1 Corinthians 15:6

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 {G1899}, he was seen {G3700} of above {G1883} five hundred {G4001} brethren {G80} at once {G2178}; of {G1537} whom {G3739} the greater part {G4119} remain {G3306} unto {G2193} this present {G737}, but {G1161} some {G5100}{G2532} are fallen asleep {G2837}.

and afterwards he was seen by more than five hundred brothers at one time, the majority of whom are still alive, though some have died.

After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

then he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain until now, but some are fallen asleep;

1 Corinthians 15:6 stands as a powerful testament to the reality of Jesus Christ's resurrection, offering compelling evidence to both the original Corinthian audience and believers today. This verse forms a crucial part of Paul's extensive argument for the bodily resurrection, a foundational doctrine of Christian faith.

Context

In 1 Corinthians 15, the Apostle Paul addresses doubts and denials of the resurrection that had arisen within the church at Corinth. Some members apparently questioned the resurrection of the dead, possibly due to Greek philosophical influences that disdained the material body. To counter this, Paul systematically lays out the evidence for Christ's resurrection as the cornerstone of the Christian gospel. He begins by summarizing the core message (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), then lists a series of eyewitnesses to the resurrected Christ, starting with Cephas (Peter) and the twelve apostles in the preceding verse (1 Corinthians 15:5). Verse 6 then introduces an even larger, more compelling group of witnesses.

Key Themes

  • Overwhelming Eyewitness Testimony: The mention of "above five hundred brethren at once" is a staggering number of witnesses. This mass appearance of the risen Christ provides undeniable, verifiable proof, making it nearly impossible to dismiss as a hallucination or isolated event. Such a multitude of witnesses greatly strengthens the historical reliability of the resurrection.
  • Verifiable Evidence: Paul emphasizes that "the greater part remain unto this present." This means that when Paul wrote this letter (around AD 55-56), many of these 500+ eyewitnesses were still alive and accessible in various communities. The Corinthian believers, or anyone else, could have sought out these individuals and confirmed the accounts directly, turning the resurrection from a mere claim into a historically attestable fact.
  • Reliability of the Gospel: By presenting such robust evidence, Paul underscores that the Christian gospel is not based on myth or wishful thinking, but on a verifiable historical event. The resurrection of Christ is the central truth that validates all other claims of Christianity and forms the basis for the hope of future resurrection for believers (1 Corinthians 15:20).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "some are fallen asleep" is a common biblical euphemism for death. The Greek word used here, koimaomai (κοιμάομαι), literally means "to fall asleep" or "to be asleep." This term is frequently employed in the New Testament to describe the death of believers (e.g., 1 Thessalonians 4:13). It conveys the idea that for those who die in Christ, death is not a final end but a temporary state, like sleep, from which they will awaken in the resurrection. This choice of language subtly reinforces the chapter's overarching theme of resurrection and hope beyond the grave.

Practical Application

For believers today, 1 Corinthians 15:6 provides immense comfort and conviction. The historical evidence for Christ's resurrection, attested by hundreds of eyewitnesses, grounds our faith in objective reality, not mere sentiment. It reassures us that our hope in Christ is not in vain, and that His victory over death is real. This verse encourages us to confidently share the gospel, knowing it is founded on verifiable events. Furthermore, the understanding of death as "sleep" for believers offers a powerful message of hope and peace, reminding us of the coming resurrection and reunion with Christ and loved ones.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 28:10

    Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

  • Mark 16:7

    But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

  • Acts 13:36

    For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

  • 1 Corinthians 15:18

    Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

  • 2 Peter 3:4

    And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation.

  • Acts 7:60

    And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

  • Matthew 28:16

    ¶ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
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