if our expectations as christians all terminate in this life, we of all men are most to be pitied. But Christ is actually risen, as previous to those who were dead. for since by man came death, by man the resurrection of the dead will likewise come. read more.
for as by Adam all die, even so by Christ shall all be restored to life. but every one in proper order: Christ has the precedence, next they who were Christians shall rise at his advent. and then will be the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God even the father; after having abolished all rule, and all authority, and power. for he must reign, "till God has cast all his enemies under his feet." the last enemy that shall be destroyed, is death. for he hath subjected all things to him. but when it is said all things are subjected, it is plain that he is to be excepted, who did subject all things to him. and when all things shall be reduced under subjection to him, then shall the son also himself be subject to him that put all things under his subjection, that God may be all in all. If it be not so, what can they effect who are baptized for the dead? if the dead rise not at all, why are they then baptized for the dead? and why do we continually expose our lives to danger? I am daily receiving new mortifications, witness your cruel boastings against me, which I bear for the sake of Christ Jesus our Lord; besides, my engaging with those monsters, as I may say, at Ephesus, what advantage was it to me? if the dead don't rise, "let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die." be not deceived : "vicious conversation corrupts good morals." rouze from your sins, as is but just; for some of you have not the knowledge of God: I speak it to your shame. But some will say, how will the dead be raised? with what kind of body will they appear? foolish as you are, the grain you sow, is not revived except it die. and whatever you sow, you don't sow that body which shall afterwards appear, but only the bare grain of wheat, for instance, or of some other grain. but God gives it such a body, as he thinks fit, to every seed its peculiar body. All flesh is not of the same kind: but there is one kind that belongs to men, another to beasts, another to fishes, and another to birds. there are celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is of one kind, and the glory of the terrestrial of another. the glory of the sun is of one kind, the glory of the moon of another, and the glory of the stars still different; nay, one star differs from another star in glory. such will be the resurrection of the dead: the body is sown corruptible, it will be raised incorruptible. it is sown in dishonour, it will be raised in glory: it is sown in decay, it will be raised in power: it is sown an animal body, it will rise a spiritual body. there is an animal body, and there is a spiritual body. and so it is written, the first man Adam was made an animating soul, the last Adam was made a vivifying spirit. but the spiritual body was not first, but the animal; and afterwards the spiritual. the first man was formed from the dust of the earth: the second man was from heaven. as was the terrestrial, such are they also that are terrestrial: and as is the celestial, such also shall they be who are to be celestial. for as we have born the image of the terrestrial, so we shall bear the image of the celestial. this I say, my brethren, because the body, as it is at present, cannot possess the kingdom of God; and what is corruptible, can't enjoy incorruptibility. I shall now tell you a very great secret: we shall not all of us sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the sound of the last trumpet (for the trumpet shall sound) and the dead shall rise incorruptible; but as for us, we shall be changed. for this corruptible body must be invested with incorruptibility, this mortal be invested with immortality. but when this corruptible shall be invested with incorruptibility, and this mortal with immortality, then shall be fulfilled that passage of scripture, " death is swallowed up for ever."