What does "Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?" imply about Paul's spiritual experience? Setting the Context “Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my workmanship in the Lord?” (1 Corinthians 9:1) What Paul Means by “Have I Not Seen Jesus our Lord?” • A literal, bodily appearance of the risen Christ on the Damascus Road (Acts 9:3-6; 22:14-15; 26:15-18) • Confirmation that he met the basic requirement for apostleship—being an eyewitness of the resurrected Jesus (Acts 1:21-22; 1 Corinthians 15:7-8) • An encounter that forever anchored his preaching in firsthand experience, not secondhand report (Galatians 1:11-12) Snapshots of the Experience 1. Blinding light, audible voice, direct commissioning—“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5). 2. Subsequent clarifying visions—Jesus speaks again in Corinth (“Do not be afraid…” Acts 18:9-10) and gives further revelation of heavenly realities (2 Corinthians 12:1-4). 3. Ongoing personal relationship—Paul lives and ministers with the certainty that the risen Christ continues to guide him (2 Timothy 4:17). Implications for Paul’s Authority • Establishes his right to be called an apostle despite not following Jesus during the earthly ministry. • Validates his message as divine, not man-made—“the gospel I preached is not according to man” (Galatians 1:11). • Grants him equal standing with the Twelve when resolving doctrinal issues (Acts 15:7-11; Galatians 2:6-9). Implications for Paul’s Ministry Mind-Set • Drives his sacrificial service—he cannot deny what he saw (1 Corinthians 15:10). • Fuels his boldness—persecution cannot overshadow a face-to-face meeting with the risen Lord (2 Corinthians 4:8-11). • Shapes his eschatological hope—having seen the resurrected Christ, he eagerly awaits the final resurrection (Philippians 3:20-21). Key Takeaways for Believers Today • The resurrection is historical, eyewitness-verified truth. • A genuine encounter with Christ—whether visibly, through Scripture, or by the Spirit—produces lasting transformation and mission. • Authority in ministry flows from personal relationship with the Lord, not pedigree or popularity. |
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