18. And those in Christ who have already died are lost.
19. If our hope in Christ is only for this life here on earth, then people should feel more sorry for us than for anyone else.
20. But Christ really has been raised from death—the first one of all those who will be raised.
21. Death comes to people because of what one man did. But now there is resurrection from death because of another man.
22. I mean that in Adam all of us die. And in the same way, in Christ all of us will be made alive again.
23. But everyone will be raised to life in the right order. Christ was first to be raised. Then, when Christ comes again, those who belong to him will be raised to life.
24. Then the end will come. Christ will destroy all rulers, authorities, and powers. Then he will give the kingdom to God the Father.
25. Christ must rule until God puts all enemies under his control.
26. The last enemy to be destroyed will be death.
27. As the Scriptures say, “God put everything under his control.” When it says that “everything” is put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself. God is the one putting everything under Christ’s control.
28. After everything has been put under Christ, then the Son himself will be put under God. God is the one who put everything under Christ. And Christ will be put under God so that God will be the complete ruler over everything.