But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

If the first portion of the dough offered is holy, then the whole batch is holy, and if the root is holy, so too are the branches.

But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to him.

By his sovereign plan he gave us birth through the message of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Also greet the church in their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.

Now, brothers and sisters, you know about the household of Stephanus, that as the first converts of Achaia, they devoted themselves to ministry for the saints. I urge you

Not only this, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from humanity as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb,