1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-11
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(15:5-7) Jesus Christ, Resurrection: the third fact of the gospel is that there were eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Je-
sus Christ. It should be noted that Paul does not give all the resurrection appearances of Christ; he lists what he feels is
more than enough to give conclusive evidence.
1. There was the resurrection appearance to Cephas or Peter. Peter had failed the Lord miserably, having denied Him
three times. Peter’s miserable failure and denials came in the Lord’s most critical hour—the hour when the Lord needed Pe-
ter’s loyalty more than ever. Because he had failed the Lord so terribly, Peter desperately needed a private interview with the
Lord; and because the Lord had appeared to Peter, Peter was a strong witness to the love of God for man. He could readily
testify that God loves man so much that He had sent His Son into the world to deliver man from his terrible sin and failure.
He could readily testify that God forgives and saves man and gives him eternal life through the resurrection of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Peter’s testimony was forceful, for he had personally experienced the forgiveness, the deliverance, the salvation, and
the promise of eternal life from the lips of the resurrected Lord Himself.

“But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye
see him, as he said unto you” (Mk.16:7).
“Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon” (Lk.24:34).

2. There was the resurrection appearance to the twelve apostles. The term “twelve” was just a common or general term
used to apply to the apostles of Christ. Judas was dead, having committed suicide. Jesus made several appearances to the
apostles collectively, and He could have made others that are not recorded (Lk.24:33-36; Jn.20:19f).
The apostles had deserted the Lord in His hour of trial, failing Him miserably. Therefore they, as Peter, were strong wit-
nesses to the love of God for man: that God had sent His Son into the world to die and to arise that men might live eternally
with Him.
3. There was the resurrection appearance to five hundred believers at one time. Just when this appearance took place is
not known. Perhaps it was in Galilee, which seems to have been an appointed meeting set up by the Lord: “After I am risen
again, I will go before you into Galilee” (Mt.26:32). After He had arisen, He told the women to whom He appeared: “Be not
afraid; go tell my brethren, that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me” (Mt.28:10). “My brethren” probably means
all the disciples; moreover, as the word spread that He had arisen and wanted to meet His disciples in Galilee, it is doubtful a
true believer would fail to keep the appointment.
The point is this: five hundred believers could testify of the love of God for men. God had sent His Son into the world and
conquered death by raising Him from the dead. They could testify undeniably that God’s way for saving man was through the
death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, and through the promise of being personally raised from the dead someday
out in the future.
4. There was the resurrection appearance to James. This is most likely James, the Lord’s brother. Jesus had several
brothers and sisters, and they had been terribly embarrassed by Him because of...
• His claims to be the Son of God.
• the rumors of insanity and devil-possession.
• the severe opposition by leaders and others.

The family of Jesus just did not understand nor believe His claims; therefore, they too opposed Him. By appearing to
James, Jesus was able to prove beyond a doubt that His claims were true. Consequently, James became a significant witness
for the Lord. Jesus was definitely the Son of God sent by God to demonstrate His love for man. Men, even those who have
denied and been hostile to the Lord, can be saved by the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Note a striking fact: James even called Jesus “the Lord of glory.” Just think: James was reared with Jesus beginning from
the earliest years of childhood stretching right on through the years of adulthood. If anyone ever had an opportunity to see
and observe Jesus, it was James. He had every chance to see some act of disobedience, some sin, something contrary to the
nature of God. However, James’ testimony is: “Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory,” the One in whom the very pres-
ence of God dwelt among us (Jas.2:1).
5. There was the resurrection appearance to all the apostles. To what appearance does this refer? The answer is un-
known, but it could refer either to the appearance in the upper room (Jn.20:26) or at the ascension (cp. Acts 1:1f). Again, the
point is that the apostles could give unquestionable evidence of the love of God: God has conquered death through the resur-
rection of the Lord Jesus Christ by which He gives us assurance of living eternally with Him.


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(15:8-10) Jesus Christ, Resurrection: the fourth fact of the gospel is that there was one strong eyewitness, Paul himself.
Note three facts.
1. Paul saw Christ after the Lord’s ascension. The phrase “one born out of due time” (to ektromati) means a miscar-
riage, an abortion, an unnatural birth, a child born out of time. Paul is simply saying that he did not know and follow the Lord
when the Lord walked upon the earth, but he saw the Lord after He had left the earth and ascended into heaven. Paul is, of
course, referring to his experience on the Damascus road (Acts 9:1f), and perhaps to the visions granted him
(2 Cor.12:1f).
2. Paul was radically converted and changed against all odds. Paul had a deep sense of unworthiness. Note exactly
what he says, his estimate of himself:
⇒ “I am the least of the apostles.”
⇒ “[I] am not meet [fit] to be called an apostle.”
⇒ “Because I persecuted the church of God.”

Before his conversion he had persecuted and killed early believers (Acts 7:58; 9:1f). He had also possessed a staunch pride
in who he was and what he had achieved in his position and personal morality and righteousness (2 Cor.11:22; Ph.3:4-6). The
sins of murder and pride gave Paul a deep sense of being the chief of sinners (1 Tim.1:15). Nothing less than having actually
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