The Many Eyewitnesses of Jesus Christ's Resurrection and the Most Important One

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, validated by numerous eyewitnesses. Among these witnesses, Paul's testimony stands out due to his profound transformation and tireless efforts to spread the gospel of grace. Let’s explore the significance of these eyewitnesses as detailed in 1 Corinthians 15:5-10 and understand why Paul’s encounter with the risen Christ holds particular importance in validating the resurrection of Jesus.

The Witnesses of the Resurrection

Paul begins by listing those who witnessed the resurrected Christ, emphasizing the validity of their testimonies. He writes, "And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve" (1Co 15:5). Peter (Cephas) and the twelve apostles were pivotal figures in Jesus’ earthly ministry to Israel and firsthand witnesses to His resurrection. Their testimonies are documented in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Acts, underscoring their credibility (Mrk 16:9-14, Mat 28:16-20, Luk 24:44-49;, Acts 1:3, 21-26).

Paul continues, "After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep" (1Co 15:6). This large group of over five hundred people saw Jesus alive after His resurrection, providing an overwhelming confirmation that He indeed rose from the dead. At the time Paul wrote this letter, many of these witnesses were still alive and could corroborate the resurrection, dismissing any notion of a hallucination or myth.

Furthermore, Paul notes, "After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles" (1Co 15:7). James, likely a reference to Jesus' half-brother, initially doubted Jesus but later became a leader and apostle of the church at Jerusalem (Joh 7:2-5, Gal 1:15-19). His transformation after witnessing the resurrected Christ adds another layer of credibility. Additionally, as this passage denotes, there were other apostles beyond the twelve who also bore witness to Jesus’ resurrection.

By naming names, Paul invites those doubtful of bodily resurrection in Corinth to validate with the other eyewitnesses. Unlike the false religions of Mormons and Muslims relying on one man’s account to validate their messages, God used a multitude of witnesses to confirm the most miraculous and important event in human history: the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Paul: Out of Due Time

Paul then highlights his own experience: "And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time" (1Co 15:8). Paul was the last to see the resurrected Christ, encountering Him multiple times (Acts 9:3-9, 22:6-8, 18, 26:13-18). His reference to being "born out of due time" indicates that his conversion and witness were unexpected, as the revelation of the mystery of Christ given to Paul was previously hidden and revealed outside the anticipated timeline for salvation in the Kingdom (1Ti 1:16, Rom 11:25-28, 16:25-26, Eph 3:1-10).

Paul humbly acknowledges, "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God" (1Co 15:9). His past as a persecutor of the remnant church at Jerusalem seemed to disqualify him, yet it was this very past that highlighted the power of God’s grace. By God’s grace, Paul was miraculously saved despite his evil works and transformed from a fierce adversary to a dedicated apostle, becoming the chief proponent of the gospel of grace (Acts 26:9-11; 8:3; 9:13; 1Ti 1:11-16).

Paul continues, "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1Co 15:10). It was God’s grace that saved Paul, made him an apostle, and empowered him to serve. Despite his past, Paul’s labor for the gospel was immense, further establishing the legitimacy of the resurrection (Eph 3:2-9, Rom 15:15, 11:13 Gal 2:6-9, 1Co 9:5, 2Co 11:5). 

It defies logic that Paul, a man who previously held prominence and prestige in the Jews’ religion, who had everything to lose and nothing to gain by the world’s standards, would forsake everything for a man he never met and claimed to be the Son of God (Gal 1:10-24, Php 3:4-11). The only way to truly understand Paul is to recognize the reality of the resurrection of Jesus and what that entails. The reality of the resurrection means that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Rom 1:4, Mat 12:39-40). The reality of the resurrection means that the gospel of the grace of God delivered from Christ to Paul is not vain: that through faith alone in His death, burial, and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins anyone can be saved (1Co 15:1-4, 14-18, Rom 3:19-26, 4:4-5, Eph 2:8-9). The reality of the resurrection means there is a real power and hope of resurrection to all who believe in that gospel: a hope of eternal life (Rom 5:1-2, 6:23, Titus 3:3-7).

Conclusion

The multitude of eyewitnesses to Jesus Christ’s resurrection provides irrefutable evidence of His victory over death. Among these witnesses, Paul’s complete transformation from a persecutor to the Apostle of grace underscores the eternity-changing impact of Christ’s resurrection. His testimony and tireless labor for the gospel highlight the power of God’s grace and the legitimacy of the most important event in human history: the resurrection of Jesus Christ.