AUV(i)
12 Now if it is preached that Christ was raised from the dead, how can some people among you say that people will not be raised from the dead?
13 But if there is no resurrection from the dead, [then] Christ has not been raised up either.
14 And if Christ has not been raised up, then our preaching is for nothing, and your faith is for nothing too.
15 And also, we are found to be false witnesses about God because we testified that God raised up Christ [from the dead], when [in reality] He did not raise Him up if, in fact, the dead are not raised up.
16 For if dead people are not raised up, [then] neither has Christ been raised.
17 And if Christ has not been raised up, [then] your faith is for nothing; you are still condemned by your sins.
18 Then [also], those who have died in [fellowship with] Christ are lost.
19 If we have placed our hope in Christ while in this life only, we are to be pitied more than all [other] people.
20 But now Christ has been raised up from the dead; [He is] the firstfruits of those who have died. [Note: By “firstfruits” is meant the first installment of the crop which promises the entire harvest eventually].
21 For since death happened to a man [i.e., Adam], the resurrection from the dead also happened to a man [i.e., Christ].
22 For as all people die [physically] in [their relationship to] Adam, so also will all people be made alive [physically] in [their relationship to] Christ. [Note: However, some view “made alive” as referring to the new spiritual life given to believers].
23 But each one [is raised up] in his own turn: Christ as the firstfruits [See verse 20]; then those who are Christ’s [i.e., believers], when He returns.
24 Then [i.e., at Christ’s return] the end [of the world] will occur, when He will turn over the kingdom to God, the Father, after He has abolished all [hostile] dominion, authority and power.
25 For Christ must [continue to] rule [over His kingdom, the church] until God has put all of His enemies under Christ’s feet.
26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
27 For He [i.e., God] placed everything in subjection under His [i.e., Christ’s] feet. But when God said, “Everything is in subjection [to Him],” it is clear that this did not include God [Himself], who placed everything in subjection to Him [i.e., Christ].