1 Corinthians 15:5-19

5He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve.

6After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.

7Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.

8Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.

9For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.

10But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.

11So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message you have already believed.

12But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead?

13For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either.

14And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.

15And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead.

16And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised.

17And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.

18In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost!

19And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.