Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—
Parallel translations
- WEB Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
- KJV Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
- BSB Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—
- NASB Behold, I am telling you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
- NLT But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul reveals a mystery: not all will die, but all believers will be changed. It matters because it promises transformation for those alive at Christ's return.
Overview
Paul discloses a previously hidden truth: some believers will still be living when Christ returns, yet all will undergo transformation. The resurrection change applies to the living and the dead alike. This unveils the hope that mortality will be swallowed up in glory at Christ's coming.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 1 Th 4:14–17For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
- Phil 3:21who will change the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working by which he is able even to subject all things to himself.
- 1 Cor 15:20But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep.
- Eph 1:9making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him
- 1 Cor 4:1So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants, and stewards of God’s mysteries.
- 1 Cor 2:7But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds for our glory,
- 1 Cor 15:6Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep.
- Eph 5:32This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly.
- 1 Cor 13:2If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing.
- Eph 3:3how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words,
- 1 Cor 15:18Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 15:51 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.