¹⁸ ·And [Consequently; Therefore] those in Christ who have ·already died [^Lfallen asleep; v. 6] ·are lost [have perished]. ¹⁹ If our hope in Christ is for this life only, we should be pitied more than ·anyone else in the world [^Lall people].

²⁰ But Christ has truly been raised from the dead—the ·first one and proof that those who sleep in death will also be raised [^Lfirstfruits of those who have fallen asleep; ^Cunlike others who had been raised to mortal life, Christ was the first to be raised to everlasting life].