But if Christ is being preached as raised from the dead,
–how can some of you say
‘ there is no resurrection of the dead’?
—-and if there is no resurrection for the dead
then neither can Christ be raised.
and if if Christ has not been raised,
our preaching is hollow,
even your faith is hollow.
Then we are found to be false witnesses concerning God,
because we gave testimony against God,
‘he raised Christ,’
whom he do not raise,
if (it is true) Christ is not raised.
For if the dead are not raised,
neither has Christ been raised.
For if Christ has not been raised,
then your faith is futile,
and you are still in your sins.
Then those who fallen asleep in Christ are lost
If in this life we have only been hoping in Christ
we are to be pitied more than all other people.
But now Christ has been raised from the dead
the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Grant, Lord,
that we may hold to you without parting,
worship you without wearying,
serve you without failing;
faithfully seek you,
happily find you,
and forever possess you,
the only God,blessed now and for ever.
Amen
St Anselm