1 Corinthians 15:5 kjv
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1 Corinthians 15:5 nkjv
and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.
1 Corinthians 15:5 niv
and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.
1 Corinthians 15:5 esv
and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
1 Corinthians 15:5 nlt
He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve.
1 Corinthians 15 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference ||---|---|---|| Mk 16:7 | "But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee..." | Peter singled out for appearance. || Lk 24:34 | "...The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" | Luke's direct mention of Peter's appearance. || Jn 21:15-19 | Jesus' post-resurrection conversation with Peter, commissioning him. | Peter's personal encounter and restoration. || Mk 16:14 | "Later he appeared to the Eleven as they were reclining at table..." | Appearance to the group of disciples (the "twelve"). || Lk 24:36-43 | "As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them..." | Jesus appears to disciples, eats fish, shows hands/feet. || Jn 20:19-23 | "On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, when the doors were locked... Jesus came and stood among them..." | Jesus appears to the disciples (minus Thomas). || Jn 20:26-29 | "...Jesus came, though the doors were locked, and stood among them..." | Jesus appears again to disciples, including Thomas. || Mt 28:16-17 | "Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain... And when they saw him they worshipped him..." | The Great Commission appearance. || Acts 1:2-3 | "...to whom he presented himself alive after his suffering by many infallible proofs..." | Multiple proofs of resurrection over 40 days. || Acts 1:22 | "...that one of these men who have accompanied us... must become with us a witness to his resurrection." | Requirement for apostolic office: eyewitness to resurrection. || Acts 2:32 | "This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses." | Peter's sermon, emphasizing apostolic witness. || Acts 3:15 | "...and killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. Of this we are witnesses." | Another emphasis on apostolic witness. || Acts 4:33 | "And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus..." | Apostles' central message. || Rom 1:3-4 | "...declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead..." | Resurrection as confirmation of Jesus' divine Sonship. || Rom 10:9 | "...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." | Belief in resurrection is central to salvation. || Eph 2:20 | "...built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone." | Apostles as foundational witnesses. || 2 Tim 2:8 | "Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel..." | Centrality of Christ's resurrection in gospel. || Heb 2:3 | "...declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard..." | Apostolic witness to salvation. || 1 Cor 15:3-4 | "...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures..." | Immediate preceding context of the gospel core. || 1 Cor 15:6 | "Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive..." | Further massive group witness, confirming authenticity. || Isa 53:10 | "Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief... he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days..." | Prophecy of suffering leading to life/resurrection. || Ps 16:10 | "For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption." | Prophetic anticipation of Christ's resurrection (cited by Peter in Acts 2). || Lk 24:26-27 | "Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?... And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." | Resurrection necessary, predicted in OT. |
1 Corinthians 15 verses
1 Corinthians 15 5 Meaning
1 Corinthians 15:5 affirms the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ by presenting key eyewitness accounts. It states that after His resurrection, Jesus appeared first to Cephas (Peter), and then to the entire group of the "twelve" apostles. This verse is part of a foundational kerygma (proclamation) that Paul is using to defend and establish the central truth of the resurrection against those in Corinth who denied it, emphasizing the reality and historical verifiability of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances.
1 Corinthians 15 5 Context
1 Corinthians chapter 15 is the longest chapter in the epistle and a seminal biblical exposition on the resurrection. Paul is addressing a critical theological error within the Corinthian church: some members were denying the resurrection of the dead. This denial was likely influenced by Hellenistic philosophical ideas that favored the immortality of the soul but rejected the bodily resurrection, viewing the physical body as inferior or even a prison. Paul vehemently argues that if Christ was not raised, then the preaching is in vain, their faith is useless, and they are still in their sins. Verse 5 is part of a series of concrete, historical eyewitness testimonies Paul provides (a sort of creedal list) to irrefutably establish the reality of Christ's bodily resurrection as the indispensable foundation of the Christian faith and the hope for believers' own future resurrection. It underscores that the resurrection was not a private spiritual experience but a publicly verified event.
1 Corinthians 15 5 Word analysis
- and: (Greek: kai) A conjunction connecting this appearance list to the preceding foundational statements of the gospel: Christ's death, burial, and resurrection on the third day (v. 3-4). It indicates a continuation of factual, historical events.
- that he appeared: (Greek: ōphthē - ὤφθη) The aorist passive form of horaō (to see). This is crucial. It means "he was seen" or "he allowed himself to be seen." It strongly implies a divinely initiated act of revelation, not a subjective hallucination or a merely human effort to "see" a spirit. It points to a tangible, real manifestation initiated by Christ himself, ensuring the visibility and objective reality of His post-resurrection body. It implies that these were not mere visions but physical encounters.
- to Cephas: (Greek: Kephas - Κηφᾶς) The Aramaic name for Simon Peter, signifying his unique role as a leading apostle. His personal encounter with the risen Lord is recorded in Luke 24:34 and likely involved Peter's restoration after his denial of Jesus (Jn 21:15-19). Paul emphasizes this individual appearance first, highlighting its profound personal and historical significance for Peter's future leadership and testimony. This initial individual appearance would have been transformative for Peter.
- then: (Greek: epeita - ἔπειτα) An adverb indicating chronological sequence. It clearly delineates the order of appearances, emphasizing an ordered and deliberate manifestation of the resurrected Christ.
- to the twelve: (Greek: tois dōdeka - τοῖς δώδεκα) This refers to the core group of apostles, symbolizing their collective, authoritative witness to the resurrection. While Judas Iscariot had died (Matt 27:3-5; Acts 1:18) reducing the physical number to eleven (Mk 16:14, Lk 24:36, Jn 20:19), the designation "the twelve" maintains the official and symbolic continuity of the apostolic office as the foundation of the early church's testimony. It's the designation for the full, complete company appointed by Christ, even if one member was missing at the time of a particular appearance. This was a corporate, undeniable witness, solidifying the group's unity and mission.
1 Corinthians 15 5 Bonus section
- The appearance to Cephas is particularly significant because of Peter's prior denial of Christ. This individual encounter demonstrates Christ's grace and forgiveness, restoring Peter to his apostolic ministry and confirming his foundational role in the early church despite his profound failure.
- The phrase "the twelve" maintains a symbolic significance for the office of apostleship even when the literal number was eleven following Judas's death. It speaks to the integrity of the apostolic foundation chosen by Christ Himself.
- The list of appearances in 1 Corinthians 15:5-8 served as a vital apologetic tool in the early church, enabling believers to defend the reality of the resurrection against Jewish and pagan critiques by citing multiple, varied, and well-known witnesses, many of whom were still alive.
- The nature of these appearances, specifically using ōphthē, implies a physical, tangible body that could be seen and interacted with, counteracting any notion of a mere spiritual or non-bodily resurrection which was a philosophical preference for many Greeks.
1 Corinthians 15 5 Commentary
1 Corinthians 15:5 is a critical piece of the historical evidence for Jesus' resurrection that Paul meticulously lays out. It moves beyond abstract theology to present verifiable facts through eyewitness testimony. The individual appearance to Peter served not only as personal vindication and restoration for him but also as a powerful testimony to the one who would become a pillar of the early church. The subsequent appearance to "the twelve" confirmed the resurrection to the entire apostolic body, empowering their unified message and serving as the foundational warrant for their collective authority to proclaim the gospel. This precise sequencing and specific naming of witnesses combat any claims of delusion, hallucination, or private revelation. Paul highlights these appearances because they provide concrete, diverse, and credible testimony, directly addressing the Corinthian skepticism about bodily resurrection by demonstrating its reality in Christ's own body. The reliability of these encounters, deeply ingrained in the earliest Christian confession, proved Christ's victory over death, validated His divine identity, and ensured the hope for a future resurrection for all believers.