1 Corinthians 15:7

After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

After that {G1899}, he was seen {G3700} of James {G2385}; then {G1534} of all {G3956} the apostles {G652}.

Later he was seen by Ya‘akov, then by all the emissaries;

Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

then he appeared to James; then to all the apostles;

Commentary

This verse is part of Paul's powerful argument for the reality of Christ's resurrection in 1 Corinthians chapter 15. Having established the core gospel message and the initial appearances of the resurrected Jesus, Paul continues to list key witnesses, building a strong case for the historical truth of this foundational Christian belief.

Context

Paul is systematically listing the individuals and groups who saw the resurrected Christ. He begins with Peter, then the twelve, followed by over 500 brethren at once (most of whom were still alive when he wrote this letter), and then, in this verse, mentions appearances to James and finally to all the apostles. This detailed list of witnesses serves to underscore the verifiable nature of the resurrection.

Key Themes

  • Resurrection Appearances: The verse highlights two more significant appearances of the resurrected Jesus, providing further evidence.
  • Reliability of Witnesses: By listing specific individuals and groups, Paul emphasizes the numerous credible witnesses who could attest to seeing Christ alive after his death.
  • The Identity of James: While the Bible mentions several Jameses, many scholars believe this refers to James, the brother of Jesus, who initially did not believe in him (see John 7:5). His conversion and subsequent leadership role in the early church in Jerusalem (see Acts 15) make his encounter with the resurrected Christ particularly compelling.
  • The Corporate Testimony of the Apostles: The appearance to "all the apostles" represents the collective testimony of the core leadership group of the nascent Christian movement, reinforcing the unity of their message about the resurrection.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "seen of" is a common KJV translation of the Greek word ὤφθη (ōphthē), which means "was seen by," "appeared to," or "showed himself to." It simply denotes a visual manifestation or appearance.

Reflection

1 Corinthians 15:7 reminds us that the Christian faith is grounded in historical events, witnessed by many. The appearance to James, a former skeptic, and the collective appearance to the apostles, who would carry the gospel message throughout the world, provide powerful confirmation of the reality of Christ's resurrection. Their eyewitness accounts form a vital link in the chain of evidence supporting the central claim of Christianity.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Luke 24:50

    ¶ And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

  • Acts 1:2

    Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

  • Acts 1:12

    ¶ Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.

  • Luke 24:33

    And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

  • Luke 24:36

    ¶ And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you.

  • Acts 12:17

    But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
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