Brethren, Christ is risen from the dead, the firstfruits of them that slept. For as death is through man, so is the resurrection of the dead through man. As in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive, each in his own order: Christ is the firstborn, then Christ's, at His coming. And then the end, when He will deliver up the kingdom to God and the Father, when He will abolish all authority and all authority and power. For He must reign until He puts all enemies under His feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death, because He has subdued all things under His feet. But when it is said that all things are subject to Him, it is clear that except Him who subjected all things to Him. And when all things are subject to Him, then the Son Himself will submit to Him who subjected all things to Him, that God may be all in all.

1 Corinthians 15:20–28

In Memory of the Dead (Thursday)

First Epistle to the Corinthians, conceived 161

Brethren, what do those who are baptized do for the dead? If the dead are not resurrected at all, then why are they baptized for the dead? Why are we also hourly subjected to calamities? I die every day: I bear witness of this by your praise, brethren, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord. According to human reasoning, when I wrestled with the beasts in Ephesus, what profit did it do me if the dead did not rise? Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we will die! Do not be deceived: bad associations corrupt good morals. Sober up as you should, and do not sin; for to your shame I say, some of you do not know God. But someone will say: How will the dead be raised? And in what body will they come? Reckless! What you sow will not come to life unless it dies. And when you sow, you do not sow the body to come, but the bare grain that will happen, wheat or whatever it is; but God gives him a body as He wills, and to each seed his own body.

1 Corinthians 15:29–38

Tuesday, the 10th Week

First Epistle to the Corinthians, conceived 162

Brethren, not all flesh is the same flesh; but the flesh of men is different, the flesh of cattle is different, the flesh of fish is different, and the flesh of birds is different. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies; but the glory of the heavenly is different, and the glory of the earthly is different. The glory of the sun is different, the glory of the moon is different, the glory of the stars is different; and star differs from star in glory. So it is with the resurrection of the dead: it is sown in corruption, it rises in incorruption; it is sown in humiliation, it rises in glory; it is sown in weakness, it rises in strength; the natural body is sown, the spiritual body rises. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. Thus it is written: the first man Adam became a living soul; and the last Adam is the life-giving spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:39–45

Saturday, 18th week.

In memory of the dead (Tuesday)

First Epistle to the Corinthians, conceived 163

Brethren, the first man is of the earth, earthly; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthly, so are the earthly; and as the heavenly is, so are the heavenly ones. And as we wore the image of the earthly, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. But this I say to you, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and corruption does not inherit incorruption. I tell you a secret: we will not all die, but we will all change suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall rise incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable thing shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality, then shall be fulfilled the word which is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your sting? Hell, where is your victory? But the sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law. Thanks be to God, Who has given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!