Study Desk

Now ^(C1)I make known to you, brothers and sisters, the ^(C2)gospel which I preached to you, which you also received, ^(C3)in which you also stand,

by which you also are saved, ^(C1)if you hold firmly to ^(F1)the word which I preached to you, ^(C2)unless you believed in vain.

For ^(C1)I handed down to you ^(F1)as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died ^(C2)for our sins ^(C3)according to the Scriptures,

and that He was buried, and that He was ^(C1)raised on the third day ^(C2)according to the Scriptures,

and that ^(C1)He appeared to ^(F1)(C2)Cephas, then ^(C3)to the twelve.

After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some ^(C1)have fallen asleep;

then He appeared to ^(F1)(C1)James, then to ^(C2)all the apostles;

and last of all, as ^(F1)to one untimely born, ^(C1)He appeared to me also.

For I am ^(C1)the least of the apostles, ^(F1)and not fit to be called an apostle, because I ^(C2)persecuted the church of God.

But by ^(C1)the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I ^(C2)labored even more than all of them, yet ^(C3)not I, but the grace of God with me.

Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there ^(C1)is no resurrection of the dead?

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised;

and ^(C1)if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, your faith also is in vain.

Moreover, we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified ^(F1)against God that He ^(C1)raised ^(F2)Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.

For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised;

and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; ^(C1)you are still in your sins.

Then also those who ^(C1)have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

If we have hoped in Christ only in this life, we are ^(C1)of all people most to be pitied.

But the fact is, Christ ^(C1)has been raised from the dead, the ^(C2)first fruits of those who ^(C3)are asleep.

For since ^(C1)by a man death came, by a Man also came the resurrection of the dead.

For ^(C1)as in Adam all die, so also in ^(F1)Christ all will be made alive.

But each in his own order: Christ ^(C1)the first fruits, after that ^(C2)those who are Christ's at ^(C3)His coming,

then comes the end, when He hands over ^(C1)the kingdom to our ^(C2)God and Father, when He has abolished ^(C3)all rule and all authority and power.

For He must reign ^(C1)until He has put all His enemies under His feet.

The last enemy that will be ^(C1)abolished is death.

For ^(C1)HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET. But when He says, "^(C2)All things are put in subjection," it is clear that ^(F1)this excludes the Father who put all things in subjection to Him.

When ^(C1)all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that ^(C2)God may be all in all.

For otherwise, what will those do who are baptized ^(F1)for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized ^(F1)for them?

Why are we also ^(C1)in danger every hour?

I affirm, brothers and sisters, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, that ^(C1)I die daily.

If ^(F1)from human motives I ^(C1)fought with wild beasts at ^(C2)Ephesus, what good is it to me? If the dead are not raised, ^(C3)LET'S EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE.

^(C1)Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."

^(C1)Sober up ^(F1)morally and stop sinning, for some have ^(C2)no knowledge of God. ^(C3)I say this to your shame.

But ^(C1)someone will say, "How are ^(C2)the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?"

^(C1)You fool! That which you ^(C2)sow does not come to life unless it dies;

and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of ^(F1)something else.

But God gives it a body just as He wished, and ^(C1)to each of the seeds a body of its own.

All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of mankind, another flesh of animals, another flesh of birds, and another of fish.

There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another.

There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

^(C1)So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown ^(F1)(C2)a perishable body, it is raised ^(F2)(C3)an imperishable body;

it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in ^(C1)glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;

it is sown a ^(C1)natural body, it is raised a ^(C2)spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

So also it is written: "The first ^(C1)MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING ^(F1)PERSON." The ^(C2)last Adam was a ^(C3)life-giving spirit.

However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.

The first man is ^(C1)from the earth, ^(F1)(C2)earthy; the second Man is from heaven.

As is the earthy one, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly One, ^(C1)so also are those who are heavenly.

Just as we have ^(C1)borne the image of the earthy, ^(F1)we ^(C2)will also bear the image of the heavenly.

Now I say this, brothers and sisters, that ^(C1)flesh and blood cannot ^(C2)inherit the kingdom of God; nor does ^(F1)the perishable inherit ^(F2)(C3)the imperishable.

Behold, I am telling you a ^(F1)(C1)mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be ^(C2)changed,

in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for ^(C1)the trumpet will sound, and ^(C2)the dead will be raised ^(F1)imperishable, and ^(C3)we will be changed.

For this ^(F1)perishable must put on ^(F2)(C1)the imperishable, and this ^(C2)mortal must put on immortality.

But when this ^(F1)perishable puts on ^(F2)the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: "^(C1)DEATH HAS BEEN SWALLOWED UP in victory.

"^(C1)WHERE, O DEATH, IS YOUR VICTORY? WHERE, O DEATH, IS YOUR STING?"

The sting of ^(C1)death is sin, and ^(C2)the power of sin is the Law;

but ^(C1)thanks be to God, who gives us the ^(C2)victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

^(C1)Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in ^(C2)the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Now concerning ^(C1)the collection for ^(F1)(C2)the saints, as ^(C3)I directed the churches of ^(C4)Galatia, so you are to do as well.

On ^(C1)the first day of every week, each of you is to ^(F1)put aside and save as he may prosper, so that ^(C2)no collections need to be made when I come.

When I arrive, ^(C1)whomever you approve, I will send them with letters to take your gift to Jerusalem;

and if it is appropriate for me to go also, they will go with me.

But I ^(C1)will come to you after I go through ^(C2)Macedonia; for I ^(C3)am going through Macedonia,

and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may ^(C1)send me on my way wherever I go.

For I do not want to see you now ^(C1)just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time, ^(C2)if the Lord permits.

But I will remain in ^(C1)Ephesus until ^(C2)Pentecost;

for a ^(C1)wide door ^(F1)for effective service has opened to me, and ^(C2)there are many adversaries.

Now if ^(C1)Timothy comes, see that he ^(F1)has no reason to be afraid while among you, for he is doing ^(C2)the Lord's work, as I also am.

^(C1)So do not look down on him, anyone. But ^(C2)send him on his way ^(C3)in peace, so that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brothers.

Now concerning our brother ^(C1)Apollos, I strongly encouraged him to come to you with the brothers; and it was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has the opportunity.

^(C1)Be on the alert, ^(C2)stand firm in the faith, ^(C3)act like men, ^(C4)be strong.

All that you do must be done ^(C1)in love.

Now I urge you, brothers and sisters: you know the ^(C1)household of Stephanas, that ^(F1)they are the ^(C2)first fruits of ^(C3)Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to ^(C4)ministry to ^(C5)the ^(F2)saints;

I urge that ^(C1)you also be subject to such as these and to everyone who helps in the work and labors.

I rejoice over the ^(F1)(C1)coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because they have ^(F2)supplied ^(C2)what was lacking on your part.

For they ^(C1)have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore ^(C2)acknowledge such men.

The churches of ^(F1)(C1)Asia greet you. ^(C2)Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with ^(C3)the church that is in their house.

All the brothers and sisters greet you. ^(C1)Greet one another with a holy kiss.

The greeting is in ^(C1)my own hand—that of Paul.

If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be ^(F1)(C1)accursed. ^(F2)(C2)Maranatha!

^(C1)The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.