Topical Bible: The Resurrection of Christ: The Apostles: Very Slow to Believe

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The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as a cornerstone of Christian faith, yet the initial response of His closest followers, the apostles, was marked by doubt and disbelief. Despite Jesus' repeated predictions of His resurrection, the apostles were slow to accept the reality of His rising from the dead.

Scriptural Accounts of Doubt

The Gospels provide several accounts illustrating the apostles' hesitance to believe in the resurrection. In the Gospel of Mark, it is recorded that when Mary Magdalene and other women reported the empty tomb and the angelic message of Jesus' resurrection, the apostles did not believe them. "When they heard that Jesus was alive and she had seen Him, they did not believe it" (Mark 16:11).

Similarly, in the Gospel of Luke, the skepticism of the apostles is evident. When the women relayed the news of the resurrection, "their words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women" (Luke 24:11). This disbelief persisted even when two disciples encountered the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus and reported back to the apostles (Luke 24:13-35).

Thomas' Doubt

Perhaps the most famous instance of apostolic doubt is that of Thomas, often referred to as "Doubting Thomas." When the other disciples told him they had seen the Lord, Thomas declared, "Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe" (John 20:25). It was only after Jesus appeared to him and invited him to touch His wounds that Thomas proclaimed, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28).

Jesus' Rebuke and Instruction

Jesus addressed the apostles' slowness to believe with both rebuke and instruction. In Mark's Gospel, Jesus appeared to the Eleven and "rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen" (Mark 16:14). In Luke, Jesus gently chided the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, saying, "How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!" (Luke 24:25).

Transformation Through Encounter

Despite their initial doubts, the apostles' encounters with the risen Christ transformed their disbelief into unwavering faith. Jesus' appearances to them were pivotal in solidifying their belief in His resurrection. In John's Gospel, Jesus appeared to the disciples, showed them His hands and side, and "the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord" (John 20:20).

The transformation of the apostles from doubt to faith is further evidenced in the Book of Acts, where they boldly proclaimed the resurrection of Christ. Peter, once hesitant, declared to the crowd at Pentecost, "God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses" (Acts 2:32).

Significance of Apostolic Doubt

The initial doubt of the apostles serves to underscore the miraculous nature of the resurrection. Their skepticism highlights the extraordinary reality of Jesus' victory over death and lends credibility to their later testimonies. The apostles' journey from doubt to faith is a testament to the transformative power of encountering the risen Christ, a power that continues to resonate with believers throughout the ages.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Mark 16:13
And they went and told it to the residue: neither believed they them.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 24:9,11,37,38
And returned from the sepulcher, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Christ the Deliverer.
... to Emmaus, on the day of the resurrection, He said ... (3) Since Christ and the apostles
designate a ... own prophecies concerning the sufferings of the Christ and the ...
/.../vii christ the deliverer.htm

Third and Fourth Appearances of Jesus.
... they lack faith in the Christ therein portrayed ... The Lord is risen indeed [his
resurrection is not ... section, for these professedly believing apostles took Jesus ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxxxvii third and fourth appearances.htm

Conclusions Jesus as the Christ of the Creator Proved from the ...
... Jesus Christ as none other than the Christ of the ... feelings, miracles, sufferings,
and even resurrection"as foretold ... when He sent forth His apostles to preach ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xliii conclusions jesus as the.htm

Christ's Resurrection an Image of Our New Life.
... Oh, how very gradually it gains its faculties in us ... all that the evangelists and
the apostles of the ... with the new life that is like Christ's resurrection life? ...
/.../selected sermons of schleiermacher/xv christs resurrection an image.htm

The Apostolic Witnesses
... Some of the Apostles were inspired to be the writers ... with on the ground of their
belief in Christ's Resurrection. ... fancied they had seen Him once, very early in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the apostolic witnesses.htm

Psalm LIX.
... to rise up; for even after the Resurrection and Ascension ... besought counsel of safety
from the Apostles, they heard ... shedding of the blood of Christ, remitted are ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lix.htm

Thomas' Test.
... Whatever we think of the other Apostles, it is plain that ... He did not absolutely deny
the possibility of Christ's resurrection, but he went very near doing so ...
/.../dods/the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol ii/xxiii thomas test.htm

Schleiermacher -- Christ's Resurrection an Image of Our New Life
... Oh, how very gradually it gains its faculties in us ... together all that the evangelists
and apostles of the ... the new life that is like Christ's resurrection life? ...
/.../the worlds great sermons volume 3/schleiermacher christs resurrection an.htm

The Doctrine of the Apostolic Church
... ritual must have made the apostles perfectly familiar ... He expounded this subject after
His resurrection, shewing them that "thus it behoved Christ to suffer ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter ii the doctrine of.htm

Christ and his Cross the Centre of the Universe
... the facts of Christ's life, death, resurrection, and ascension ... to your heart, and
the Christ whom angels ... of whom prophets prophesy and Apostles proclaim His ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/christ and his cross the.htm