Topical Bible: The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to About Five Hundred Brethren

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The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a foundational event in Christian theology, signifying His victory over death and His divine nature. One of the most compelling pieces of evidence for the resurrection is the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus to His followers. Among these appearances, the Apostle Paul highlights a significant event where Jesus appeared to over five hundred brethren at once.

Biblical Account

The primary scriptural reference for this appearance is found in 1 Corinthians 15:6. The Apostle Paul, writing to the church in Corinth, provides a list of witnesses to the resurrection of Christ. He states, "After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:6). This passage is part of a larger discourse where Paul emphasizes the reality and importance of the resurrection.

Context and Significance

Paul's mention of the appearance to over five hundred brethren serves several purposes. Firstly, it underscores the public and verifiable nature of the resurrection. By noting that most of these witnesses were still alive at the time of his writing, Paul invites skeptics to verify the claim by consulting these eyewitnesses. This large group appearance is unique among the resurrection accounts, as it involves a significant number of people, reducing the likelihood of hallucination or fabrication.

Secondly, this appearance reinforces the communal aspect of the early Christian faith. The resurrection was not a private revelation to a select few but a public event witnessed by a broad spectrum of believers. This communal witness helped to solidify the early church's belief in the resurrection and provided a strong foundation for the spread of the Gospel.

Theological Implications

The appearance to over five hundred brethren highlights the transformative power of the resurrection. These witnesses, having seen the risen Christ, became part of the burgeoning Christian movement, spreading the message of Jesus' victory over death. The resurrection is central to Christian doctrine, affirming Jesus as the Son of God and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah.

Furthermore, this event emphasizes the hope of resurrection for all believers. As Paul elaborates in 1 Corinthians 15, Christ's resurrection is the "firstfruits" of those who have fallen asleep, promising eternal life to those who are in Christ. The testimony of the five hundred serves as a powerful reminder of the reality of this hope.

Historical and Apologetic Considerations

From a historical perspective, the appearance to over five hundred brethren is a critical piece of evidence for the resurrection. The sheer number of witnesses provides a robust foundation for the claim, making it difficult to dismiss as mere legend or myth. Apologists often point to this event as a key argument for the historical reliability of the resurrection accounts.

The early church's rapid growth and the willingness of many of these witnesses to suffer persecution and martyrdom further attest to their conviction in the truth of the resurrection. The appearance to the five hundred is a testament to the transformative impact of encountering the risen Christ, an encounter that continues to resonate with believers throughout the ages.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Corinthians 15:6
After that, he was seen of above five hundred brothers at once; of whom the greater part remain to this present, but some are fallen asleep.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Whether Christ Ought to have Lived Constantly with his Disciples ...
... Reply to Objection 2: That Christ did not stay continually ... to accept the faith in
His Resurrection from the ... secretly, nor once or twice, that He made Himself ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ ought to have 3.htm

Eleventh Sunday after Trinity Paul's Witness to Christ's ...
... Eleventh Sunday After Trinity PAUL'S WITNESS TO CHRIST'S RESURRECTION. ... which also
I:received: that Christ died for ... to the twelve; 6 then he appeared to above ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/eleventh sunday after trinity pauls.htm

John Chapter xvii. 20
... we, too, born long afterwards, have believed on Christ through their ... to all of whom
at once He would not have appeared after His resurrection [1746] had ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate cix john chapter xvii.htm

After These Points, Celsus Proceeds to Bring against the Gospel ...
... that He was not seen after His resurrection in the ... all that which I also received,
how that Christ died for ... Cephas, then of the twelve: after that He was seen ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter lxiii after these points.htm

And Why do I Say "To All?" for Even with his Own Apostles and ...
... not to all, but to those only whom He knew to have received eyes capable of seeing
His resurrection. ... to our subject, viz.: "For to this end Christ died, and ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen against celsus/chapter lxv and why do.htm

Of Christ's Subsequent Manifestations of Himself to the Disciples ...
... reasonably be anxious not to let any word drop from them on the subject of Christ's
resurrection, lest they ... For, after recording how He appeared to them in ...
/.../the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxv of christs subsequent manifestations.htm

1 Cor. xv. 1, 2
... he that first confessed Him to be Christ was justly also counted worthy first to
behold His resurrection. ... Therefore also He appeared to the women first. ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxxviii 1 cor xv.htm

In Galilee.
... or was seen of them when he so willed ... kind all his appearances after the resurrection
are narrated ... The risen Christ, therefore, though seen on many occasions by ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/in galilee.htm

The Disciples of Our Saviour.
... had more than seventy disciples, according to the testimony of Paul, who says that
after his resurrection from the ... He, too, had been with Christ from the ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xii the disciples of our.htm

The Resurrection of Christ.
... genius of the Bible, discusses the resurrection of Christ ... Nevertheless he makes the
strong statement (p.69 ... historically more certain than that Christ rose from ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 19 the resurrection of.htm