18. It would also mean that the believers in Christ who have died are lost.
19. If our hope in Christ is good for this life only and no more, then we deserve more pity than anyone else in all the world.
20. But the truth is that Christ has been raised from death, as the guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised.
21. For just as death came by means of a man, in the same way the rising from death comes by means of a man.
22. For just as all people die because of their union with Adam, in the same way all will be raised to life because of their union with Christ.
23. But each one will be raised in the right order: Christ, first of all; then, at the time of his coming, those who belong to him.
24. Then the end will come; Christ will overcome all spiritual rulers, authorities, and powers, and will hand over the Kingdom to God the Father.
25. For Christ must rule until God defeats all enemies and puts them under his feet.
26. The last enemy to be defeated will be death.
27. For the scripture says, “God put all things under his feet.” It is clear, of course, that the words “all things” do not include God himself, who puts all things under Christ.
28. But when all things have been placed under Christ's rule, then he himself, the Son, will place himself under God, who placed all things under him; and God will rule completely over all.
29. Now, what about those people who are baptized for the dead? What do they hope to accomplish? If it is true, as some claim, that the dead are not raised to life, why are those people being baptized for the dead?
30. And as for us — why would we run the risk of danger every hour?
31. My brothers and sisters, I face death every day! The pride I have in you, in our life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord, makes me declare this.
32. If I have, as it were, fought “wild beasts” here in Ephesus simply from human motives, what have I gained? But if the dead are not raised to life, then, as the saying goes, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we will die.”
33. Do not be fooled. “Bad companions ruin good character.”
34. Come back to your right senses and stop your sinful ways. I declare to your shame that some of you do not know God.
35. Someone will ask, “How can the dead be raised to life? What kind of body will they have?”