declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you. For I
delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how
that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. Now
if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some
among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 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. 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.' And after a
little while, `For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and
this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible
shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on
immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is
written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death where is thy
sting? O grave, where is thy victory?' For then the power of
death is utterly annulled and destroyed, no longer working in us,
but for the future there is given unto men immortality and
incorruption for evermore.

"Beyond all question, therefore, there shall be a resurrection of
the dead, and this we believe undoubtingly. Moreover we know
that there shall be rewards and punishments for the deeds done in
our life-time, on the dreadful day of Christ's coming, `wherein
the heavens shall be dissolved in fire and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat,' as saith one of the inspired clerks of
God; `nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new
heavens and a new earth.' For that there shall be rewards and