19. If we have a hope in Christ only in this life, then we deserve to be pitied more than anyone else.
20. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead. He’s the first crop of the harvest of those who have died.
21. Since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came through one too.
22. In the same way that everyone dies in Adam, so also everyone will be given life in Christ.
23. Each event will happen in the right order: Christ, the first crop of the harvest, then those who belong to Christ at his coming,
24. and then the end, when Christ hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he brings every form of rule, every authority and power to an end.
25. It is necessary for him to rule until he puts all enemies under his feet.
26. Death is the last enemy to be brought to an end,
27. since he has brought everything under control under his feet. When it says that everything has been brought under his control, this clearly means everything except for the one who placed everything under his control.
28. But when all things have been brought under his control, then the Son himself will also be under the control of the one who gave him control over everything so that God may be all in all.
29. Otherwise, what are those who are getting baptized for the dead doing? If the dead aren’t raised, then why are they being baptized for them?
30. And what about us? Why are we in danger all day every day?
31. Brothers and sisters, I swear by the pride I have in you in Christ Jesus our Lord, I’m facing death every day.
32. From a human point of view, what good does it do me if I fought wild animals in Ephesus? If the dead aren’t raised, let’s eat and drink because tomorrow we’ll die.