Chapter 1 The Response of the Shaliach (Apostle) to the Netzarim in Corinth
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Sha'ul, a prisoner in bonds on behalf of Yeshua HaMashiach, sends greetings to the brethren at Corinth in advance of his own coming, by reason of the manifold errors that have sprung up in your midst.
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I am not at all surprised at the rapid spread of the seductive teachings of the Evil One. Adonai Yeshua, however, will soon appear in judgment over such as pervert and despise His commands.
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From the very outset, I taught you those truths which I myself learned from those first Shlichim (Apostles) who spent all of their time in the company of Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach. And I tell you even now that Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach was born of the Betulah Miryam, a descendant of the house of David, by the working of the Ruach HaKodesh, sent to her from the shamayim (heavens) by the Father.
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This was done so that Yeshua might enter this world of ours and redeem all flesh by Himself becoming man, and that He might raise us from the dead, even as He revealed Himself to us as our Bikkurim (Firstfruits) in this matter,
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and that we might be shown that man was indeed created by the Father.
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For that reason, man did not remain isolated in death and corruption. On the contrary, he experienced Elohim's visitation in grace so that he might, through the adoption of sons, receive life.
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For our Elohim, who is Adonai of all and the Father of our Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach, who made the shamayim and Haeretz (the earth), first sent His Hebrew Prophets to the Yehudim, to dissuade them from their sinful ways and to lead them into the paths of righteousness.
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For since He desired to save the Beit Yisrael (House of Israel), He poured out His Ruach HaKodesh upon the Prophets so that they might proclaim the true worship of Elohim and foretell the birth of Mashiach far in advance of the actual event.
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But he who may be called the Infamous One interfered with their work; for he had ambitions to make himself Elohim, and to that end led all men into the slavery of sin, since the time of final judgment was rapidly approaching.
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However, the Almighty Elohim was determined not to reject His creation, but to have man live in righteousness. He saw the misery surrounding His creation, had mercy on mankind, and at the end of times sent His Ruach HaKodesh to overshadow the Betulah (Virgin) of whom the Hebrew Prophets had written aforetime.
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She believed with all her heart and so was found worthy to conceive and to bear our Adonai Mashiach,
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so that through this very mortal and transient body, in which the Evil One boasted, Yeshua might overcome him and bring him to the realization that he is not Elohim at all.
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For Yeshua HaMashiach assumed this mortal flesh as His own and so saved men by bringing them to eternal life through faith,
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by preparing a holy Hekhal (Temple) in His body devoted to that righteousness which was designed for a time yet to come.
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We, too, have come to faith in Him and are saved in that way.
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You must realize, therefore, that those men are not the children of righteousness but of wrath; for they do not allow the merciful kindness of Elohim to reach them; for they say that the Hashamayim and Haeretz and all creation are not the works of Him who is the Father of all.
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These accursed men teach the doctrines of the serpent. In the power of Elohim, you must turn from them and drive their perverted doctrine from your midst and far away.
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For you are not sons of disobedience, but children of our beloved Kehilah (Assembly/Church).
Chapter 2 The Defense of the Resurrection and the Witness of the Prophets
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For that reason, this present time has been proclaimed to all men as one of resurrection.
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Those, however, who say that there is no resurrection of the body will themselves not rise to eternal life but to damnation; they will be raised up to judgment with their disobedient body.
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There will be no resurrection to life for that body, for they are found to be persons who deny such a resurrection.
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But you people of Corinth know from your experience with kernels of wheat and other kinds of seed that the grain is buried in the soil and dies there.
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But thereafter it sprouts, according to the will of Adonai, dressed in the same kind of body that we buried. Now, it is not just a simple body that grows up: it is blessed with various kinds of blossoms and fruits.
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However, we must find our parables not only among grains and seeds but also in the bodies of men that are worthy of honor.
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You know of Yonah (Jonah), the son of Amittai. Since he delayed in his mission to preach to the citizens of Nineveh, he lay buried for three days and three nights in the belly of a big fish.
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After three days, Elohim heard his cry of distress and brought him up out of the depths. But his body had suffered no harm; not even an eyelash of his was twisted.
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How much greater mercy will you be shown, O ye of little faith! If you believe on Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach, He will raise you from the dead even as He is risen.
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If the body of a man was brought to life simply by touching the bones of the Prophet Elisha as he lay in his grave, how much more will you be raised up with an unmaimed body on the Yom HaDin (Last Day)—you, who are nourished by the body, the blood, and the Ruach of Mashiach!
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The Prophet Elisha took the widow's son into his arms and brought him back from the realm of the dead.
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How much more will Yeshua HaMashiach raise you up on that day, even as He rose with a body that saw no corruption!
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Therefore, do not lightheartedly accept some other doctrine in this matter.
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Let no one add to my sorrows henceforth; for I carry these chains on my body that I might win Mashiach; and I suffer these pains in my body that I might be found worthy of the resurrection from the dead.
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Now, each one among you be faithful in keeping the commands which you have received from the mouth of the blessed Hebrew Prophets and from the holy Besorah (Gospel). Then you will obtain your reward in the resurrection from the dead: you will inherit eternal life.