1 Corinthians 15:12-34 - Concerning The Resurrection Of The Dead
12 Now if we preach that Christ rose from the dead, how can certain individuals among you assert that 'there is no such thing as a resurrection of the dead'? 13 If 'there is no such thing as a resurrection from the dead,' then even Christ did not rise; 14 and if Christ did not rise, then our preaching has gone for nothing, and your faith has gone for nothing too. 15 Besides, we are detected bearing false witness to God by affirming of him that he raised Christ ??whom he did not raise, if after all dead men never rise. 16 For if dead men never rise, Christ did not rise either; 17 and if Christ did not rise, your faith is futile, you are still in your sins. 18 More than that: those who have slept the sleep of death in Christ have perished after all. 19 Ah, if in this life we have nothing but a mere hope in Christ, we are of all men to be pitied most!
20 But it is not so! Christ did rise from the dead, he was the first to be reaped of those who sleep in death. 21 For since death came by man, by man came also resurrection from the dead; 22 as all die in Adam, so shall all be made alive in Christ. 23 But each in his own division: ??Christ the first to be reaped; after that, all who belong to Christ, at his arrival. 24 Then comes the end, when he hands over his royal power to God the Father, after putting down all other rulers, all other authorities and powers. 25 For he must reign until all his foes are put under his feet. 26 (Death is the last foe to be put down.) 27 For God has put everything under his feet. When it is said that everything has been put under him, plainly that excludes Him who put everything under him; 28 and when everything is put under him, then the Son himself will be put under Him who put everything under him, so that God may be everything to everyone.
29 Otherwise, if there is no such thing as a resurrection, what is the meaning of people getting baptized on behalf of their dead? If dead men do not rise at all, why do people get baptized on their behalf? 30 Yes, and why am I myself in danger every hour? 31 (Not a day but I am at death's door! I swear it by my pride in you, brothers, through Christ Jesus our Lord.) 32 What would it avail me that, humanly speaking, I 'fought with wild beasts' at Ephesus? If dead men do not rise, let us eat and drink, for we will be dead to-morrow! 33 Make no mistake about this: 'bad company is the ruin of good character.' 34 Get back to your sober senses and avoid sin, for some of you ??and I say this to your shame ??some of you are insensible to God.