Study Desk

But if an inspired revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one must be silent.

for God [who is the source of their prophesying] is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order. As [is the practice] in all the churches of the saints (God's people),

the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not authorized to speak, but are to take a subordinate place, as the Law says.

But all things must be done appropriately and in an orderly manner.

After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, the majority of whom are still alive, but some have fallen asleep [in death].

But by the [remarkable] grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not without effect. In fact, I worked harder than all of the apostles, though it was not I, but the grace of God [His unmerited favor and blessing which was] with me.

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

But now [as things really are] Christ has in fact been raised from the dead, [and He became] the first fruits [that is, the first to be resurrected with an incorruptible, immortal body, foreshadowing the resurrection] of those who have fallen asleep [in death].

But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ's [own will be resurrected with incorruptible, immortal bodies] at His coming.

For HE (the Father) HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS (Christ's) FEET. But when He says, "All things have been put in subjection [under Christ]," it is clear that He (the Father) who put all things in subjection to Him (Christ) is excepted [since the Father is not in subjection to His own Son].

But someone will say, "How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body will they come?"

The seed you sow is not the body (the plant) which it is going to become, but it is a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or some other grain.

But God gives it a body just as He planned, and to each kind of seed a body of its own [is given].

There are also heavenly bodies [sun, moon and stars] and earthly bodies [humans, animals, and plants], but the glory and beauty of the heavenly is one kind, and the glory of the earthly is another.

However, the spiritual [the immortal life] is not first, but the physical [the mortal life]; then the spiritual.

Listen very carefully, I tell you a mystery [a secret truth decreed by God and previously hidden, but now revealed]; we will not all sleep [in death], but we will all be [completely] changed [wondrously transformed],

but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.

but it may be that I will stay with you [for a while], or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way to wherever I may go afterward.

For I do not wish to see you right now just in passing, but I hope to remain with you for some time [later on], if the Lord permits.

But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,