victory?
Where is its sting?”
56 Sin is what gives death its sting, and the Law is the power behind sin. 57 But thank God for letting our Lord Jesus Christ give us the victory!
58 My dear friends, stand firm and don't be shaken. Always keep busy working for the Lord. You know that everything you do for him is worthwhile.
Kristus augšāmcelšanās
1 Brāļi, daru jums zināmu evaņģēliju, ko jums pasludināju un ko jūs arī pieņēmāt un kurā pastāvat. 2 Caur to jūs arī tiekat glābti, ja vien stingri turaties pie tā, ko esmu jums pasludinājis. Citādi velti esat sākuši ticēt. 3 Vispirms es jums nodevu to, ko pats esmu saņēmis: Kristus mira par mūsu grēkiem, pēc Rakstiem, 4 un tika guldīts kapā un trešajā dienā augšāmcēlās, pēc Rakstiem, 5 un parādījās Kēfam, pēc tam tiem divpadsmit, 6 pēc tam parādījās vienlaikus vairāk nekā piecsimt brāļiem, no kuriem lielākā daļa vēl ir dzīvi, bet daži jau aizmiguši, 7 pēc tam parādījās Jēkabam, pēc tam visiem apustuļiem, 8 un kā vispēdējam viņš pārādījās man kā tādam priekšlaicīgi dzimušam. 9 Jo es taču esmu vismazākais no apustuļiem un neesmu cienīgs saukties par apustuli, tādēļ ka reiz es vajāju Dieva draudzi. 10 Bet no Dieva žēlastības esmu tas, kas esmu, un viņa žēlastība manī nav bijusi veltīga. Es esmu vairāk par viņiem visiem pūlējies, taču ne es, bet Dieva žēlastība, kas ar mani. 11 Mēs tā visi sludinām – vai nu es, vai tie citi –, un tā jūs esat sākuši ticēt.
Mirušo augšāmcelšanās
12 Bet, ja par Kristu sludina, ka viņš ir augšāmcēlies no mirušajiem, kādēļ tad daži starp jums runā, ka nav mirušo augšāmcelšanās. 13 Ja jau nav mirušo augšāmcelšanās, tad arī Kristus nav augšāmcēlies. 14 Bet, ja Kristus nav augšāmcēlies, tad jau veltīga ir mūsu sludināšana un veltīga jūsu ticība. 15 Tad jau mēs esam Dieva viltus liecinieki, jo esam liecinājuši pret Dievu, it kā viņš Kristu būtu augšāmcēlis, ko viņš nemaz nav augšāmcēlis, ja jau nav mirušo augšāmcelšanās. 16 Jo, ja jau mirušie netiek augšāmcelti, tad arī Kristus nav augšāmcēlies. 17 Bet, ja Kristus nav augšāmcēlies, tad veltīga ir jūsu ticība un jūs vēl esat savos grēkos. 18 Tad jau pazušanā gājuši ir arī Kristū aizmigušie. 19 Ja mēs vienīgi šajā dzīvē ceram uz Kristu, tad esam visnožēlojamākie cilvēki. 20 Bet nu Kristus ir augšāmcēlies no mirušajiem, pirmais no aizmigušajiem. 21 Tādēļ ka nāve ir caur cilvēku un caur cilvēku ir arī mirušo augšāmcelšanās. 22 Jo, kā visi mirst Ādamā, tā Kristū visi tiks darīti dzīvi. 23 Bet ikviens savā reizē, pirmais – Kristus, pēc tam Kristum piederīgie, kad viņš nāks. 24 Un gals būs tad, kad Valstību viņš nodos Dievam un Tēvam, kad viņš atcels visas valdības un visas varas, un visus spēkus. 25 Jo viņam ir jāvalda tik ilgi, līdz viņš noliks visus ienaidniekus zem savām kājām. 26 Pēdējais ienaidnieks, kas tiks iznīcināts, būs nāve. 27 Jo Dievs ir pakļāvis visu zem viņa kājām. Un, ja Dievs ir teicis, ka viss ir pakļauts, tad skaidrs – izņemot pašu pakļāvēju. 28 Un, kad Dēlam viss būs pakļauts, tad arī viņš pats tiks pakļauts Dievam, kas visu nolika viņa pakļautībā, lai Dievs būtu viss visā. 29 Ko tad darīs, kas pieņem kristību mirušo labā? Ja mirušie vispār netiek augšāmcelti, kādēļ tad tie viņu dēļ tiek kristīti? 30 Kādēļ tad mēs bez mitas sevi pakļaujam briesmām? 31 Es mirstu ik dienas, patiesi, kā jūs, brāļi, esat mans lepnums Jēzū Kristū, mūsu Kungā! 32 Ja es kāda cilvēciska iemesla dēļ būtu cīnījies ar zvēriem Efesā, kāds labums man tad būtu? Ja mirušie netiek augšāmcelti, tad jau tik ēdīsim un dzersim, jo rīt mums jāmirst. 33 Nepievilieties: ļauna sabiedrība samaitā krietnus tikumus. 34 Nāciet pie skaidra prāta, kā piederas, un negrēkojiet, jo daži starp jums ir pilnīgā neziņā par Dievu, to saku jums par kaunu.
Miesas augšāmcelšanās
35 Varbūt kāds jautās: kā var mirušie augšāmcelties? Kādā miesā viņi nāks? 36 Bezprātīgais, ko tu sēj, tas netop dzīvs, pirms tas nemirst. 37 Ko tu iesēj, nav tā miesa, kas būs, bet ir tikai sēkliņa, vai nu tas būtu labības grauds, vai kas cits. 38 Bet Dievs piešķir tai miesu pēc savas gribas, dodot katrai sēklai tai piederīgo miesu. 39 Ne visiem tāda pati miesa, citāda ir cilvēkam, citāda – dzīvniekiem, citāda – putniem, citāda – zivīm. 40 Ir gan debess ķermeņi, gan zemes ķermeņi, un citāda godība ir debess ķermeņiem un citāda – zemes ķermeņiem. 41 Citāds spožums ir saulei un citāds – mēnesim, un citāds spožums ir zvaigznēm, jo zvaigzne no zvaigznes atšķiras pēc spožuma. 42 Tāpat arī mirušo augšāmcelšanās – sēts top iznīcībā, bet augšāmceļas neiznīcībā. 43 Sēts top negodā, bet augšāmceļas godībā. Sēts top nespēkā, bet augšāmceļas spēkā. 44 Sēta top dabīga miesa, bet augšāmceļas garīga miesa. Jo kā ir dabīga miesa, ir arī garīga miesa. 45 Tā ir arī rakstīts: pirmais cilvēks Ādams tapa par dzīvu būtni, pēdējais Ādams tapa par Garu, kas dara dzīvu. 46 Taču pirmais nav garīgais, bet dabīgais – garīgais ir pēc tam. 47 Pirmais cilvēks ir no zemes pīšļiem, otrs cilvēks – no debesīm. 48 Kāds ir šis cilvēks, kas no zemes, tādi paši ir tie cilvēki, kas no zemes. Kāds ir cilvēks, kas no debesīm, tādi paši būs tie cilvēki, kas no debesīm. 49 Tāpat kā mēs valkājam zemes cilvēka izskatu, tā mēs arī valkāsim debess cilvēka izskatu. 50 Brāļi, to es jums saku: Dieva valstību nevar iemantot miesa un asinis, tāpat kā iznīcīgais neiemanto neiznīcīgo. 51 Redzi, es jums atklāju noslēpumu: ne visi mēs aizmigsim, bet visi mēs tapsim pārvērsti – 52 pēkšņi, vienā acumirklī, pēdējai taurei skanot. Tad atskanēs taure, un mirušie augšāmcelsies neiznīcībā, un mēs tapsim pārvērsti, 53 jo iznīcīgajam ir jātērpjas neiznīcīgajā un mirstīgajam ir jātērpjas nemirstīgajā. 54 Kad iznīcīgais ietērpsies neiznīcīgajā un mirstīgais ietērpsies nemirstīgajā, tad piepildīsies rakstītais vārds: nāve ir aprīta uzvarā. 55 Kur, nāve, tava uzvara? Kur, nāve, tavs dzelonis? 56 Nāves dzelonis ir grēks, un grēka spēks ir bauslība. 57 Bet pateicība Dievam, kas mums dod uzvaru caur mūsu Kungu Jēzu Kristu. 58 Tad nu, mani mīļotie brāļi, esiet noturīgi un nelokāmi, vienmēr dedzības pilni Kunga darbā, zinādami, ka jūsu pūles nav veltīgas Kungā.
