The Resurrection Body

35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36 Fool! What yoʋ sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what yoʋ sow is not the body that will be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body just as he has determined, and he gives to each of the seeds its own body. 39 Not all flesh is the same flesh, but there is one [fn]kind for humans, another for animals, another for fish, and another for birds. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of heavenly bodies is one kind, and the glory of earthly bodies is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

42 So it is with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, but it is raised imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown as a natural body; it is raised as a spiritual body. [fn]There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual body is not first, but the natural body, then the spiritual body. 47 The first man was from the earth, made of dust; the second man is [fn]the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man made of dust, so are those made of dust; and as is the heavenly man, so are those who are heavenly. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man made of dust, [fn]let us also bear the image of the heavenly man.

50 Now I tell you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does what is perishable inherit what is imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet call. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 Now when [fn]this perishable body has put on imperishability, and this mortal body has put on immortality, then this saying that is written will be fulfilled:

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

55 “O Death, where is yoʋr [fn]sting?

O Hades, where is yoʋr victory?”

56 Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 So then, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.