NECESSITY OF THE RESURRECTION.
Now IF Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there was no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen; and if Christ is not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses for God; because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ; whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised; and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order; Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming.