15:31. I die daily, I protest by your glory, brethren, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord.
15:32. If (according to man) I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what doth it profit me, if the dead rise not again? Let us eat and drink, for to morrow we shall die.
Let us eat and drink, etc... That is, if we did not believe that we were to rise again from the dead, we might live like the impious and wicked, who have no belief in the resurrection.
15:33. Be not seduced: Evil communications corrupt good manners.
15:34. Awake, ye just, and sin not. For some have not the knowledge of G.o.d. I speak it to your shame.
15:35. But some man will say: How do the dead rise again? Or with what manner of body shall they come?
15:36. Senseless man, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die first.
15:37. And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not the body that shall be: but bare grain, as of wheat, or of some of the rest.
15:38. But G.o.d giveth it a body as he will: and to every seed its proper body.
15:39. All flesh is not the same flesh: but one is the flesh of men, another of beasts, other of birds, another of fishes.
15:40. And there are bodies celestial and bodies terrestrial: but, one is the glory of the celestial, and another of the terrestrial.
15:41. One is the glory of the sun, another the glory of the moon, and another the glory of the stars. For star differeth from star in glory.
15:42. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption: it shall rise in incorruption.
15:43. It is sown in dishonour: it shall rise in glory. It is sown in weakness: it shall rise in power.
15:44. It is sown a natural body: it shall rise a spiritual body. If there be a natural body, there is also a spiritual body, as it is written:
15:45. The first man Adam was made into a living soul; the last Adam into a quickening spirit.
15:46. Yet that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural: afterwards that which is spiritual.
15:47. The first man was of the earth, earthly: the second man, from heaven, heavenly.
15:48. Such as is the earthly, such also are the earthly: and such as is the heavenly, such also are they that are heavenly.
15:49. Therefore, as we have borne the image of the earthly, let us bear also the image of the heavenly.
15:50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot possess the kingdom of G.o.d: neither shall corruption possess incorruption.
15:51. Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall all indeed rise again: but we shall not all be changed.
15:52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet: for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall rise again incorruptible. And we shall be changed.
15:53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption: and this mortal must put on immortality.
15:54. And when this mortal hath put on immortality, then shall come to pa.s.s the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory.
15:55. O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?
15:56. Now the sting of death is sin: and the power of sin is the law.
15:57. But thanks be to G.o.d, who hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
15:58. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast and unmoveable: always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians Chapter 16
Of collection of alms. Admonitions and salutations.
16:1. Now concerning the collections that are made for the saints: as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, so do ye also.
16:2. On the first day of the week, let every one of you put apart with himself, laying up what it shall well please him: that when I come, the collections be not then to be made.
16:3. And when I shall be with you, whomsoever you shall approve by letters, them will I send to carry your grace to Jerusalem.
16:4. And if it be meet that I also go, they shall go with me.
16:5. Now I will come to you, when I shall have pa.s.sed through Macedonia. For I shall pa.s.s through Macedonia.
16:6. And with you perhaps I shall abide, or even spend the winter: that you may bring me on my way whithersoever I shall go.
16:7. For I will not see you now by the way: for I trust that I shall abide with you some time, if the Lord permit.
16:8. But I will tarry at Ephesus, until Pentecost.
16:9. For a great door and evident is opened unto me: and many adversaries.
16:10. Now if Timothy come, see that he be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.
16:11. Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct ye him on his way in peace, that he may come to me. For I look for him with the brethren.
16:12. And touching our brother Apollo, I give you to understand that I much entreated him to come unto you with the brethren: and indeed it was not his will at all to come at this time. But he will come when he shall have leisure.
16:13. Watch ye: stand fast in the faith: do manfully and be strengthened.
16:14. Let all your things be done in charity.
16:15. And I beseech you, brethren, you know the house of Stepha.n.u.s, and of Fortunatus, and of Achaicus, that they are the firstfruits of Achaia, and have dedicated themselves to the ministry of the saints:
16:16. That you also be subject to such and to every one that worketh with us and laboureth.
16:17. And I rejoice in the presence of Stepha.n.u.s and Fortunatus and Achaicus: because that which was wanting on your part, they have supplied.
16:18. For they have refreshed both my spirit and yours. Know them, therefore, that are such.
16:19. The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house, with whom I also lodge.