THE RESURRECTION / Part 2

1 CORINTHIANS 15:5-11

In 1 Corinthians 5:1-4 we saw the Gospel and it confirmed the validity of the Resurrection. Now validity is affirmed by the historical appearances of Jesus after his death, burial and resurrection. The Greek word for appearance is opsis: denoting to see with the eye, to be visible, and is translated in our text as “was seen.” Paul makes reference to six different appearances of our Lord after His resurrection. These appearances were visible and bodily. They were not visions or mirages.

It is important to point out that this list of witnesses is not exhaustive. There are some that Scripture tells us about, but are not listed by Paul (example: Mary – John 20:11-18). He shows that Jesus appeared to individuals, small groups, and large crowds. Apparently Paul’s list is in chronological order, since the time words “then” and “after that” are used.

• Cephas (Simon Peter). Paul normally uses the Aramaic name for Peter, which is Cephas (1 Cor. 1:12; 3:22; 9:5; Gal. 1:18; 2:9, 11, 14). Luke 24:34 affirms this appearance. It is important for Peter, the leader of the twelve, see the resurrection Christ first.
• The Twelve. This is confirmed by John 20:19, Luke 24:36; and Mark 16:14. Most Bible students that the term “Twelve” is used here as a title for the Jewish Apostles as a group, not an actual number. Remember, Judas was gone, and Thomas was not present. There were not actually 12 individuals that made up the group at the time. Twelve by this time had become a technical name for the Jewish Apostles.
• Five Hundred brethren. After appearing to an individual and a small group, this refers to the large crowd which Jesus appeared to at one time. None of the Gospel writers record such an appearance. Many connect it with the appearance in Galilee (Matthew 28:16). Although there is uncertainty as to when this occurred, Paul affirms it. The main point of Paul’s argument is that at the time, most of these were still alive and could testify to the event. This made the fact of resurrection confirmable if there were any doubts. At the time of this epistle, witnesses still could be consulted. This was true also of the Twelve. However, these would have been an independent source separate from the leadership of the church.
• James. This is another appearance that is not mentioned by the Gospel writers. James here is not one of the apostles, for this group is mentioned again in the next verse. It is James the half brother of Jesus (Matt 13:55), who became prominent in the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:13).
• The Apostles. The repeat of the Twelve is questioned by some, thus they suggest it must refer to all the apostles, including the likes of Andronicus and Junias (Rom. 16:7). However this is not the case. It definitely refers to the Twelve. Chronologically the others are not apostles at the time of this appearance. The earlier reference to the Twelve refers to the Easter appearances; this refers to the appearance 40 days later, the time of the ascension (Acts 1:11).
• Paul. Christ’s appearance to Paul was well after the ascension. It took place at his conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-6); 22:6-11). This verifies the truth of the continually living resurrected Christ. He saw the resurrected Christ well after the ascension. He communicates this not in pride, but in humility. He knows he was unworthy of such an event. Yet, the truth is Christ appeared to him. He is a witness of the resurrection as much as those listed above. It was an act of grace that Christ appeared to him and turned him from persecutor to the persecuted for His name sake.

The witnesses confirm the validity of the resurrection. An array of witnesses testify to the truth that Jesus was resurrected. These witnesses form a historical chain establishing continuity in the truth, validated by personal experience.