Farewell Service

Hymns, readings and a printed program for a Christian funeral

1 Corinthians 15:20–24a, 25–28

A Catholic funeral reading (second reading), with the full text in the King James Version and the Douay-Rheims.

Reads in about 1 minute9 versesCatholic: New Testament

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King James Version

  1. 20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
  2. 21For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
  3. 22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
  4. 23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
  5. 24Then 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.
  6. 25For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
  7. 26The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
  8. 27For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
  9. 28And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Douay-Rheims

  1. 20But now Christ is risen from the dead, the firstfruits of them that sleep:
  2. 21For by a man came death: and by a man the resurrection of the dead.
  3. 22And as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.
  4. 23But every one in his own order: the firstfruits, Christ: then they that are of Christ, who have believed in his coming.
  5. 24Afterwards the end: when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God and the Father: when he shall have brought to nought all principality and power and virtue.
  6. 25For he must reign, until he hath put all his enemies under his feet.
  7. 26And the enemy, death, shall be destroyed last: For he hath put all things under his feet. And whereas he saith:
  8. 27All things are put under him; undoubtedly, he is excepted, who put all things under him.
  9. 28And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then the Son also himself shall be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Most Catholic parishes in the US read the New American Bible. Read 1 Corinthians 15 in the NABRE at usccb.org.

Where this reading is used

  • Catholic: New Testament (Lectionary for Mass, no. 1014)

Hymns based on it

Scripture: King James Version (1769 text) and Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (Project Gutenberg #1581); both public domain. Citation as listed in the Lectionary for Mass.