1 COR 15, The Resurrection Appearances
1 CORINTHIANS 15:3-11
The Post Resurrection Appearances
I. 1 Corinthians was written by Paul sometime in the 50’s CE (prob. 52-57) thereby making it the oldest extant report of the resurrection appearances.
A. Written to correct teachings that had been forgotten (15:1) especially those concerning the resurrection.
B. The mixed community, Jew and Gentile, had begun to follow the Greek idea of the soul being all-important. Therefore the resurrection was unimportant because only the soul, and not the body, was important.
II. Paul passes on the information regarding the resurrection that have been given to him by the community (in its kerygma or proclamation of faith in Jesus) and Christ (from his own vision).
A. It appears as if Paul has incorporated an originally independent tradition of early teaching in Jesus (the kerygma) that includes verses 3b-5 which spoke of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
1. The fourfold use of “hoti” or “that” appears to form a primitive structure.
2. “that Christ died for our sins” (v.3) Paul never uses the plural but always the singular “sin.”
3. Paul uses “the twelve” in verse 5 when he always uses the term “apostles”.
B. Therefore Paul appears to have added the actual list of people to the original tradition i.e. Cephas, the 500 brothers and sisters, James “the brother of the Lord,” and himself (vv.5b-8).
C. Paul feels unworthy of the grace of God which has been bestowed upon him so he strives to work on behalf of God to thank the LORD for the unwarranted gift he received (vv.8-10).
III. The resurrection accounts in the Gospels (Mark 16:1-8; Matt. 28:1-20; Luke 23:56b-24:53; John 20:1-29; John 21:1-23; and Mark16:9-20) and 1 Corinthians 15 cannot be harmonized.
A. The Gospels include an empty tomb, Paul does not.
The idea was not central to the proclamation (death, burial, resurrection,) even though it seems to be implied.
B. The Gospels included women, Paul does not.
Not able to be “witnesses,” there mention could have offended some communities.
C. The Gospels include settings for the appearances (Jerusalem and Galilee), Paul does not.
Settings could be used for specific communities benefit or understanding at a more developed stage of teaching (i.e. Gospels 20-40 years later).
D. The Gospels include spoken words of Jesus, Paul does not.
Early kerygma, as well as Paul, seem concerned with the act and
message of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ and not the words of Jesus (Paul appears to know next to nothing about Jesus besides the “big three”).
The Post Resurrection Appearances
I. 1 Corinthians was written by Paul sometime in the 50’s CE (prob. 52-57) thereby making it the oldest extant report of the resurrection appearances.
A. Written to correct teachings that had been forgotten (15:1) especially those concerning the resurrection.
B. The mixed community, Jew and Gentile, had begun to follow the Greek idea of the soul being all-important. Therefore the resurrection was unimportant because only the soul, and not the body, was important.
II. Paul passes on the information regarding the resurrection that have been given to him by the community (in its kerygma or proclamation of faith in Jesus) and Christ (from his own vision).
A. It appears as if Paul has incorporated an originally independent tradition of early teaching in Jesus (the kerygma) that includes verses 3b-5 which spoke of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
1. The fourfold use of “hoti” or “that” appears to form a primitive structure.
2. “that Christ died for our sins” (v.3) Paul never uses the plural but always the singular “sin.”
3. Paul uses “the twelve” in verse 5 when he always uses the term “apostles”.
B. Therefore Paul appears to have added the actual list of people to the original tradition i.e. Cephas, the 500 brothers and sisters, James “the brother of the Lord,” and himself (vv.5b-8).
C. Paul feels unworthy of the grace of God which has been bestowed upon him so he strives to work on behalf of God to thank the LORD for the unwarranted gift he received (vv.8-10).
III. The resurrection accounts in the Gospels (Mark 16:1-8; Matt. 28:1-20; Luke 23:56b-24:53; John 20:1-29; John 21:1-23; and Mark16:9-20) and 1 Corinthians 15 cannot be harmonized.
A. The Gospels include an empty tomb, Paul does not.
The idea was not central to the proclamation (death, burial, resurrection,) even though it seems to be implied.
B. The Gospels included women, Paul does not.
Not able to be “witnesses,” there mention could have offended some communities.
C. The Gospels include settings for the appearances (Jerusalem and Galilee), Paul does not.
Settings could be used for specific communities benefit or understanding at a more developed stage of teaching (i.e. Gospels 20-40 years later).
D. The Gospels include spoken words of Jesus, Paul does not.
Early kerygma, as well as Paul, seem concerned with the act and
message of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ and not the words of Jesus (Paul appears to know next to nothing about Jesus besides the “big three”).
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