Funeral reading
1 Corinthians 15:20–26
King James Bible
“1 Corinthians 15:20–26” (King James Bible) is a scripture reading read at a funeral or memorial service. It takes about 55 seconds read aloud, usually by a guest reader. It is in the public domain, so the full text is printed on this page and goes straight into a ceremony script.
The full text
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits 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 firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
Public domain, so these words can be printed in a ceremony script or an order of service.
Where it comes from
In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul answers readers in Corinth who were saying “there is no resurrection of the dead”.
What it says
Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. As death came through one man, so resurrection comes through one man: as in Adam all die, in Christ all will be made alive, each in their own order. Christ must reign until every enemy is put under his feet, and the last enemy to be destroyed is death. It is Paul’s plainest statement that death will end.
"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." Read at a funeral or memorial service. Themes: resurrection · the last enemy · firstfruits · death defeated.
Who it suits
Christian funerals where the family wants the resurrection at the center, and a service for someone whose faith was confident. The “fallen asleep” language comforts many families.
Where it goes in the ceremony
As the New Testament reading, before the Gospel or the address. Read by a family member or friend from the person’s church.
Reading it aloud
The text on this page is 116 words. At a ceremony pace of about 130 words a minute, which is slower than conversation, that comes to about 55 seconds of reading.
- The Adam and Christ comparison is the hinge. Read it slowly so the parallel is heard.
- “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” is the line. Pause before it.
- Keep the middle about kingdoms and powers moving; it can sound abstract if read too slowly.
Questions about reading it aloud
How long does “1 Corinthians 15:20–26” take to read aloud?
“1 Corinthians 15:20–26” takes about 55 seconds read aloud at a ceremony pace, which is slower than conversation — roughly 130 words a minute. That is the figure the run-sheet uses when it works out the timing for the whole service.
Who usually reads “1 Corinthians 15:20–26”?
Usually a guest reader rather than the officiant. “1 Corinthians 15:20–26” runs about 55 seconds, which is a manageable amount to hand to a friend or family member. Give them a printed copy of their own, in a size they can read without their glasses, and tell them where to stand and how you will introduce them.
Can “1 Corinthians 15:20–26” be printed in a ceremony script?
Yes. It is in the public domain, so the full text is on this page and can be printed in a script or an order of service.
Where this text was checked
Checked word for word against a full-text edition that is itself the authority — a Project Gutenberg or Wikisource transcription, a publisher’s own edition, or the issuing body’s page.
Checked
A reading is two minutes of the hour.
The rest is the welcome, the life, the remembrances, the committal — and knowing what comes next. Answer some questions about them and get the whole service, written out, with this reading in its place.
Other readings that suit the same service
- 1 Corinthians 15:51–57a minute and a halfThe same chapter: O death, where is thy sting?
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18a minute and a halfNot grieving as those who have no hope
- Job 19:23–2740 secondsI know that my redeemer liveth
- Ruth 1:16–17a30 secondsKing James Bible
- 1 John 4:7–12a minute and a halfKing James Bible
- Psalm 10040 secondsKing James Bible