1 Corinthians 15 6

1 Corinthians 15:6 kjv

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.

1 Corinthians 15:6 nkjv

After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:6 niv

After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:6 esv

Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:6 nlt

After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.

1 Corinthians 15 verses

1 Corinthians 15 6 Meaning

This verse states that Jesus appeared to over five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom were still alive when Paul was writing this letter. It confirms the reality of Jesus' resurrection appearances to a large, verifiable group of witnesses, underscoring the historicity of the event and providing strong evidence for the faith.

1 Corinthians 15 6 Context

1 Corinthians 15 addresses the vital doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, which some in the Corinthian church were denying. Paul argues for the resurrection's necessity for the Christian faith, detailing appearances of the risen Christ to solidify its truth. He systematically refutes the false teaching, demonstrating that without resurrection, Christian preaching is empty, faith is futile, and believers are still in their sins. This specific verse serves as crucial evidence for the widespread and undeniable reality of Jesus' resurrection. It counters the skepticism by citing a significant, living audience who could verify Paul's claims.

1 Corinthians 15 6 Word Analysis

• And: (GREEK: kai - και) A conjunctive particle connecting clauses or words, used here to join the following statement as further evidence.
• after (GREEK: meta - μετα) Meaning "with," "after," or "among." Here it signifies the temporal aspect, occurring after His resurrection.
• this (GREEK: toutos - οὗτος) Refers to the appearances previously mentioned, emphasizing the specific event of His resurrection.
• He (GREEK: autos - αὐτός) Refers to Jesus Christ.
• was (GREEK: ginomai - γίνομαι) Means "to become," "to be," or "to appear." Implies Jesus became visible or made Himself known.
• seen (GREEK: horao - ὁράω) Means "to see," "to perceive," or "to witness."
• also (GREEK: kai - και) Used to add this appearance to the others previously listed, strengthening the cumulative evidence.
• of (GREEK: apo - ἀπό) Indicates source or separation.
• more (GREEK: pleion - πλείων) Comparative degree of "many," indicating a larger number than previous mentions.
• than (GREEK: epekeina - ἐπεί), part of a comparative construction, denoting "beyond" or "more than."
• five hundred (GREEK: pentakosiois - πεντακοσίοις) A precise large number, indicating the magnitude of the witness group.
• brethren (GREEK: adelphos - ἀδελφός) Refers to fellow believers, emphasizing the community of faith.
• at (GREEK: ephapax - ἐφάπαξ) Meaning "at once," "at one time," or "simultaneously." It highlights a singular, large gathering.
• one time (GREEK: epha ) part of ephapax, stressing the simultaneous nature of the appearance.
• of (GREEK: ek - ἐκ) From.
• whom (GREEK: hos - ὅς) Referring back to "brethren."
• the (GREEK: hoi - οἱ) Definite article.
• greater (GREEK: pleionos - πλείονος) Comparative degree, meaning "more," relating to the state of being alive.
• part (GREEK: meros - μέρος) Portion, section.
• remain (GREEK: meon - μένω) To stay, to continue to exist, to survive.
• unto (GREEK: eis - εἰς) To, into.
• this (GREEK: deuro - δεῦρο) To here, meaning to the present time.
• present (GREEK: parousia - παρουσία) Although "parousia" can mean "coming" or "presence," in the context of remaining "unto this present," it refers to the present time. Paul uses "present" to indicate that most of this large group of witnesses were still alive at the time of his writing.

Group Analysis:The phrase "more than five hundred brethren at one time" emphasizes a massive, synchronized public demonstration of the resurrected Christ. This isn't a private viewing; it's a corporate encounter, making it a verifiable event with numerous living witnesses when Paul writes. The statement "of whom the greater part remain unto this present" anchors the truth in the testimony of people still alive, lending significant credibility and making it a call for verification by the Corinthian believers themselves.

1 Corinthians 15 6 Bonus Section

The appearance to "more than five hundred brethren at one time" is a significant event not detailed in the Gospels, but its inclusion by Paul serves as powerful apologetic evidence. The fact that the majority were still living indicates that Paul is not relying on the testimony of a few individuals whose memories might have faded or who could be accused of bias. Instead, he points to a collective memory held by a substantial community, making it difficult to dismiss. This underscores the communal nature of early Christian witness and the historicity Paul grounds his message upon.

1 Corinthians 15 6 Commentary

Paul presents this mass appearance as a cornerstone argument for Christ's resurrection. The sheer number of witnesses, over five hundred gathered simultaneously, ensures that it wasn't a mistaken identity or a fleeting hallucination. It was a communal, undeniable encounter. The crucial point is that most of these eyewitnesses were still alive when Paul wrote to the Corinthians. This implies that anyone in Corinth who doubted could potentially find one of these witnesses and hear firsthand testimony, making the resurrection an empirically verifiable event for that community. Paul effectively challenges any skepticism by appealing to the living testimony of a large group.