Lesson 13: Witnessing 147
If Romans 10:8–15 centers upon who may believe and thereby be saved,
1 Corinthians 15:1–8 identifies the center or core of the gospel the apos-
tle proclaimed and the one the Corinthians (and by way of extension
other believers, too) received. That is, the passage we are now studying
focuses upon what one who embraces the gospel is to believe.
A Salutary Reminder (1 Corinthians 15:1–2)
15:1–2. At the outset of 1 Corinthians 15, Paul takes up yet another
topic—the gospel in general and the resurrection of Christ and Christians
in particular. The apostle is eager to rehearse the gospel that he preached
to the Corinthians and that they received. It is this gospel in which they
were meant to stand and through which they would be saved.
Of First Importance (1 Corinthians 15:3–8)
15:3 – 5. Even as the Corinthians received the gospel from the apostle,
Paul received from the Lord and other believers what he had handed to
them “as of first importance.” Relative to the transmission and procla-
mation of the gospel, pride of place is given to Christ’s death (in concert
with the Scriptures), his burial, and his resurrection on the third day
(according to the Scriptures). Would that we knew the precise Old
Testament texts that Paul had in view here.
15:6 – 8. Following on from his resurrection, Paul notes that the risen
Jesus appeared to Cephas (that is, Peter) and then to the (other mem-
bers of the) Twelve (cf., e.g., Luke 24:34, 36). Thereafter, Paul notes, “he
appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters [that is, other
believers] at one time,” presumably in Jerusalem, but precisely when and
where Paul does not say. The apostle does go on to note in v. 6, however,
that at the time he was writing (roughly mid–50s a.d.) most of those five
hundred to whom Christ had appeared were still living, although some
had died.
Regarding other people to whom Christ appeared, Paul mentions
James (Jesus’ brother) and “all the apostles” (the composition of this
group remains unclear). It was altogether clear to Paul, however, that
the Lord in due time (albeit last of all) appeared to him as one “untimely
born” (seemingly an allusion to Paul’s conversion/call).