Προς Κορινθιους Α΄ 15
1 γνωριζω δε υμιν αδελφοι το ευαγγελιον ο ευηγγελισαμην υμιν ο και παρελαβετε εν ω και εστηκατε
Now, my fellow believers, I want to remind you about the message about Christ that I preached to you. It is the message that you received and that you have continued to trust firmly.
2 δι ου και σωζεσθε τινι λογω ευηγγελισαμην υμιν ει κατεχετε εκτοσ ει μη εικη επιστευσατε
If you keep on firmly [believing] this message that I preached to you, you will be saved {[God] will save you}. If you do not continue to believe it, your believing [in Christ] was (all for nothing/useless)!
3 παρεδωκα γαρ υμιν εν πρωτοισ ο και παρελαβον οτι χριστοσ απεθανεν υπερ των αμαρτιων ημων κατα τασ γραφασ
The most important part of the message that I received [from the Lord Jesus], and that I told you, was this: Christ died to [take away the guilt] of our sins, as the Scriptures [said that he would do].
4 και οτι εταφη και οτι εγηγερται τη τριτη ημερα κατα τασ γραφασ
His [dead body] was buried {They buried his [body]}. On the third day [after that], [God] caused him to become alive again, as the Scriptures [said would happen].
5 και οτι ωφθη κηφα ειτα τοισ δωδεκα
After that, [Christ] was seen by {appeared to} Peter. Then he appeared to [eleven of] the [original] twelve [apostles].
6 επειτα ωφθη επανω πεντακοσιοισ αδελφοισ εφαπαξ εξ ων οι πλειουσ μενουσιν εωσ αρτι τινεσ δε και εκοιμηθησαν
Later he was seen by {appeared to} more than 500 of our fellow believers. Most of those are still living, but some of them have died [EUP].
7 επειτα ωφθη ιακωβω ειτα τοισ αποστολοισ πασιν
Then he was seen by {appeared [to]} [his younger brother] James, [who became the leader of the congregation in Jerusalem]. Then he appeared to all of the apostles.
8 εσχατον δε παντων ωσπερει τω εκτρωματι ωφθη καμοι
Finally, he was seen by {appeared to} me, but I became an apostle in a way that was very unusual [MET].
9 εγω γαρ ειμι ο ελαχιστοσ των αποστολων οσ ουκ ειμι ικανοσ καλεισθαι αποστολοσ διοτι εδιωξα την εκκλησιαν του θεου
The fact is, I [consider that I] am the least important of the apostles. I do not deserve to be an apostle, because I (persecuted God’s groups of believers/caused God’s groups of believers to suffer) [everywhere I went].
10 χαριτι δε θεου ειμι ο ειμι και η χαρισ αυτου η εισ εμε ου κενη εγενηθη αλλα περισσοτερον αυτων παντων εκοπιασα ουκ εγω δε αλλ η χαρισ του θεου η συν εμοι
But it is because God acted kindly toward me in ways that I did not deserve that I became what I am now. And his acting kindly toward me produced a great result [LIT], which is that I worked harder [for Christ] than all the other apostles. But it was not that I [was working with my own ability]. Instead, God was helping me in a way I did not deserve.
11 ειτε ουν εγω ειτε εκεινοι ουτωσ κηρυσσομεν και ουτωσ επιστευσατε
So it does not matter whether it was I [who was preaching or whether it was the other apostles who were preaching]. We all preached [the same message], and that message is what you believed.
12 ει δε χριστοσ κηρυσσεται οτι εκ νεκρων εγηγερται πωσ λεγουσιν τινεσ εν υμιν οτι αναστασισ νεκρων ουκ εστιν
So now [let me ask you this]: Since [we] have all preached to you that Christ was raised again {that [God] caused Christ to become alive} after he died, (no one among you should be saying that [God] will not cause [believers] to become alive again after they die!/why do some of you say that [God] will not cause [believers] to become alive again after they die?) [RHQ]
13 ει δε αναστασισ νεκρων ουκ εστιν ουδε χριστοσ εγηγερται
If [it is true that God] will not cause anyone to become alive again, that situation would mean that Christ was not raised from the dead {[he] did not cause Christ to become alive again}!
14 ει δε χριστοσ ουκ εγηγερται κενον αρα το κηρυγμα ημων κενη δε και η πιστισ υμων
And if Christ was not raised from the dead {if [God] did not cause Christ to become alive again}, then what we preached to you was useless, and your believing [in Christ] is useless.
15 ευρισκομεθα δε και ψευδομαρτυρεσ του θεου οτι εμαρτυρησαμεν κατα του θεου οτι ηγειρεν τον χριστον ον ουκ ηγειρεν ειπερ αρα νεκροι ουκ εγειρονται
[If it is true that] no one will be raised from the dead {[that God] will not cause anyone to become alive again after he dies}, we [(exc)] have been guilty of lying to you about God, because we told you that God caused Christ to become alive again.
16 ει γαρ νεκροι ουκ εγειρονται ουδε χριστοσ εγηγερται
But if it were really true that no one who has died will be raised {that [God will] not cause anyone who has died to become alive} again, then Christ was not raised {[he] did not cause Christ to become alive} again either!
17 ει δε χριστοσ ουκ εγηγερται ματαια η πιστισ υμων ετι εστε εν ταισ αμαρτιαισ υμων
If it were true that Christ was not raised {that [God] did not cause Christ to become alive} again after he died, you have believed in Christ for nothing, [because] God will still [punish] you for [MTY] your sins.
18 αρα και οι κοιμηθεντεσ εν χριστω απωλοντο
And those people who died [EUP] [while they were trusting] in Christ will go to hell. (questioned)
19 ει εν τη ζωη ταυτη ηλπικοτεσ εσμεν εν χριστω μονον ελεεινοτεροι παντων ανθρωπων εσμεν
In this life [many of us have suffered much for Christ] because we confidently expect [that he will reward us in heaven]. If we have confidently expected this in vain, people should pity us more than they pity anyone else!
20 νυνι δε χριστοσ εγηγερται εκ νεκρων απαρχη των κεκοιμημενων εγενετο
But [the truth is that] Christ has been raised from the dead {that [God] has caused Christ to live again after he had died}, and (that guarantees/because of that, it is certain) [MET] that he will also cause those [believers] who have died [EUP] to become alive again.
21 επειδη γαρ δι ανθρωπου ο θανατοσ και δι ανθρωπου αναστασισ νεκρων
What one man, [Adam, did affects us all]. We all die. Similarly, what one man—[Christ]—did [affects us(inc) all]: God will cause [all believers] to become alive again.
22 ωσπερ γαρ εν τω αδαμ παντεσ αποθνησκουσιν ουτωσ και εν τω χριστω παντεσ ζωοποιηθησονται
Because of what Adam did, all [of us who are descended] from him die. Similarly, because of what [Christ did], all of us who have a close relationship with him will be brought back to life {[God] will make alive all of us who have a close relationship with Christ}.
23 εκαστοσ δε εν τω ιδιω ταγματι απαρχη χριστοσ επειτα οι του χριστου εν τη παρουσια αυτου
But we must all take our turn. [God raised] Christ first [MET]. And when Christ returns, [God will cause] those who belong to Christ to become alive again.
24 ειτα το τελοσ οταν παραδω την βασιλειαν τω θεω και πατρι οταν καταργηση πασαν αρχην και πασαν εξουσιαν και δυναμιν
Then, after Christ has destroyed all [DOU] the evil powers that oppose God, [the world] will end. Then Christ will give to God, his Father, his kingdom to completely rule over it.
25 δει γαρ αυτον βασιλευειν αχρι ου αν θη παντασ τουσ εχθρουσ υπο τουσ ποδασ αυτου
You must realize that Christ must rule [here on earth] until he has completely defeated [MTY] all his enemies.
26 εσχατοσ εχθροσ καταργειται ο θανατοσ
The last thing that [he] will get rid of is death. [But he certainly will get rid of death, which is like] an enemy [to us].
27 παντα γαρ υπεταξεν υπο τουσ ποδασ αυτου οταν δε ειπη οτι παντα υποτετακται δηλον οτι εκτοσ του υποταξαντοσ αυτω τα παντα
[In the Scriptures the Psalmist wrote that] God will cause everything to be under Christ’s [authority] [MTY]. But it is clear that the word ‘everything’ here does not include God, because God is the one who will cause everything to be under Christ’s [authority] [MTY].
28 οταν δε υποταγη αυτω τα παντα τοτε και αυτοσ ο υιοσ υποταγησεται τω υποταξαντι αυτω τα παντα ινα η ο θεοσ τα παντα εν πασιν
After everything is put under [the authority of] God’s Son, then Christ will put himself completely under [the authority of] God, the one who gave him that authority. Then God will be completely in control of everything [IDM], everywhere.
29 επει τι ποιησουσιν οι βαπτιζομενοι υπερ των νεκρων ει ολωσ νεκροι ουκ εγειρονται τι και βαπτιζονται υπερ των νεκρων
[Now think about this: Some among you] are being baptized (OR, are baptizing people) on behalf of those who died [before someone baptized them] (OR, who died [before they became believers]). If, [as some people say, believers] will not be raised [from the dead] {[God] will not cause [believers] to become alive again}, (what is the value in those people doing that?/there is no value in those people doing that!) [RHQ] If [God] will not cause any [believers] to become alive again, it is senseless to be baptized {baptize anyone} on behalf of someone who has died. [RHQ]
30 τι και ημεισ κινδυνευομεν πασαν ωραν
Furthermore, [if God will not cause us believers to become alive again], it is [RHQ] very foolish for me and the other apostles to be constantly [putting ourselves] in danger [because we tell people the gospel].
31 καθ ημεραν αποθνησκω νη την υμετεραν καυχησιν ην εχω εν χριστω ιησου τω κυριω ημων
My fellow believers, every day I [am in danger of] being killed {people killing me}! That is as true as it is that I am pleased with you because of your close relationship with Christ Jesus our Lord.
32 ει κατα ανθρωπον εθηριομαχησα εν εφεσω τι μοι το οφελοσ ει νεκροι ουκ εγειρονται φαγωμεν και πιωμεν αυριον γαρ αποθνησκομεν
[If God will not cause us believers to become alive again after we die], (I will receive no benefit at all [from having opposed those who attacked me so strongly] in Ephesus [city]./what will I gain [from having opposed those who attacked me so strongly] in Ephesus [city]?) [RHQ] They were [fighting me like] wild beasts! If we [believers] will not be raised [from the dead] {If [God] will not cause us [believers] to live again}, we might as well say [as people often say]: “Tomorrow we are going to die, so we might as well enjoy now everything that we can. We might as well feast and get drunk!”
33 μη πλανασθε φθειρουσιν ηθη χρηστα ομιλιαι κακαι
Do not let [yourselves be deceived by those who say that God will not cause believers to live again] {Do not let [people who say that God will not cause believers to live again] deceive you}. If you associate with evil people [who say such things], they will (influence you to do evil things/destroy your good moral way of living).
34 εκνηψατε δικαιωσ και μη αμαρτανετε αγνωσιαν γαρ θεου τινεσ εχουσιν προσ εντροπην υμιν λεγω
Start thinking correctly again [about these matters], as you should, and [stop your sinful behavior which has resulted from] your wrong thinking. [I say that] because [it seems that] some among you do not know God, and as a result they [are thinking wrongly]. I say that to make you ashamed.
35 αλλ ερει τισ πωσ εγειρονται οι νεκροι ποιω δε σωματι ερχονται
But some of you are asking, “How will dead people be raised {How will [God] cause dead people to become alive} again? What kind of bodies will they have?”
36 αφρον συ ο σπειρεισ ου ζωοποιειται εαν μη αποθανη
[Anyone who asks such questions is] foolish. You [know that] a seed that is planted in the ground must completely change its form [MET] before it sprouts.
37 και ο σπειρεισ ου το σωμα το γενησομενον σπειρεισ αλλα γυμνον κοκκον ει τυχοι σιτου η τινοσ των λοιπων
A seed, such as a wheat seed, is very different from the plant that sprouts from it.
38 ο δε θεοσ αυτω διδωσιν σωμα καθωσ ηθελησεν και εκαστω των σπερματων το ιδιον σωμα
God gives everything that lives the form that he desires. He gives each seed its own form.
39 ου πασα σαρξ η αυτη σαρξ αλλα αλλη μεν ανθρωπων αλλη δε σαρξ κτηνων αλλη δε ιχθυων αλλη δε πτηνων
[Similarly], people, animals, birds, and fish all have flesh, but each one has a different kind of flesh.
40 και σωματα επουρανια και σωματα επιγεια αλλ ετερα μεν η των επουρανιων δοξα ετερα δε η των επιγειων
Also, there are angelic beings in heaven (OR, stars and planets in the sky), and there are people with bodies on the earth. The angelic beings (OR, stars and planets) are beautiful in one way, and people on earth are beautiful in a different way.
41 αλλη δοξα ηλιου και αλλη δοξα σεληνησ και αλλη δοξα αστερων αστηρ γαρ αστεροσ διαφερει εν δοξη
The sun is bright in one way, and the moon is bright in a different way, and the stars are bright in a different way. And even the various stars are different from each other in how bright they are.
42 ουτωσ και η αναστασισ των νεκρων σπειρεται εν φθορα εγειρεται εν αφθαρσια
And it is the same way [with our bodies. The bodies that we will have when God causes us] to live again after we die [will not be the same as the bodies that we have now] [MET]. [The bodies that we have now] will die and decay. [The new bodies that we will have] will never die.
43 σπειρεται εν ατιμια εγειρεται εν δοξη σπειρεται εν ασθενεια εγειρεται εν δυναμει
We despise [the bodies that we have now], before we die. But our [new bodies] will be glorious. The [bodies that we have before we die] are weak. But our new bodies will be strong.
44 σπειρεται σωμα ψυχικον εγειρεται σωμα πνευματικον εστιν σωμα ψυχικον και εστιν σωμα πνευματικον
The bodies that we have before we die are natural bodies. But [our new bodies] will be ones that [God’s] Spirit ([controls/gives us]). Just like there are natural bodies, there are bodies that [God’s] Spirit [completely] controls (OR, makes alive).
45 ουτωσ και γεγραπται εγενετο ο πρωτοσ ανθρωποσ αδαμ εισ ψυχην ζωσαν ο εσχατοσ αδαμ εισ πνευμα ζωοποιουν
[In the Scriptures] it is written {we read} that [when] the first man, Adam, [was created], he became a living human being. [Christ later also became a human being]. But [he is different from Adam, because he] became a person who gives us [spiritual] life.
46 αλλ ου πρωτον το πνευματικον αλλα το ψυχικον επειτα το πνευματικον
But our bodies that God’s Spirit (will completely control/will give us) are not the first bodies that we have. We have our natural bodies first.
47 ο πρωτοσ ανθρωποσ εκ γησ χοικοσ ο δευτεροσ ανθρωποσ ο κυριοσ εξ ουρανου
The first man, [Adam], was created {[God] created the first man, Adam} from the dust of the earth. But [Christ], the one who came later, came from heaven.
48 οιοσ ο χοικοσ τοιουτοι και οι χοικοι και οιοσ ο επουρανιοσ τοιουτοι και οι επουρανιοι
Everyone on earth [has a body] like the first man on the earth had. And in heaven, [everyone will have a body like Christ], the man who came from heaven, has.
49 και καθωσ εφορεσαμεν την εικονα του χοικου φορεσωμεν και την εικονα του επουρανιου
And just like [God] gave us bodies like the first man on earth had, so we [believers will have bodies] like [Christ] has, who is now in heaven.
50 τουτο δε φημι αδελφοι οτι σαρξ και αιμα βασιλειαν θεου κληρονομησαι ου δυνανται ουδε η φθορα την αφθαρσιαν κληρονομει
My fellow believers, I want you to know that we [(inc)] [SYN] cannot go [to heaven, where] God rules [over everything], with our physical bodies, because our bodies [cannot last forever]. They will die and decay.
51 ιδου μυστηριον υμιν λεγω παντεσ μεν ου κοιμηθησομεθα παντεσ δε αλλαγησομεθα
But I will tell you something that [God] has not revealed [before]: [Some of] us [believers] will not die [EUP]. However, all of us will be changed {[God] will change all of us}.
52 εν ατομω εν ριπη οφθαλμου εν τη εσχατη σαλπιγγι σαλπισει γαρ και οι νεκροι εγερθησονται αφθαρτοι και ημεισ αλλαγησομεθα
[It will happen] suddenly, as [fast as someone can] blink his eye [MET], when [we hear the sound of God’s] trumpet for the last time. When we hear that trumpet, all [the believers] who have died will come back to life and will have bodies that are changed {that [God] has changed}, bodies that will never decay.
53 δει γαρ το φθαρτον τουτο ενδυσασθαι αφθαρσιαν και το θνητον τουτο ενδυσασθαι αθανασιαν
And the [bodies of us who are alive at that time] will [also] be changed {And [God] will [also] change the [bodies of us who are alive at that time]}. These bodies of ours that die and decay must be transformed into [new bodies that] will never die; [it will be like someone] [MET] getting rid of [his old clothes] and putting on [new ones].
54 οταν δε το φθαρτον τουτο ενδυσηται αφθαρσιαν και το θνητον τουτο ενδυσηται αθανασιαν τοτε γενησεται ο λογοσ ο γεγραμμενοσ κατεποθη ο θανατοσ εισ νικοσ
When that happens, what is written {what ([a prophet/Isaiah]) wrote} [in the Scriptures] will come true/happen: [God] will completely get rid of [MET] death. Our dying will no longer have any power to defeat us;
Death [APO] will not win a victory over us. Death will not be able to hurt us. (Hadēs g86)
56 το δε κεντρον του θανατου η αμαρτια η δε δυναμισ τησ αμαρτιασ ο νομοσ
It is because we sin [MET] [that we die, and it is because we] have God’s laws that we [know that we] have sinned.
57 τω δε θεω χαρισ τω διδοντι ημιν το νικοσ δια του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου
But because of what our Lord Jesus Christ [has done], he enables us to be free [from having to obey God’s laws to be saved and to be free of being afraid to die]. We should thank God for that!
58 ωστε αδελφοι μου αγαπητοι εδραιοι γινεσθε αμετακινητοι περισσευοντεσ εν τω εργω του κυριου παντοτε ειδοτεσ οτι ο κοποσ υμων ουκ εστιν κενοσ εν κυριω
So, my fellow believers whom I love, continue to hold strongly to [the things that you believe]. Do not let anything cause you to doubt them. Always be doing enthusiastically the work that the Lord [gives you]. And remember that the work that you do for the Lord is never (in vain/useless), [as it would be if God will not cause us to live again after we die].
