²³ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,^(A) groan^(B) inwardly as we wait eagerly^(C) for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.^(D)

²⁹ For those God foreknew^(A) he also predestined^(B) to be conformed to the image of his Son,^(C) that he might be the firstborn^(D) among many brothers and sisters.

⁴² So will it be^(A) with the resurrection of the dead.^(B) The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;^{(C) 43} it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory;^(D) it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; ⁴⁴ it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.^(E)

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”^[a];^(F) the last Adam,^(G) a life-giving spirit.^{(H) 46} The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.^{(I) 47} The first man was of the dust of the earth;^(J) the second man is of heaven.^{(K) 48} As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven.^{(L) 49} And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man,^(M) so shall we^[b] bear the image of the heavenly man.^(N)

⁵⁰ I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood^(O) cannot inherit the kingdom of God,^(P) nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.^{(Q) 51} Listen, I tell you a mystery:^(R) We will not all sleep,^(S) but we will all be changed^(T)— ⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound,^(U) the dead^(V) will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For the perishable^(W) must clothe itself with the imperishable,^(X) and the mortal with immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”^[c](Y)

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin,^(AA) and the power of sin is the law.^{(AB) 57} But thanks be to God!^(AC) He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.^(AD)

¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate^[a](A) the Lord’s glory,^(B) are being transformed into his image^(C) with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Awaiting the New Body

5 For we know that if the earthly^(A) tent^(B) we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. ² Meanwhile we groan,^(C) longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,^{(D) 3} because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are in this tent, we groan^(E) and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,^(F) so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.^(G)

²⁷ For he “has put everything under his feet.”^[a](A) Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.^{(B) 28} When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him,^(C) so that God may be all in all.^(D)