What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 15:6? After that • Paul has just rehearsed the earlier appearances of the risen Jesus to Peter and the Twelve (1 Corinthians 15:5), and now adds the next step in that unbroken chain of eyewitness testimony. • By saying “after that,” he signals a deliberate sequence, underscoring that the resurrection accounts are grounded in real time and space, not legend (Acts 1:3; Luke 1:1-4). He appeared • Jesus did not merely inspire feelings or visions; He “appeared,” presenting His resurrected, physical body (Luke 24:39-43; John 20:27). • The verb stresses initiative—Christ sought them out, proving His triumph over death (Romans 6:9). to more than five hundred • The number highlights an event of massive scale, far beyond private experience. • Such a crowd rules out the notion of hallucination or conspiracy; over five hundred voices affirm the same reality (Deuteronomy 19:15; 2 Peter 1:16). brothers • “Brothers” indicates fellow believers, people whose lives were already oriented toward truthfulness (Galatians 1:2). • Their shared faith made them reliable witnesses within the early church community (Acts 2:42). at once • This was a single gathering, making the testimony even more compelling—hundreds saw the same risen Lord in the same moment (Matthew 18:16). • The phrase shows the event was public and verifiable, not trick photography or staged illusions. most of whom are still living • Roughly 25 years after the resurrection, Paul invites anyone to check these facts; the majority of those eyewitnesses could still be interviewed (Acts 26:26). • This open-ended verification strengthens the historical certainty of the resurrection (1 John 1:1-3). though some have fallen asleep • “Fallen asleep” is a gentle, hope-filled way to speak of death for believers (John 11:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). • By noting those who had died, Paul keeps his account honest and transparent, while reminding readers that bodily resurrection awaits all who trust Christ (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). summary 1 Corinthians 15:6 affirms that the risen Jesus literally and bodily appeared to a crowd of over five hundred believers at one time. Paul lists this event to anchor the gospel in verifiable history: the sheer number, character, and continued availability of the witnesses guard against any myth or fabrication. Even those who had since “fallen asleep” illustrate the Christian confidence that, just as Christ rose, so will every follower who dies in Him. |
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