But let me recall to you, brethren, the Good News which I brought you, which you accepted, and on which you are standing,

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

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.

Now if Christ is preached that he is raised from among the dead, how say some among you that there is not a resurrection of those that are dead?

But if there is not a resurrection of those that are dead, neither is Christ raised:

And if Christ did not come again from the dead, then our good news and your faith in it are of no effect.

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.

For if the dead are not raised, neither hath Christ been raised:

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

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

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

But now hath Christ been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of them that are asleep.

For since by man came death, by man also resurrection of those that are dead.

For just as all men die by virtue of their descent from Adam, so all such as are in union with Christ will be made to live again.

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

For his rule will go on till he has put all those who are against him under his feet.

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.

But whenever all [things] are subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subjected to the one who subjected all [things] to him, in order that God may be all in all.

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?

And why are we in danger every hour?

If after the manner of men I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what doth it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.

Awake up righteously, and sin not; for some are ignorant of God: I speak to you as a matter of shame.

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

foolish as you are, the grain you sow, is not revived except it die.

And as for what you sow—you are not sowing the future body, but only a seed, perhaps of wheat or another grain.

All forms of life are not the same; there is one for men, another for beasts, another for birds, and another for fishes.

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 is a glory and beauty of the sun, another glory of the moon, and yet another [distinctive] glory of the stars; and one star differs from another in glory and brilliance.

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

Thus, as we have borne the likeness of material Man, so we are to bear the likeness of the heavenly Man.

But I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood are not able to inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption.

Here is a secret truth for you: not all of us are to die, but all of us are to be changed ??52 changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet-call. The trumpet will sound, the dead will rise imperishable, and we shall be changed.

O death, where is your power? O death, where are your pains?

For this cause, my dear brothers, be strong in purpose and unmoved, ever giving yourselves to the work of the Lord, because you are certain that your work is not without effect in the Lord.

Now concerning the money collected for [the relief of] the saints [in Jerusalem], you are to do the same as I directed the churches of Galatia to do.

The chances are, I shall spend some time with you, possibly even pass the winter with you, so that you may speed me forward on any journey that lies before me.

For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

As for our brother Apollos, I have repeatedly urged him to accompany the brethren who are coming to you: but he is quite resolved not to do so at present. He will come, however, when he has a good opportunity.

Now I urge you, brothers--you know about the household of Stephanas, that they are the first fruits of Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the ministry for the saints--

that ye submit yourselves to such as they are, and to every one that worketh with us, and laboreth.

It is a joy to me that Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus have now arrived, because what was wanting so far as you are concerned they have supplied.

For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.

These greetings are being written with my own hand. [See II Thess. 3:17].

My love to all of you who are in union with Christ Jesus.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

But whether we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which worketh in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer:

And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

while all of you also are helping me by your prayers; so that from many lips thanksgiving may rise on my behalf for the blessings vouchsafed to me through the intercessions of many.

For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God -- not by human wisdom but by the grace of God -- we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.

For we are not writing [anything] else to you except what you can read or also understand. But I hope that you will understand {completely},

As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

When I planned this, I did not do it lightly, did I? Are my plans so fickle that I can say "Yes" and "No" at the same time?

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

And I wrote this same thing to you, so that when I came, I would not be filled with sorrow by those who ought to make me glad, for I trusted in you and felt confident that my joy would be shared by all of you.

For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye are obedient in all things.

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

and to God are thanks, who at all times is leading us in triumph in the Christ, and the fragrance of His knowledge He is manifesting through us in every place,

For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? or need we, as do some, epistles of commendation to you or from you?

Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.

and are not as Moses, who put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel should not look stedfastly on the end of that which was passing away:

But the minds of the Israelites became dull for, to this very day, the same veil remains on them [i.e., figuratively] when the Old Agreement [Scriptures] are read. It is not being revealed to them that the Old Agreement is being abolished by Christ [i.e., by His death on the cross. See Col. 2:14].

But to this day, a veil remains on their minds whenever [the writings of] Moses are read.

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Therefore, being engaged in this service and being mindful of the mercy which has been shown us, we are not cowards.

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

Men whose minds have been blinded by the God of this Age, unbelievers as they are, so that the light from the Good News of the glory of the Christ, who is the very incarnation of God, should not shine for them.

For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves because of Jesus.

but this treasure is lodg'd in such earthen vessels as we are, that the exceeding efficacy of it may appear to be from God, and not from us.

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

hunted down and persecuted, but not deserted [to stand alone]; struck down, but never destroyed;

We are always carrying around the death of Jesus in our bodies, so that the life of Jesus may be clearly shown in our bodies.

For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

Thus we are constantly dying, while you are in full enjoyment of Life.

But having the same spirit of faith, as it is said in the Writings, The words of my mouth came from the faith in my heart; in the same way, our words are the outcome of our faith;

Because we are certain that he who made the Lord Jesus come back from the dead, will do the same for us, and will give us a place in his glory with you.

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

Therefore we are not cowards. Nay, even though our outward man is wasting away, yet our inward man is being renewed day by day.

For our insignificant troubles [here on earth], which last only a short time, are producing for us an immeasurable, never ending [counter-] weight of splendor [i.e., in heaven. See Rom. 8:18].

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

For we are conscious that if this our tent of flesh is taken down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in heaven.

For in this we are crying in weariness, greatly desiring to be clothed with our house from heaven:

since, when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.

For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

for we are living a life of faith, and not one of sight.

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Wherefore also we are zealous, whether present or absent, to be agreeable to him.

For we [believers will be called to account and] must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be repaid for what has been done in the body, whether good or bad [that is, each will be held responsible for his actions, purposes, goals, motives—the use or misuse of his time, opportunities and abilities].

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

We are not again commending ourselves unto you, but'speak as giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have wherewith to answer them that glory in appearance, and not in heart.

For whether we are beside ourselves, it is unto God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is unto you.