The resurrection of Christ
1Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance15:3 Or you at the first: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas,15:5 That is, Peter and then to the Twelve. 6After 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. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
9For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
The resurrection of the dead
12But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15More 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. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27For he ‘has put everything under his feet’.15:27 Psalm 8:6 Now when it says that ‘everything’ has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
29Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptised for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptised for them? 30And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31I face death every day – yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,
‘Let us eat and drink,
for tomorrow we die.’15:32 Isaiah 22:13
33Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’15:33 From the Greek poet Menander 34Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God – I say this to your shame.
The resurrection body
35But someone will ask, ‘How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?’ 36How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39Not all flesh is the same: people have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendour of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendour of the earthly bodies is another. 41The sun has one kind of splendour, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendour.
42So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45So it is written: ‘The first man Adam became a living being’15:45 Gen. 2:7; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. 48As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. 49And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we15:49 Some early manuscripts so let us bear the image of the heavenly man.
50I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Listen, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’15:54 Isaiah 25:8
55‘Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?’15:55 Hosea 13:14
56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.
Kristo Owusɔreɛ
1Afei, anuanom, mepɛ sɛ mekae mo adwene fa Asɛmpa a meka kyerɛɛ mo no a mogye too mu, nam so maa mo gyidie mu yɛɛ den no ho. 2Ɛno ne Asɛmpa a meka kyerɛɛ mo no. Sɛ mokura Asɛmpa no mu denden a, mobɛnya nkwa, gye sɛ moannye anni.
3Mekaa asɛm a meteeɛ a ɛho hia yie no kyerɛɛ mo sɛ, yɛn bɔne enti na Kristo wuiɛ sɛdeɛ wɔatwerɛ no Atwerɛsɛm mu sɛ, 4wɔsiee no, na ne nnansa so no, ɔsɔre firii awufoɔ mu sɛdeɛ wɔatwerɛ wɔ Atwerɛsɛm no mu sɛ, 5ɔdaa ne ho adi kyerɛɛ Petro ne asomafoɔ dumienu no nyinaa. 6Afei, mpofirim, ɔdaa ne ho adi kyerɛɛ nʼakyidifoɔ bɛboro ahanum a wɔn mu bi te ase na wɔn mu bi nso awuwu. 7Afei, ɔyii ne ho adi kyerɛɛ Yakobo ne asomafoɔ no nyinaa. 8Akyire no koraa, ɔyii ne ho adi kyerɛɛ me a meyɛ obi a wɔanwo me ntɛm.
9Meyɛ obi a mesua koraa wɔ asomafoɔ no mu na memfata mpo sɛ wɔfrɛ me ɔsomafoɔ ɛfiri sɛ, metaa Onyankopɔn asafo. 10Nanso, Onyankopɔn adom enti, mete sɛ deɛ mete no ara na adom a ɔde dom me no aboa me yie. Ama matumi ayɛ adwuma denden asene asomafoɔ a aka no nyinaa a ɛmfiri mʼankasa mʼahoɔden mu, na mmom Onyankopɔn adom no na ɛredi dwuma wɔ me mu. 11Enti, sɛ ɛfiri me anaa ɛfiri wɔn no, Asɛmpa a yɛn nyinaa ka ni, na ɛno nso na mogye di.
Yɛn Owusɔreɛ
12Afei, sɛdeɛ Asɛmpa no ka sɛ wɔama Kristo asɔre afiri awufoɔ mu no, adɛn na mo mu bi tumi ka sɛ wɔrentumi mma awufoɔ nsɔre? 13Sɛ saa yɛ nokorɛ deɛ a, na ɛkyerɛ sɛ wɔamma Kristo ansɔre amfiri awufoɔ mu. 14Na sɛ wɔamma Kristo ansɔre amfiri awufoɔ mu a, na ɛkyerɛ sɛ, yɛnni asɛm biara ka, na mo nso monni asɛm biara a mobɛgye adi. 15Ɛno akyi koraa na ɛkyerɛ sɛ, yɛredi atorɔ fa Onyankopɔn ho, ɛfiri sɛ, yɛka sɛ ɔno na ɔnyanee Kristo firii awufoɔ mu. Na sɛ awufoɔ ntumi nsɔre a, ɛnneɛ na wɔamma Kristo nso ansɔre amfiri awufoɔ mu. 16Sɛ awufoɔ ntumi nsɔre a, na Kristo nso ansɔre. 17Na sɛ wɔamma Kristo ansɔre amfiri awufoɔ mu a, na mo gyidie no yɛ nnaadaa, na moda so yera wɔ mo bɔne mu. 18Ɛsane kyerɛ sɛ, wɔn a na wɔgye Kristo di a wɔawuwu no ayera. 19Na sɛ yɛn anidasoɔ wɔ Kristo mu no yɛ ma saa asetena yi nko ara a, ɛnneɛ na yɛyɛ mmɔbɔ sene obiara a ɔwɔ ewiase ha.
20Nanso, nokorɛ a ɛwom ne sɛ, wɔama Kristo asɔre afiri awufoɔ mu de ahyɛ mo den sɛ wɔn a wɔadeda wɔ owuo mu no, wɔbɛma wɔasɔresɔre. 21Na sɛdeɛ owuo nam onipa so baeɛ no, saa ara nso na owusɔreɛ nam onipa so ba. 22Owuo nam Adam so baa yɛn nyinaa so; saa ara nso na Kristo de nkwa brɛɛ yɛn nyinaa. 23Nanso, biribiara bɛyɛ nnidisoɔ nnidisoɔ a Kristo na ɔbɛdi ɛkan, na sɛ Kristo di ɛkan ba bio a, wɔn a wɔyɛ ne deɛ no nso adi akyire. 24Afei sɛ Kristo sɛe ahonhom mu atumfoɔ, ahoɔden ne tumi nyinaa a, awieeɛ no bɛba, na ɔde Ahennie no ama Onyankopɔn a ɔyɛ Agya no. 25Ɛfiri sɛ, ɛsɛ sɛ Kristo di ɔhene kɔsi sɛ ɔbɛdi nʼatamfoɔ nyinaa so na ɔde wɔn ahyɛ ne nan ase. 26Ɔtamfoɔ a ɔtwa toɔ a ɔbɛdi ne so ne owuo. 27Sɛ Atwerɛsɛm no ka sɛ, “Ɔde nneɛma nyinaa bɛhyɛ ne tumi ase a,” wɔmmfa Onyankopɔn nka ho. Ɛyɛ Onyankopɔn na ɔde nneɛma nyinaa hyɛɛ Kristo tumi ase. 28Na sɛ wɔde nneɛma nyinaa hyɛ Kristo tumi ase a, ɔno ankasa a ɔyɛ Ɔba no de ne ho bɛhyɛ Onyankopɔn a ɔde nneɛma nyinaa hyɛɛ ne Ba no tumi ase no, ase; na Onyankopɔn adi biribiara so.
29Sɛ owusɔreɛ nni hɔ a, anka wɔn a wɔbɔ awufoɔ din bɔ asu no bɛyɛ dɛn? Wɔn adwene ne sɛn? Sɛ ɛyɛ nokorɛ sɛ deɛ wɔka sɛ, wɔnnyane awufoɔ mma nkwa mu a, adɛn enti na wɔbɔ awufoɔ din bɔ wɔn asu? 30Na adɛn na dɔnhwereɛ biara yɛde yɛn ho to amaneɛ mu? 31Anuanom, dɔnhwereɛ biara mehyia owuo. Esiane Yesu enti, ahohoahoa a mewɔ wɔ mo mu, na ɛma me ka yei. 32Modwene sɛ mfasoɔ bɛn na menyaa wɔ ɔko a me ne “nkekaboa” koo wɔ Efeso no? Na sɛ awufoɔ nsɔre mma nkwa mu a, ɛnneɛ
“Momma yɛnnidi na yɛnnom,
ɛfiri sɛ, ɔkyena yɛbɛwu” sɛdeɛ wɔka no.
33“Mommma wɔnnnaadaa mo. Nkɔmmɔ bɔne sɛe ɔbra pa.” 34Monyɛ mo asɛdeɛ na monnyae mo akwammɔne no. Meka yei de hyɛ mo aniwuo sɛ mo mu bi nnim Onyankopɔn.
Nipadua A Ɛsɔre
35Obi bɛbisa sɛ, “Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na wɔbɛtumi ama awufoɔ asɔre aba nkwa mu? Wɔbɛyɛ onipadua su bɛn?” 36Ɔkwasea! Sɛ wodua aba wɔ fam a, gye sɛ ɛwu ansa na afifiri. 37Na deɛ wodua wɔ fam no, ɛnyɛ dua, na mmom ɛyɛ awi aba anaasɛ aba foforɔ bi. 38Bɔbea a Onyankopɔn adwene ho sɛ ɔpɛ sɛ ɔde bɔ aba no na ɔde bɔ no; ɔma aba biara bɔbea a ɛfata no. 39Honam a ɛkata ateasefoɔ ho no nyinaa nyɛ honam korɔ. Nnipa wɔ wɔn honam; mmoa wɔ wɔn deɛ; nnomaa wɔ wɔn deɛ ɛnna nsuomnam nso wɔ wɔn deɛ. 40Ɔsoro onipadua wɔ hɔ, ɛnna ɛfam onipadua nso wɔ hɔ. Ahoɔfɛ bi wɔ hɔ ma ɔsoro onipadua nko ara, ɛnna ahoɔfɛ bi nso wɔ hɔ ma ɛfam onipadua. 41Owia wɔ nʼankasa nʼahoɔfɛ. Ɔsrane wɔ ne deɛ nko; nsoromma ahoɔfɛ gu ahodoɔ; na nsoromma no mu nso wɔwɔ ahoɔfɛ su ahodoɔ.
42Sɛ wɔma awufoɔ sɔre ba nkwa mu a, saa ara na ɛbɛba. Sɛ wɔsie onipadua no a, ɛporɔ; wɔma ɛsɔre nso a ɛmporɔ. 43Sɛ wɔsie onipadua a, ɛyɛ tan na ɛyɛ mmerɛ, nanso sɛ wɔma ɛsɔre a, ɛyɛ fɛ na ɛnya ahoɔden. 44Sɛ wɔsie onipadua no a, ɛyɛ honam na sɛ wɔma ɛsɔre a, ɛyɛ honhom.
Ɔhonam wɔ hɔ enti ɛsɛ sɛ honhom nso wɔ hɔ. 45Atwerɛsɛm no ka sɛ, “Adam a ɔyɛ nnipa nyinaa kannifoɔ no, wɔbɔɔ no sɛ onipa ɔteasefoɔ”; nanso Adam a ɔtwa toɔ no yɛ Honhom a ɔma nkwa. 46Ɛnyɛ honhom mo ni na ɔbaa kane. Ɔbaa deɛ ɔkura honam fam onipadua no akyi. 47Wɔde fam mfuturo na ɛbɔɔ Adam a ɔdi ɛkan no. Adam a ɔtɔ so mmienu no firi ɔsoro. 48Wɔn a wɔte asase so no te sɛ deɛ wɔde dɔteɛ bɔɔ no no; na wɔn a wɔyɛ ɔsoro mma no te sɛ wɔn a wɔfiri ɔsoro. 49Sɛdeɛ yɛte sɛ nnipa a wɔde dɔteɛ bɔɔ yɛn no, saa ara na yɛbɛyɛ sɛ onipa a ɔfiri ɔsoro no.
50Anuanom, deɛ mepɛ sɛ mekyerɛ ne sɛ, deɛ wɔde honam ne mogya ayɛ no nni kyɛfa wɔ Onyankopɔn Ahennie no mu; na deɛ ɛporɔ no ntumi ntena hɔ. 51Montie saa ahintasɛm yi: Yɛn nyinaa renwu, nanso ɛberɛ tiawa bi mu wɔbɛsakyera yɛn nyinaa; 52sɛ totorobɛnto a ɛtwa toɔ no bɔ a, nsakraeɛ no bɛyɛ anibueɛ. Sɛ ɛbɔ a, awufoɔ bɛdane ateasefoɔ na yɛn nyinaa bɛsakyera. 53Na deɛ ɛporɔ no de deɛ ɛmporɔ akata ne ho, na deɛ ɛwu no de deɛ ɛnwu akata ne ho. 54Enti deɛ ɛporɔ de deɛ ɛmporɔ kata ne ho na deɛ ɛbɛwu de deɛ ɛrenwu kata ne ho a, Atwerɛsɛm no bɛba mu sɛ, “Wɔasɛe owuo; nkonim aba!”
55“Owuo, wo nkonim wɔ he?
Owuo, wo nwowɔeɛ wɔ he?”
56Owuo nya ne tumi firi bɔne mu na bɔne nso nya ne tumi firi Mmara no mu. 57Nanso, yɛda Onyankopɔn a ɔnam yɛn Awurade Yesu Kristo so ma yɛn tumi no ase!
58Enti, me nuanom, monnyina pintinn. Ɛda biara monyɛ Awurade adwuma, ɛfiri sɛ, menim sɛ moyɛ Awurade adwuma a ɛrenyɛ ɔkwa da.
