“and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 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. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.”
1 Corinthians 15:5-8 KJV
Paul includes the bodily appearance of Jesus to His followers as part of the Gospel to be believed. “Then He appeared to Peter and to the twelve apostles. He also appeared to more than five hundred of His followers at the same time, most of whom are still alive as I write this, though a few have passed away. Then He appeared to James and to all the apostles. Last of all He appeared in front of me, like one born prematurely, ripped from the womb.” What Paul states as the heart of the Gospel is: Christ’s death; the fulfilment of prophecies; Christ’s burial; Christ’s resurrection; and Christ supernaturally appearing to His followers. James was Jesus’s half brother and didn’t believe that Jesus was the Messiah, until Jesus’s resurrection. After James believed he wrote his epistle and became a leading elder of the church in Jerusalem. Paul himself became an apostle in a sudden, unexpected way when the resurrected Lord Jesus chose him. The Lord has chosen us who believe to fulfill His purposes. Amen!
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